KaTA's History

Raising Awareness, one Atenean at a time

The Kamalayan at Tinig ng Atenista (KaTA) was originally founded in 1992 under the auspices of former Ateneo High School (AHS) Araling Panlipunan teacher, Mrs. Ma. Estela Banasihan. She created the organization to stimulate discussion about social issues “beyond the classroom set-up.”

After thorough discussions with the then Student Activities coordinator Fr. Victor “Vic” Baltazar, SJ, Mrs. Banasihan was tasked to conceptually make this organization in SY 1992 - 1993. It started the school year as the first known organization in the AHS that was dedicated to discussing and addressing social issues in school, country, and the global community. A Concept Paper was written to describe the roles and functions of the organization. It was later approved as an official academic organization for SY 1993-1994 by then chairperson of the Social Studies department of the AHS, Mr. Percival Meris. By that school year, KaTA became the student arm of the Social Studies department.

Mrs. Banasihan noted that the beginnings of KaTA back in the 90s were a meaningful endeavor to transform AHS students. “I was teaching Asian and World History at that time and reflected on what I really wanted my students to get from studying History and Social Studies. Beyond who, what, where, when - I wanted them to be socially aware and involved, in their capacity as high school students. Beyond the lectures given by the teachers, I wanted them to be heard, vis-a-vis how they saw the society and the world that they were in. Thus, the Filipino terms, kamalayan (awareness), tinig (voice), which further evolved into the name of Kamalayan at Tinig ng Atenista (KaTA).”

The pioneering members of KaTA were described as exemplars of the AHS. They were personal recruits of Mrs. Banasihan from her classes. These pioneers were role models in terms of their “leadership, communication skills (both in English and Filipino), well-read in terms of current events, critical thinkers and had the audacity to question and critique social issues and yet open-minded enough to entertain contrasting ideas.” For their first org fair in AHS, the pioneering members of KaTA wore Filipino costumes, and were armed with leaflets containing everything about the then-new organization.

After its first leadership training session, KaTA adopted the organizational motto: “Ang Kahalagahan ng Kasaysayan ay Nasa Kanyang Katuturan sa kasalukuyan.”  By SY 1994-1995, KaTA had its own student-written organizational constitution.

As a result, KaTA became an innovative organization that promoted Filipino culture, Philippine history, student leadership, and relevant social issues that affect Filipinos in school, country, and the world. While Ateneo High School’s student council was busy with fairs, dances, and interactions, KaTA was already advocating for social awareness inside the high school. 

Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, some of the pioneering projects of KaTA were the following:

Symposia and public debates (for example, symposia on the use of Filipino as a national language which was a very hot issue in the mid-90s; and the revitalization of the Filipino culture through literature, music, pop culture.)

Leadership training for other school organizations

Putting up Freedom Walls (blue board where students can post sentiments about the school)

Conducting surveys (for example, "Sino ang Iyong Bagong Bayani?") to get the pulse of Ateneo High School students on issues of the day

Since KaTA was considered the student arm of the Social Studies Department (later Araling Panlipunan subject area), it generally helped in the conceptualization and implementation of different academic events and activities, such as:

Sine Libre – public screening of films about History and/or current social issues that were shown at the ITC for free. Social Studies teachers tasked their students to watch and then prepare reaction papers afterward. KaTA members were there to assist in the process of film-viewing.

Aiding academic competitions such as Awit Nasyonalista, Aral-Musikal (around the year 2000s onwards), Araling Panlipunan Quiz Bee, Social Studies Exhibit, and other Linggo ng Kasaysayan/EDSA Week activities - as scorers, logistics, assistants, etc.

Through its projects, KaTA became a hub for creative writers, inventive musicians, persevering student leaders, and patriotic students. The organization became an outlet for artistic juices to be applied in the lens of social awareness, leadership, and nationalism.

From SY 2002 -2002 until SY 2003 – 2004, the organization transitioned under the mentorship and advisory of Mrs. Bevil Lynn Santillan, Araling Panlipunan teacher. The organization saw its highest feats by organizing benefit concerts, preparing school-wide music videos, writing public editorials and opinions, advocating opinion polling in AHS on major issues, and creating original music compositions through a KaTA band.

During these years, KaTA compartmentalized into committees for music, writing, debates, and projects to accommodate the organization's diversifying culture. With its multifaceted studentry, it still retained its identity of student leadership, appreciation for Filipino culture and history, and sociopolitical awareness/involvement.

KaTA, as a result, received the St. Ignatius Award for its service to the community during the early 2000s under its then-org president, Paolo Apagalang. It was lauded as an organization that exemplified the school thrust of Think-Philippines. 

