Uniting the Ateneo community, the 76th Ateneo Fiesta emphasized the Marian themes of prayer with activities that center on gathering and trust.

The event featured processions, a Eucharistic celebration, and Marian rituals, all aligning with the theme Mother Mary, Our Companion in Rekindling Faith, Nurturing Prayer and Revitalizing Spiritual Community.

Fr. Jessel Gerard “JBoy” Gonzales, S.J., who celebrated the mass, underscored Mary’s three key gestures—prayer, gathering, and trust—as central to the fiesta’s activities, connecting them with the event’s spiritual goals.

“Our theme today is this: Mother Mary, model of faith, model of prayer and model of community. It affirms those three gestures that Mary prays, and becomes an example of prayer; that Mary gathers and thus becomes a model of community life; and Mary leads all of us to Jesus, a model of faith,” he said.

“Faith grows in a community under the protection of Mary. We want a university fiesta where everybody joins us. God gathers people, that’s why we are all here.”

SAMAHAN President Leen Juliet Lapatis emphasized how traditional and contemporary elements, such as the Kakanin Festival, Awiteneo, Palarong Pinoy, and the Praise Fest, contributed to a rich communal experience.

“The main goals are to strengthen the spirituality of the students, for the community to gather not just for the students but for the faculty, non-teaching personnel, our guards, janitors…The integration of these elements fosters a deeper connection within the community,” Lapatis explained.

Lapatis also shared that the collaborative efforts across various offices in organizing the fiesta demonstrated a shared commitment to collective responsibility and unity, reflecting the gesture of trust from the homily.

The gesture of gathering was symbolized by the Parade of Colors, where various university clusters marched around the campus and showcased their pride.

For Natural Sciences and Mathematics (NSM) cluster representative Mikaela Juliana Franco, fiesta activities such as the parade give them an opportunity to mingle with others not just within NSM but with other clusters as well.

“As a cluster representative, it makes me happy to see the Falcons enjoy such festivities and feel the essence of the Fiesta. It gives us the chance to enjoy university life, and also strengthen our faith,” Franco said.

Moreover, Franco told Atenews that the willingness of her constituents to participate contributed to the overall success of the event, in which their energy was equally aligned with others.

“I believe this showed during our vibrant and enthusiastic (and loud!) cheering during the Parade of Colors, and some Falcons’ willingness to participate in the Palarong Pinoy. This, coupled with the equally high energy of the rest of the participating clusters, made the Fiesta celebration lively and joyful!”

The 76th Ateneo Fiesta was celebrated last August 14 at the Ateneo de Davao University.