𝐒𝐎𝐀𝐑 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬 𝟏𝟐𝐭𝐡 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫, 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞-𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞

Written by MJ Reyes

More than 175 student leaders, volunteers, and moderators were gathered in the Student Organizations’ Awards Rites (SOAR) last June 04, 2026, in celebration of the remarkable projects, leaders, and mentors of School Year 2025-2026. The annual event, held on its 12th year at the Ateneo de Naga University Gymnasium, carried the theme, “IGNIS: A Heart Kindled for Service,” affirming the University’s commitment to forming effective and conscientious leaders – equipping them not only with knowledge and skills, but also instilling social responsibility at their core, ensuring that their ignis - the Latin word for fire - for service is not just a fleeting spark, but a flame that keeps burning from within.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞

Tanging Yaman Foundation (TYF) Senior Manager for Programs and Communications Herold E. Pelonio delivered a keynote address during the event. TYF, a non-profit organization whose mission is to link donors to those in need, has consistently supported Ateneo de Naga University on its community outreach initiatives led by units such as the Office of Student Affairs (OSA) and the Center for Community Development (CCD) in collaboration with student groups and volunteers. In his speech, Pelonio dissected SOAR’s theme for this year’s young leaders, and highlighted three keywords: 𝑝𝑢𝑠𝑜, 𝑝𝑎𝑔𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑎𝑠, 𝑝𝑎𝑔𝑙𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑘𝑜𝑑.

An alumnus and once a student leader at AdNU himself, Pelonio recounted his days as a College of Aid and Admission (CAAO) volunteer, where he has joined trips to AdNU scholarship applicants’ homes, going through the farthest and most difficult roads, which started a fire in his heart to serve those in the peripheries. He further narrated his days at the Jesuit Volunteers Philippines Foundation, Inc. (JVPFI), where he found that the heart of service is volunteering oneself – for the sick, for the Lumads, for the laborers – for others.

While service is a call to fully love others, Pelonio pointed out that to keep the fire in one’s heart burning, one must learn the concept of “huminga at mag-pahinga.” He explained that it is still necessary for one to establish boundaries, to rest when needed, and to surrender things to God through prayer.

He ended with an invitation for leaders to always revisit the reason why they are in service - the people. “Hindi dahilan ang pagod para tumigil,” he added, urging the student leaders to remember that no matter how tiresome it could get, genuine service is about not giving up on these people.

This year, the award is given to Gabay Scholars' Organization’s Galaw Gabay: Tree Planting and Tree Nurturing program, for their continued environmental outreach at Pacol, instilling environmental awareness that translates into action in each AdNU scholar. The project contributes to SDGs 15 and 13, protecting terrestrial ecosystems from land degradation, and combatting climate change.

The 𝐅𝐫. 𝐏𝐞𝐝𝐫𝐨 𝐀𝐫𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐞 𝐒.𝐉. 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 is named in honor of Fr. Arrupe who coined the term “being men [and women] for others” and identified so as the prime objective of Jesuit Education in his address to the Tenth International Congress of Jesuit Alumni of Europe. Fr. Arrupe, who was then the superior general of the Society of Jesus, called for Jesuit educators to produce graduates who embody Christ’s love, actively resist the systems of privilege, and work to dismantle unjust structures that exploit the marginalized. In this award, Fr. Arrupe’s challenge to transform society through forming agents of faith that does justice remains alive.

This year, three programs that responded to this challenge stood out. One of them is Samahang Tagapagtaguyod ng Edukasyong Pilipino’s LiteraSaya Caravan, which held a series of collaborative lectures at partner communities for literacy, numeracy, and digital responsibility. STEP’s LiteraSaya contributes to SDGs 4 and 10, promoting inclusive and quality learning opportunities for all, and reducing inequality in the country. Another program-awardee was the Legal Management Institute of Ateneo de Naga Students’ LegMalasakit Series, which held a number of legal education seminars at partner institutions and local units. LMIANS’ LegMalasakit contributes to SDG 16, promoting peaceful and inclusive societies through providing access to justice for all. Lastly, the Ateneo Junior Marketing Association’s Healthy Kita was also recognized, as the program became a regular installment of a trade fair on the Ateneo campus that centered on farmer-merchants and their agricultural products. The project contributes to SDGs 3 and 2, fostering health and well-being, and improving nutrition as well as promotion of sustainable agriculture.

Meanwhile, nine moderators who were able to receive nominations and an impressive quantitative and qualitative evaluation from their organizations were each awarded the 𝐅𝐫. 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐏𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐒.𝐉. 𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 golden medallion. Ateneo Junior Marketing Association (AJMA)’s Ms. Kristabelle Julianne P. Jingco delivered a short message on behalf of all moderator-awardees, expressing their continued, holistic support of student and organizations’ endeavors.

Without runner ups, and rankings among the organizations, SOAR XII went ahead and ended the night by announcing the 𝐅𝐫. 𝐑𝐚𝐮𝐥 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐚𝐧 𝐒.𝐉. 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐎𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫. The SOAR Board of Judges considered the collective impact of each project conducted by the organizations, not only to its members, but also to the community it chose to serve. With this, LMIANS and STEP went home with the St. Ignatius of Loyola kneeling statuettes, a testament to the service they have offered, in alignment with their mission and the University’s.