A Blue Start by Saje Miguel R. Molato

“Am I really here?” is a question many have probably asked themselves upon entering the gates of the Ateneo. The air is the same, yet it's not. The sky is the very sky you see everyday, yet it seems as though in Ateneo, it's somehow... Bluer.

You are greeted by the refreshing sight of the verdant landscape, a mix of both modernism and the natural beauty of the land itself. As you walk along the Red Brick Road, the same road countless more have tread upon through the years, you realize that you are indeed following in the footsteps of legends. The campus itself is littered with greenery, from the Acacia trees that linger all over the campus roadsides, to the Fire tree you watch outside the window everytime your mind starts wandering off, the campus has no shortage when it comes to greens.

As freshmen, it's our responsibility to know which building is which, you wouldn't want to embarrass yourself asking where Sec C is, would you?

First things first, the main buildings for the 4 major schools in campus, mainly JGSOM ( John Gokongwei School of Management), SOH (School of Humanities), SOSS (School of Social Sciences), and SOSE (School of Science and Engineering):

The John Gokongwei School of Management or JGSOM in short, is the undergraduate business school of the Ateneo. It was established in 2000 as simply School of Management, later renamed after John Gokongwei donated an estimated amount of 200 million pesos. The building is located in between the SEC (Science Education Complex) and the PLDT Convergent Technologies Center.

The School of Science and Engineering's main building is the Science Education Complex located in what is called the SEC walk, which is a place where students can hang out with friends or simply enjoy the scenery around. Located here is the AMP bench (Ateneo Musicians Pool) where the members chill with their fellow members, rest assured there will never be a dull moment with AMP around. Aside from the AMP bench, orgs also camp out here for their “tambay week” where members get to have fun, go crazy, play games, and meet just about everyone else in their orgs.

 The SEC is divided into 3 buildings, mainly SEC A,B,and C. Each building holding it's own respective classes ranging from Science experiments to Math lectures. Aside from the SEC, SOSE has facilities scattered all over the campus:

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Schmitt Hall was constructed on November 28,1965 but was simply referred to as the Chemistry Building, then later renamed Schmitt Hall in memory of the late Rev. William J. Schmitt. It houses the Department of Chemistry and the Ateneo Chemical Society. It is located near Gonzaga Hall.

The Manila Observatory was established in 1865 by the Jesuit Mission in the Philippines, it is a non-stock, non-profit institution dedicated to research and observation. The observatory was key to determining weather patterns as well as seismic activity before WW2 where all its facilities and valuable equipment were destroyed during the Battle of Manila Bay.

Faura Hall was constructed back in 1985 from the generosity of the people of the United States through the Office of American Schools and Hospitals Abroad under the sponsorship of the Jesuit Seminary and Mission Bureau. It was named after Fr. Federico Faura, SJ, the director of the Manila Observatory who predicted the first typhoon tracks back in 1879. Faura houses the Advanced Physics Laboratory, Material Physics Laboratory, Photonics Laboratory, and the Vacuum Coating Laboratory.

Beside Faura is a small structure which acts as the Machine Shop of the Department of Physics, which fabricates many of the instruments needed based on specifications.

The School of Social Sciences' main building is the Ricardo and Rosita Leong Hall, or Leong Hall in short. It was constructed within a record of 10 months, a testament on how inspiration can present outstanding results. Leong Hall is the very first structure you will see when you enter via Gate 3, the Hall serves as a venue for talks, lectures, master classes, and pretty much any other event requiring a general audience.

Horacio de la Costa Hall is where the SOH (School of Humanities) is housed. Named in honor of the First Filipino Provincial Superior of the Society of Jesus, Horacio de la Costa.

Aside from places for learning, the Ateneo also has venues wherein students can study. Primarily the new Rizal Library that has 5 floors of pure air conditioned salvation from the climate outside. If the solitude and silence of the typical library environment is not your thing, then check out the 5th floor of Rizal, where you can scream your lungs out without the fear of being reprimanded (not really, but you get the picture). The 5th floor is mainly for group studies among students.

Matteo Ricci Study Hall is another safe haven for those seeking refuge from the searing climate , and is just like the Rizal Library 5th floor except on a larger scale. Matteo is known as that place where students study in unison in order to survive their college life here in the Ateneo.

For those seeking sustinence and nutrition, a simple break from schoolwork, or just for the sake of being a foodie, Ateneo is well equipped to satisfy your pallet. As long as you've got cash, of course.

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Gonzaga Hall is open all day long to cater to the hunger of the general masses of students, it is where the general bulk of the population would usually go due to the fact that it is both spacious and has a wide range of foos stalls, it even has it's own 7/11! (stall).

 

Manang's deserves a special mention here, though it's just one food institution, it's reputation for serving home cooked meals to the student populace is quite regarded by many. It is located right beside the covered courts.

JSEC is where students who dream of starting their own businesses could get a headstart in the industry. An innovation to the daily lives of not just business students, but pretty much everyone else on campus, this place offers food to those with a more “constricted” pallet.

Education in Ateneo does not only pertain to reading books and studying concepts, Ateneo also values the physical wellbeing of it's students. That is why we have the Covered Courts where almost all the PE classes are held, while the Blue Eagle Gym is almost exclusive to mainly the members of the varsities found in campus. We also have the track field situated near the Blue Eagle Gym, as well as a Soccer field.

Seeking a place to simply sit down and relax? Try the Zen Garden surrounded by Gonzaga, Berchmans, Kostka, and Schmitt. The Zen Garden offers a place where students can sit back and just chat with their friends, be it about school, lessons, Life, or just about anything under the sun.

Ateneo also provides lodging to students who do not live within the close vicinity of Katipunan, in the form of the Cervini and Eliazo Dormitories. Cervini is exclusive to guys while Eliazo is an all girls dorm. Near these 2 is Zekaf, considered as the campus “coffee shop/dorm cafe” where dormers and non-dormers can enjoy a meal without much of a hassle as one would experience during the rush hours at Gonzaga and JSEC.

For extra-curricular  activities, Ateneo has the MVP (Manny V Pangilinan) Center for Student Leadership. This is where all the accredited orgs have their own org rooms, where members get to socialize with other members and discuss matters about their organizations.

 

Last but not least, we have the Church of Gesu. With a total area of 10,200 sqaure meters, it can seat approximately 1000 people in one sitting. Mass is usually held every Sunday at 6 pm until 7pm.

This may seem like a lot to memorize, but eventually, we'll get the hang of it. College may seem different from the comforts of High School, mainly all the extra walking, walking, and of course, more walking. But hey, it's all part of the learning process. Just remember the saying “Even the finest steel, must surpass the test of fire, in order to become a blade of the most refined edge..” College has just started, so let's sit back, relax, and enjoy the blue sky.. :)