To symbolize the significance of finding meaning in one’s journey particularly in specific moments of life (in this case, the meaning of one formative aspect of the learning process that first year students undergo in their “journey” through college), as well as to highlight the culmination of the university’s observance of the Jesuit Restoration, students of the First Year Development Program (FYDP) of the Arrupe Office of Social Formation (AOSF) numbering close to a thousand, accompanied by their FYDP guides, marched from the city’s People’s Park to the Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU) Jacinto Campus in the early morning of Saturday, 14th March 2015. Changes were made as to the assembly and destination points (as announced earlier), which were originally set from ADDU’s Roxas Gate to the Matina Campus.
Dubbed as the “Pilgrim’s Walk for Peace,” the short march commenced at 5:00 a.m. and ended an hour later. Participating students and guides carried placards, tarpaulins and banners that expressed and articulated strong support to promote the culture of peace in the wake of the outbreak of hostilities that erupted in central Mindanao between government forces and rebel troops from the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF)—skirmishes that ensued after the infamous Mamasapano incident in late January).
The walk ended with a mass held at the Jacinto Campus Open Field presided by Fr. David John delos Reyes, SJ, the Executive Secretary of the University Research Council (URC) and a Guide of the FYDP. After the holy mass, a community celebration followed through the “Musikahan at Sayawan.” This musical extravaganza featured local school talents such as Mr. Norman “Nonoy” Narciso and Mr. Peter Paul Elicor of the Humanities and Letters Cluster of the School of Arts & Sciences (SAS). (By Arrupe Communications)