Ateneo De Naga High School Batch '86

In order to give our high school batch its unique identity and help further promote our cause, activities and existence as alumni of Ateneo de Naga High School batch 86, who in three years time will be celebrating its Silver Jubilee Homecoming. There is some sense of urgency to create a homecoming logo that will sum-up the following:

1. Our adherence to the ideals and principles of Ateneo,

2. Showcase what is truly outstanding in our batch during our time, which may serve as an inspiration for future ateneans (PAST)

3. Our stand on the present day Alma mater (PRESENT)

4. Show our commitment and support to our alma mater.(FUTURE)

With these four concepts in mind, I'ved created without any artistic talent whatsoever, a conceptual design for our homecoming logo. Thanks to a talented female high school student here in the US, it was developed into a work of art.

Please take note that all of these are on its deliberation stages and therefore are still not final since there are minor details needed to be ironed out before we can commit to the proposed design.

The rendering of the logo is in simple brushstrokes to enable easy printing on shirts,banners,alumni stationaries and other possible souvenirs. This logo will also be carried in our official website. Adding the school colors blue and gold will definitely enhance its appeal but the final color combination and set-up is still under scrutiny.

Now we go to the symbolisms embedded in the logo. Notice if you direct your gaze towards the pillars with a homecoming 2011 mark, you'll see a man, with head bowed down, cross necklace dangling, struggling to stand on two widespread legs with outstretched hands lifting the heavy pillars. On each side are two numbers "8" and "6" while the image formed by the inner legs and the side of the road forms a letter "A." Primum Regnum Dei below it defines our principle in life as Ateneans to seek God first above all.

The lifting man here symbolizes our high school batch 86 hence the numbers "86" on its side, still in constant struggle to keep up to our homecoming in 2011. This also signifies our continued commitment to our alma mater despite all odds, we have elevated the pillars(Ateneo) above our heads and with all humility offer our earnest support.

With catholic doctrines in ourselves as manifested by the cross worn by the lifting man, we will continue with the ideals and teachings of the Jesuit community all through the ages. "From boyhood days to manhood years high shall our purpose be..." as we used to sing it. The letter "A" here is an initials for ATENEO where we are alumnus of. This also serves as the focal point of the imagery formed. We will color it blue to make it stand out. The "A" also reminds us of the Ateneo seal with a knight that we used to carry proudly on our left breast pocket's school uniform. The Primum Regnum Dei printed below serves as a constant reminder that seeking God first, there is no struggle that we will not overcome.

There is also another symbolic character found in this logo. Now focus your eyes on the base of the letter "A" slowly direct your gaze towards the pillars. What do you see? Two roads converging into one towards the now standing pillars right? And what happened to the head? It now becomes the universal symbol of the female sex, isn't it? Of course! Meaning, what used to be an exclusively all-male high school before has been transformed lately into a co-ed existence, correct?. Hence, the female sex symbol now becomes the focal point of the whole image. Simply put, our batch recognizes this bold move and we concur to these present day changes as part of Ateneo de Naga's growth towards the next millenium.

Invert the logo and you'll see that what used to be two roads or the legs of the lifting man, now looks like two big branches of a tree, this symbolically shows that from a big trunk, Ateneo de Naga have grown branches and have diversified as manifested by its two campuses the original historic main building and the one erected at Pacol. Notice also that our batch number now reads as "98," That's a number short of'"0.5%" to make 98.5% a score still unsurpassed until now. Only Ateneo batch 86 carries that distinction.

In summary, life is a constant battle for all of us Ateneans of batch 86 as well as the rest of mankind, with Jesuit Catholic Education on our side carrying its lofty ideals above our heads makes us humble enough, our burden is more lighter and meaningful compared to others. With Primum Regnum Dei as our constant reminder and guide, no doubt we will surpass any trials and tribulations. This is what brings us fame and glory.

Come 2011, we will commit ourselves to the cause of our alma mater, we will give back what we have rightfully earned to those aspiring to be ateneans and we will offer our support to the ever growing Ateneo de Naga community and share our blessings and experiences that will ultimately serve as an inspiration to all.

Ateneans are no longer "Men for others" but now identified as "Men and Women for others"

What you've just seen is the design concept and what it will look like on t-shirt prints...

www.ateneodenaga86.org celebrated its creation last October 19, 2008. There have been plans in the past to put up a Batch 86 website and finally it became a reality.

