The Arrupe Office of Social Formation through its Seniors Integration Program conducted commissioning rites entitled Fortes in Fide: Our Mission for Life. The title takes inspiration from Ateneo de Davao University’s motto that means strong in faith that does justice. As our university sends off our senior students, the Seniors’ Integration Program hopes that they will carry on this identity and also commit to our university’s mission for life. 

The Academic Vice President, Dr. Gina Montalan; the Ignatian Spirituality, and Formation Office Director, Mr. Elvi Tamayo; the Dean of School of Arts and Sciences, Fr. Renato Pilapil, together with academic department chairs, Dr. Rhodora Gail Ilagan and Dr. Cheryl Baldric and the Arrupe Office of Social Formation staff headed by the director, Ms. Lilibeth L. Leh-Arcena joined this virtual send-off ceremony last March 31, 2021, 9:30-11:00 AM via zoom. The College Guidance Center led by Ms. Leah Reparado and the Alumni Career Center directed by Mr. Wilfredo Samante were also there as partner formation offices that support our SIP students. 

Attended by over 130 students, this zoom meeting gathered all students from the Psychology, Mass Communication, Interdisciplinary Studies, and Sociology undergraduate programs. They are the first K-12 curriculum graduates of this academic year, and the first to also have the Seniors Integration Program as part of their social formation track in Ateneo de Davao University. 

Given that this commissioning is historic, the SIP also awarded exemplary students of the SIP or ASF 4204 for their remarkable achievements and contribution to the mission of the university.

Best Ignatian Advocacies

This award is given to the Senior Integration Program group that has exceeded their Ignatian Advocacy Project’s minimum requirements. The recipients of this award have excellently made a critical, constructive, inclusive, and communitarian engagement with a vulnerable sector. Furthermore, their project involved contemplation, self-awareness, and discernment. More importantly, it is grounded on the principle of the common good and aligned to our university’s vision and mission. 

 After thorough deliberation, three groups got the highest ratings from a panel of judges. The Best Ignatian Advocacy Award was given to:

Kimberly Ann Aranton, She-Chem Edward Gaspillo, John Mark Llagas and Dominic Morales of Project  “Agrivocacy: Saka para sa Magsasaka.”  Their advocacy project engaged the students in a critical and constructive conversation with rice farmers about their plight in this time of the pandemic prompting the students to advocate for just and humane prices for the farmers’ produce.

Hanni Liane R. De Los Reyes, Harvey Spence P. Kentilitisca, Joshua Dave P. Leopardo and  Willcynth Ched J. Policarpio of Project “Pangarap Avenue: Night Sessions about the Future.” Their advocacy project in partnership with Halad to Health was training for Central Mindanao University students in the facilitation of peer support and guidance. The volunteers in turn created spaces for conversations on career planning among public high school students in Bukidnon. This sustainable project will soon formalize a partnership with DepEd to train more volunteers who will help public schools in providing adequate mental health and wellness activities for their students, especially in this pandemic.

Janella Louise Bula and Aldrin Alec Arizola of Project “An Imposter Among Us: Seeing Yourself as the Enemy of your Future. Their advocacy project on mental health and wellness aimed to spread awareness about impostor syndrome and help the youth cope with poor self-image. This was joined by over 100 participants from (5) schools and created a virtual space for conversations about “loving the self”.

Fortes in Fide Awardees

Fortiores in Latin means stronger; hence this award is given to students who have cultivated magis in living out the essence of fortes in fide even before graduating from Ateneo de Davao University.

Specifically, this award is given to the top three (3) exemplar SIP students who have not only exceeded the minimum requirements of ASF 4204 but have made a significant mark on their formator, classmates, and the community in the course of their SIP journey. Despite being young, these students, stronger in faith that does justice, have already grounded their personal mission to their contribution to society and committed to a life that serves the common good. They have also manifested remarkable characteristics of Ateneo de Davao University Sui Generis Leader.

All these are done in the light of attaining the goal of forming our students to become the ADDU sui generis leaders: to lead in the service of the faith for the promotion of social justice for the common good and to be witnesses of their strong love and faith in God by living a life of integrity and peace, committed to service to the vulnerable members of the society. 

The Commissioning Rites ended with a closing prayer of all senior students followed by the AVP presentation that presented the students’ AdDU journey and SIP highlights.