ZAMBOANGA CITY – Drawing from its century-old commitment to forge unity amidst diverse peoples and cultures, the Ateneo de Zamboanga University (AdZU) celebrates its annual Ateneo Fiesta (AtFest 2015) with the theme “One Celebration. One Family. One Ateneo.”
This year, the different colleges and units will compete in both sporting and non-sporting events for the benefit of partner charities and institutions –more than fanfare, social welfare.
AtFest 2015 kicks off on November 30 with Run for RAP, a fun run with proceeds going to the Rehabilitation and Assistance Program for Ateneo’s partner community at the Masepla Transitory Site.
On December 1, Ateneans from both the Salvador/La Purisima and Kreutz / Tumaga campuses will converge in the city proper for a parade, followed by the giant human formation of “One Ateneo”, the traditional Christmas Tree Lighting and opening program and Mindanao festival dance at the University’s MPCC. Sporting events will commence on the same date up until December 4.
The Ateneo Grade School Day on December 2 will coincide with the championship round of the AtFest Debate Cup, a medical-dental mission, and a skills and livelihood development training.
Day 3 of AtFest culminates with a pop dance competition and a musical festival which will run until December 4.
December 3 will see a cooking showdown of Ateneo’s own master chefs. The same day will also feature Kids’ Fun Day with the children of internally displaced persons; a community bamboo planting at Barangay Tumaga; the book launching of “DETOX: Pitik Bulag meditation”, and a Triple Jesuit Volunteer Philippines celebration.
The High School and College Nights will cap Thursday of AtFest Week.
On December 4, Friday, a golf tournament tee-off will open the 2015 Ateneo Alumni Homecoming, followed by the Jubilarians’ Mass and a motorcade from Salvador campus in La Purisima to Kreutz campus in Tumaga.
The University’s Basic Education Complex in Tumaga will then host the Alumni Fellowship Night. This is a first in the history of the Ateneo alumni homecoming.
Slated on AtFest Day 5 is a free legal services outreach by the University’s College of Law.
Meanwhile, outstanding AdZU alumni will also be feted in the yearly Alumni Awards Ceremony to be held at the Carlos Dominguez Hall. As a fitting closing for the day, the best voices will battle it out in a choral extravaganza.
The finale of the week-long festivities will begin with a Eucharistic celebration of the Immaculate Conception – in thanksgiving and anticipated celebration of the feast of the patroness of the Ateneo de Zamboanga University.
The 2015 Ateneo Fiesta will come to a close with a dancesport competition, a talent expo and the much-awaited announcement of the various winners of the different events, while the alumni will spend a Blue and White Night at the Rigodon Hall, Hacienda de Palmeras in Barangay Sta. Maria.
Alumni Homecoming Announcements:
December 4
- Registration will open at 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Gates 1 and 5 of the Salvador campus in La Purisima. Registration fee is P100.
- Jubilarians’ Mass will be at 3 p.m. at the University Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
- The motorcade will troop from the Salvador campus to the Kreutz campus in Tumaga. Assembly will be at 4:30 p.m. at Nunez Extension.
- For the Welcome Program and Fellowship Night:
- Reservation of space at the football field should be made by the sponsoring batch with the ARDO. Deadline is on December 2, 2015.
- Caterers of participating alumni batches are required to register at the ARDO. The maximum number of servers for each caterer is seven. A P100 fee will be charged for every server.
December 5
- The main event is the alumni awards ceremony (2 p.m., CDCH).
December 6
- The day will start with the Alumni Homecoming Mass at 9 a.m. at the UCSHJ and culminate the year’s homecoming that evening with the Blue and White Night at the Rigodon Hall, Hacienda de Palmeras, Sta. Maria. Ticket price is P500.
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