This momentous web occasion was attended by various kabatch from Naga City (Joey Vibar, Rodel Ortañez, Alan Badiola, Ernesto Pellas, Hector Aureus,Edwin Calisura), Legazpi City (Jukes Nuñez), Metro Manila (Benedict Borlado and Leo Llacer), Canada (Alex Imperial), US East Coast (Monju Castillo aka Tria) US West Coast ( Benjamin Bolival, Bobot Rañola, Victor Zardilla), UK (Severino Sarte), China (Gerry Panga) and the Middle East (Ruel Federis).

Rodel Ortañez took advantage of the occasion to upload Reunion 2005 photos which can now be viewed in our Photos section (Salamat Rodel!). He also announced that Batch 86 will be sponsoring a mass at 9 AM on October 26, 2008 at the Ateneo De Naga Church (mayo na tabi si chapel sa gilid kan Four Pillars, ginibuhan na nin simbahan sa dating site kan football field). Rodel and Alan will be posting more about this upcoming Batch 86 event in our website in the near future.

The upcoming basketball tournament between Ateneo batches 83,84,85, and 86 was also touched. Boboy Llacer said he started practicing on his own while Rodel Ortañez announced a practice session to be held at 7:00 AM, October 25, 2008
at the Universidad de Sta. Isabel. BTW, we are still looking for generous batchmates to sponsor the team uniforms (retro look daa sabi ni llacer, haralipot na shorts)! So if you are interested in sponsoring the team uniforms let Rodel know =).

Ruel Federis also submitted three old high school pictures during the website warming. You can find them posted in our Photos section. Masponsor daa siyang batch inuman pag-uli niya !

The website warming was the first time for Hector Aureus, Alan Badiola, Benedict Borlado, and Ernesto Pellas to see our batch site (Hec and Taba, nalingawan palan nindong magregister!). It was nice to talk with them again. Hec and Taba might have landed themselves blind date opportunities in the future because of this event. Benedict promised to scan our sophomore class pictures once he gets hold of his older brother's yearbook. Alan Badiola volunteered to be one of the active Radio Queborac reporter in Naga City (Rodel volunteered too).

A lot of respect to Zards, Joey, Impe, Monju, Sartz, Jukes, and Gerry for going out of their way to attend the website warming. Bilib kami saimo Monju for staying up from 1 AM - 4 AM! Jukes even went to his office on a weekend to greet us (sayang padi nawaran kang kuryente in the middle of the chat session).

Other news gathered were:
- May aki na daa si Alex Martelino, babae
- Aquiles Sayson is teaching in Albay
- Avelino Manuel is teaching in Sipocot
- Hector Laganson is based in Daet
- Emilio Azanes is in Vanuatu
- Victor Zardilla just welcomed a baby boy in his family

Sa mga nakamiss kan Website Warming our next big chat session will happen during the Vegas Reunion happening later this weekend, so please mark that in your calendars !

Mga Padi,

Even though our website is now live, there are several tasks that still needs to be done:

1. We need article, short story, or poem submissions from batch mates. These can be either in bicol, tagalog or english. Email your works to ateneodenaga86@gmail.com.

2.We need high school photos and recent pictures of our kabatch. Please send all scanned and digital pictures to ateneodenaga86@gmail.com

3.We need volunteers who are willing to write articles about Batch 86 activities in Naga/Bicol and Metro Manila. Volunteers need to have ready access to the internet and a digital camera.

4.We need to get hold of a copy of Triumph 1983 since it contains our freshman year pictures, high school faculty pictures and the definitive list of the entire high school batch 1986.

5. We need to get hold of a copy of Triumph 1984 since it contains our sophomore year pictures and high school faculty pictures (note: there is no Batch 85 yearbook, Greg Abonal decided not to have any yearbook that year due to the economic crisis).

6. We need to tell other kabatch about our website and encourage them to register and participate actively. Si mga lurker tang mga kabatch na nagsisiririp dae na tabi masupog, magregister na tabi kamo.

7. We need all registered kabatch to participate actively in our Tambayan (forums/message board)!

Mga Padi nakasalalay sa lambang saro na kabatch ang buhay kan website ta.

Mabalos sa saindong tabang!