Ang Marytown ay may sukat na 1 hectare at 40sqm. Ito ay isang parke (Park 10) na ibinahagi ng Castro Family. Nagsimula ang Marytown bilang isang cogon area na may iilang kabahayan lamang. Puno ito ng talahib, walang ilaw, at walang tubig na mapagkukunan.(more...)
By Mel Sta.Maria AtSCA 1978 Given at the AtSCA ED SESSION August 22, 2007
Let me re-introduce myself. I am Mel Sta.Maria. I am just a lowly professor of law at an obscure law school in Rockwell Makati where about eight (8) Atscan alumni and alumnae are studying. I am also a lawyer. I guess I am more known to you all as the father of Patty, one of your newest members who kept on reminding me not to forget this day as if this day will be your "life-defining" AtSCAN moment. Well, this definitely will not be that "life defining" AtSCAN moment, but I hope the words you hear today will guide you towards that direction. I graduated from this great Jesuit institution not as summa cum laude, magna cum laude, cum laude, or with honors, or even an officer of any organization, but just merely an ordinary biology student who was SIMPLY AN AtSCAN.
"SIMPLY AN ATSCAN." This phrase meant so much to us then during our time as AtSCANs here. Our moderator, Fr. Francis Reilly of the Society of Jesus, always reminded us of the virtue of SIMPLICITY. SO , today I have decided to talk about SIMPLICITY and not those complicated super-deep socio-theological issues about the structure of society and what-nut. Fr. Reilly always said that if we are simple in our ways , we will better appreciate and understand the basic facts and demands of life, which, in turn, will carry us through in the Ateneo, in our apostolate, and in our lives as a whole.
By practicing the virtue of simplicity, I do not mean that we all become simpletons or retardeds or oppressed or that we always wear old clothes or shoes or socks with holes. It is not that. It is not even more than that. It is profoundly BEYOND THOSE THINGS. So, what then were the attributes of our simple-mindedness as AtSCANs then, which, if observed, I think will serve you well even today.
First, we strived to have that basic attitude of going into ACTION for the good of others. Imbued with this desire, we felt, humbly, that nothing can go wrong. If you put good into action, then, in the end, no matter what you do, WALA TALAGANG SAYANG as Ediboy Calasanz used to say to us then. One does not have to do something dramatic , earthshaking or trailblazing. The weekly apostolate in your respective centers every Saturday anticipated by the children whom you have learned to love, the stroke of the chalk to teach children that 2+2 is not five, the singing and the dancing you do that makes the children laugh, the heartfelt warm embrace you give to children that likewise gives joy and comfort to their parents, these are all good and well. Keep on doing them. This is the significance of the word "ACTION" in ATSCA. It is a commitment in the flesh. ISANG MASIGASIG NA PAGTATATYA. As the song goes "ISANG PAKIKIBAKANG HINDI NAGAALINTANA NG MGA HIRAP NA DINARANAS." Your actions will give JOY to others. You are JOY- CARRIERS.
Second, we recognized that we lived in a community. Ateneans, after all, should be "persons for others." This is the import of the word "Ateneo" in AtSCA. Ateneo is a Jesuit institution and we know that one of the attributes of Jesuit training is not to be isolated from the world, but doing good things with the world- a sense of SOCIAL AWARENESS, a special sensitivity to the plight and the situation of people around you, especially in your centers. Looking at it from a different perspective, social awareness is the ability to witness and to be witnessed. BUT it is not only YOU becoming witnesses to what the world brings, but the world witnessing what YOU bring to the world. Somehow you must have some witnesses of what you have done, even without intending to be witnessed. I do not suggest that you preen yourselves and brag about what you do SO that others will see. That's not the point. The objective is to simply and unassumingly be committed and do what has to be done for the good of others: ISANG PAGBUBUKAS PALAD. And if people see this, let them be "infected" by your commitment. Let it be like a virus, but a good contagious virus propelling people who witnessed you to emulate your commitment. You can start this "infection" with your own special companionship in ATSCA and in your centers. Cherish one another, as Ateneans, as companions, because each one of you is a witness to the other's good deeds.
