Musicians performing during the alumni fiesta. Photo by Alexis Matthew Reyes

The Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) community hosted its second Ateneo Alumni Fiesta at the Arrupe Hall of the university last Sunday, Aug. 14.

Just before the Alumni Fiesta started, some of the university alumni were given a campus tour around the Jacinto Campus which included the new facilities being built in the campus.

Throughout the fiesta, there were booths being set up around the Arrupe Hall where a variety of merchandise was offered such as food and AdDU merchandise.

AdDU Alumni Board President Ma. Rossana Hagad Fernandez introduced to the Alumni audience the board and the members of the alumni association, the Ateneo Blue Knight Association. She also highlighted the activities conducted by the alumni association which included the screening of the movie, Ignacio de Loyola, to the AdDU community last July.

Audiences from the alumni community were entertained as they witnessed a variety of dance and song numbers from the School of Education and then there was a mini-concert by the bands from the alumni community as they serenated the audience with their variety of songs.

There were also raffle draws where some of the Alumni audience received a variety of prizes.

There was a low turnout of alumni participants who attended. But for those in attendance, they felt enjoyed the activities.

Some of the alumni shared their thoughts about the event.

“I think this is something which is good to attend to because first, it rekindles whatever we had during our Ateneo days. It reminds us of our roots as Ateneans as to how we have been formed before when way back when we were in college to be a person for others, to be the person that God wants us to be and I am so grateful that I was able to attend this Second Alumni Fiesta Homecoming because aside from meeting old friends and acquaintances, I am reconnected to Ateneo,” Batch 1999 alumna Mary Grace Basilio-Nerpiol said.

“Excited ako sa event na ito kasi I wanted to meet my friends especially my college friends. Well, they’re organized. But, we need more people pa talaga. Nevertheless, I like the event, too short, but very informative jud siya,” Batch 2001 alumna Recellua Jimenez Piramide stated.

Fernandez also shared her thoughts about the fiesta.

“Ang preparation namin, we feel that maganda yung coordination namin with the different schools. Pero unfortunately, hindi maganda ang turnout ng mga alumni. So, we actually still analyzing what will make them come kasi yung homecoming, it’s already a tradition. Everybody knows that December, there is a homecoming pero this is just the second fiesta. So, hindi pa namin alam how to really make them come. Ang pinakatarget namin dito na alumni will come from the college level also from law school. So we would like to start something na involved ang college campus also. But this is not exclusive for college, this is still for all alumni.

“It is a learning process for us now and we want this to be a tradition probably five years from now. So we also are giving ourselves room to really look for a way to make this a traditional na activity of the alumni association,” she said.

The Second Alumni Fiesta was organized by the Ateneo Blue Knight Association, the AdDU School of Education, and the AdDU College Batch of 1991.