Throughout these years, KaTA had a list of members who would later become exemplary alumni. They were dedicated members who pushed the organization to new heights. Some of these alumni included the following:

Brian Tenorio+ - designer-artist, speaker/lecturer, entrepreneur, owner of “Kape Tayo” (UP Town Center and nationwide), LGBTQ+ advocate

Mark Platon - Doctor of Medicine, entrepreneur, artist

Paul Sta. Ana - Movie and TV writer-director, artist

Ariel Diccion - Ateneo professor, writer, stage actor, artist

Paolo Apagalang – Life Coach, freelance video director, and producer

Arvic Tolentino - News and Public Affairs Producer (TV5 / One News)

From the late 2000s until the early 2010s, KaTA had a series of changes in terms of membership and moderatorship. Despite these rapid changes, the organization maintained its identity as a social awareness and leadership formation organization advocating Filipino culture and Philippine history. It created projects that pursued social awareness both inside and outside Ateneo. 

One such project is Serye Kabataan. Alongside other organizations in the Social Sciences Cluster, the org launched the Serye Kabataan Youth Congress in SY 2008-2009. It was organized by the then Social Science Cluster Head and former KaTA president, Jamaico Ignacio (Term 1), KaTA President Kelvin Tagnipez (Terms 2-3), KaTA Vice President Junfel Tablac, and other officers in the Social Sciences Cluster. KaTA, along with other SocSci Cluster orgs, received multiple awards, such as the St. Ignatius Award, for Serye Kabataan and its social advocacy.  

The mid-2010s will prove difficult for KaTA. Due to the changes brought about by the K to 12, KaTA was one of the organizations that was deeply affected by the rapidly changing demographics of the high school. During the transition, younger students entered the campus with more child-like interests. As a result, the organization was hit in terms of membership. KaTA held no members for SY 2016 – 2017, a first in its history. The org died when the official Ateneo Junior High School (AJHS) and Ateneo Senior High School (ASHS) were born.

Providentially, the organization was revived in SY 2017 - 2018 through the perseverance of a small group of grades 7 to 10 students under the AJHS. KaTA resurrected itself in 2017 under the K to 12 era. With the moderatorship of Mr. Jamaico Ignacio, Araling Panlipunan teacher and former KaTA president (Term 1 - SY 2008 -2009), the organization was able to survive and thrive in the AJHS despite the massive changes.

Some of KaTA’s trailblazers in the AJHS under the K to 12 era included Franco Velasco, Trey Sison, Diego Gepty, Joaquin Comsti, Joss Nacpil, Luis Barros, Clarence Andres, and Thirdy Espedido. For SY 2018 - 2019, they were followed by leaders such as Lance Perez, Anthony Reboton, Renzo Gutierrez, and Matt Arceño.

By SY 2020 – 2021, KaTA was fully alive and well in the AJHS even during the challenges of the COVID-19 Lockdowns and online learning. The organization was fulfilling its mission to be an organization aiming to achieve “pampaaralang kamulatan, kamalayan, at pakikisangkot.” The org received the highest honor during the AJHS Annual Activity Awards for that school year, the “Grand Slam ACTIVE Compañia Award” for its service to the community. Under the leadership of Renzo Gutierrez (President) and Iñigo Pastor (Executive Vice-President), the organization was able to strengthen its mission and increase its membership despite the pandemic.

By SY 2022 - 2023, KaTA was able to establish itself in the ASHS. Under the pioneering leadership of Renzo Gutierrez, Iñigo Pastor, Hans Jordan, and Chesco Magbiray, KaTA was able to establish a branch in the senior high school. They were followed by other KaTA-AJHS veterans such as Ignacio Balmaceda and Noah Alvarez. Alongside this, KaTA had its first female members in its history such as Alex Talampas, Carylle Bartolata, and Patricia Yapit. 

In the same school year, KaTA celebrated its 30th anniversary. Alumni, moderators, and members of KaTA from AJHS and ASHS celebrated its history and heritage at the Formation Learning Center (FLC) of the ASHS on January 27, 2023. 

At present, the org is staying true to its identity as a Social Studies and History org with members of various political persuasions (as a “big tent group”) with an inclination towards an epistemological, nonpartisan, and critical perspective of society. With its various sub-committees, projects, and talents, the org aims to be a well-rounded Philippine History, social awareness, and civic engagement organization for the entire Ateneo High School community.  

(*Source: Email Correspondence from Mrs. Ma. Estela E. Banasihan, former KaTA moderator with Inigo Pastor, Date: Thu, Aug 29, 2019 at 6:58 PM. Other sources are AHS Blue Books and personal interviews with Mrs. Bevil Lynn Santillan, former KaTA moderator.)