NEWS

3rd Batch of Ateneo Senior High Student Leaders Undergo the NCAF Leadership Journey

On August 24 to 26, 2018, thirty-one (31) Senior High student-leaders from the Ateneo Senior High School (ASHS) student government comprised the third batch of ASHS Journey Companions. The two and a half (2 1/2) days Journey weekend was held at Betania Retreat Center in Cubao. The participants underwent the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Leadership Journey (NCALJ), a leadership seminar-retreat based on Ninoy and Cory’s own brand of spiritual-leadership, rooted in the values of prayer, discernment, and self-sacrifice.

The students started off the weekend with a simple orientation, led by NCAF Program Director and Main Facilitator, Jampao Reyes, to help them better understand what to expect in the coming days and get into the proper disposition for the Journey. Early the next day, the participants were led through the Kuwentong-Buhay activity, where they remembered key moments in their lives and pivotal experiences that first sparked their desire to serve as student-leaders. They were then given the opportunity to share their life-stories with their assigned groups.

The student-leaders were also treated to various talks from Ateneo-based and inspirational speakers, such as Associate Principal for Student Affairs and Formation, Mr. Noel Miranda, Jesuit Scholastic and Ateneo Alumni, Bro. Dom Bulan, Campus Missionary Mr. Harold Hernandez, and Senior High School Principal, Mrs. Bitchik Dimalanta. Each speaker shared their own experiences as leaders and their learnings from years of challenges and hardships with their respective communities.

On the last day of the Journey, the participants expressed their gratitude to the Office of Student Affairs (OSA) and NCAF organizers for a meaningful and memorable seminar-retreat. They expressed their excitement to continue working on the various projects of the student government, re-energized by their weekend experience. According to some students, they also look forward to working with their fellow student-leaders, now that they know each other better.