12 July 2021 | Science Subject Area

by: Mr. Jermel E. Gorgod

“BOOM!”

As the sound of the cannon fired by the French forces blasted in the fortress of Pamplona, a soldier in the name of Iñigo Lopez de Oñaz y Loyola lies painfully as he was struck by the cannonball which ricocheted off from a wall. Defending the citadel was his goal but this experience led to his conversion from a naïve, rough punkish swordsman to a saint and founder of the Society of Jesus.

Five hundred years later, the Society of Jesus encourages everyone to draw inspiration from the experience of St Ignatius and his internal battle to transformation which drove him closer to God.

"For Ignatius, a life of poverty was an expression of intimacy with Jesus... More than words, his poverty was a sign of his interior transformation, of his growing indifference to preparing himself to follow God’s will, of his sense that everything came down from above as a gift,” explained by Fr. Arturo Sosa, SJ, Superior General of the Society of Jesus.

A New Set of Glasses

The Ateneo Junior High School Science Subject Area joins the entire world in celebrating the 500th anniversary of St Ignatius’ conversion. We are asked to go back to our past “cannonball” experiences, reflect and consider the future with a new set of glasses- “to see all things new in Christ”.

Guided with this year’s theme, the Science Subject Area remains unappalled to continually mold young reflective leaders who see things with the light of truth and the eyes of faith through various learning approaches and appropriate technologies aimed at increasing the level of student engagement in the learning process.

As we are entering a post pandemic world, the need for more critical problem-solvers and innovative thinkers arises. With this new perspective, the Science Subject Area aims to accompany the students to participate in the collective effort that is to create solutions to the problems of the various communities through an active research program (SciRe) and prepare a better world for future generations.

Great things happened after St. Ignatius cannonball moment. He found God and encouraged others to join him and spread the great news. In the same way, as we celebrate Ignatius 500 through various improvements and innovations, the AJHS Science Subject Area remains steadfast and focused in inspiring people through their practices in education, values and the like.