Third , conscious of our own inadequacy, we strived to passionately YEARN TO LEARN as Fr. Reilly appropriately said. Your present station in life today is that YOU ARE STUDENTS in this Jesuit institution. Do not forget that. Learn as much as you can. Make yourselves better and better each year. What you sow now will greatly help you in the future. Always strive for the best. To be good , to be studious and to pass your subjects excellently do not negate the spirit of simplicity but rather gives it justification. This is the significance of the word "STUDENT" in ATSCA. As students , NOT ONLY should you do good to others, BUT you also have to do good to yourselves. You must always do your best and try your hardest. You may fall short every now and then, but that's OK. Remember: WALANG SAYANG.
LAST but the most important of all, AND FORGIVE ME IF I SOUND LIKE A PRIEST NOW, we always strived to nurture that basic childlike faith believing with all our hearts and minds that, in the EUCHARIST, JESUS again reincarnates HIMSELF in TIME AND SPACE , yes, in history, to physically enter our body and soul. THIS IS THE CENTERPOINT- Si "HESUS NA AKING KAPATID; to faithfully believe that at the moment of communion, we become incorruptible as the HOPE of the resurrection is physically within us. From this CENTER OF HOPE radiates everything. This HOPE gives us inner power and inspiration in our tasks as AtSCANs to "infect" others. This is the essence of the word "CATHOLIC" in ATSCA: To be physically and spiritually with Jesus and to MANIFEST Jesus to others. Truly, this consciousness of HIS presence makes AtSCA and your activities an APOSTOLATE.
Without Jesus, who is the HOPE OF THE RESURRECTION, in your work, and in your studies and, indeed, in your midst, your efforts will just be as dry and hopeless. It will be meaningless. Looking forward to the room prepared by HIM in heaven will be a mere figment of your imagination. ITUON NATIN ANG ATING PANINGIN KAY JESUS NA SIYANG PINAGMULAN NG ATING PANANAMPALATAYA, AT SIYA RING NAGPAPASAKDAL NITO ( Hebreo 12:2). " Let us fix our gaze on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith." I remember this line in the Gospel very well. This is the reason why, during consecration, I and my cellmates in AtSCA then , gazed at the bread and wine.We believed that we were gazing at Jesus at that moment when Fr. Reilly performed the greatest miracle in the world. I still believe it today. It is such a loving, awesome, powerful, and mystical moment. In philosophy of religion, we say "mysterium tremendum"
And, of course there might be some of you who are not Catholics, but its ok, if you are not Catholic, nurturing that faith in Jesus can likewise be achieved by being cognizant that GOD is with you spiritually. EMMANUEL- GOD with us.
With all these in mind when we were here as ATSCANs, we went through our centers and attended our prayer meetings every week with a meaningful commitment which was Christ-centered. We attended the ATSCA MASS. During our time, it was the Wednesday 12:15 noon MASS. To prepare for this talk, I visited the multiply site of Gerard to see how AtSCANs might look like today. And you know, you just looked like us during our time. And as I watched the video of Richie in his multiply site showing members of Cell Marytown singing "You are Mine" in their prayer meeting, I felt nostalgic and, on a personal note, it brought me joy because I saw my daughter as one among you. I watched the short video and it reminded me of that kind of profound simplicity I am talking about. There is no fanfare, but only an unassuming meaningful togetherness WITH CHRIST: praying, witnessing and joyfully sharing among cellmates , silently knowing that each AtSCAN in that prayer meeting is a committed student doing what is good for the glory of Jesus in the community. What A UNIQUE KIND OF LOVING COMPANIONSHIP. "Where one or two of you gather together in MY name , there AM I in your midst." That is not merely a promise from Jesus. It is his assurance and divine commitment.
So SIMPLICITY, stay simple AtSCANs. We tried to live out those attributes and even today, many of us are still living them. Don't get me wrong; we are not saints or holy men and women or brilliant people. We just simply try our hardest to live our present station in life and make Christ our CENTERPOINT.
In the end, AtSCA is not only a unique kind of joyful companionship among Ateneans but it is also a great opportunity to live a simple Christ-centered life and to make the love of Christ radiate in your studies, in your family, in your centers and in the community. And if AtSCA is a loving and radiating companionship, then take hold of it and live it and let it not get away while you are at the Ateneo.
MARAMING SALAMAT SA INYONG LAHAT. Para sa Diyos at sa Bayan.
The Ateneo Student Catholic Action is an organization composed of young men and women unified by faith who strive for the promotion of service and social justice. It aims to give its members the fullest possible growth as responsive Filipinos through prayer, apostolate work and social awareness.
(click for AtSCA Mission) (click for AtSCA Vision)
simple.payak.ngunit makahulugan. :)