Benefactors' Day 16 Oct 2006 by veroche Close to a hundred people gathered at the roof deck of the Ateneo de Zamboanga University High School building to celebrate Benefactors' Day on October 14, 2006. The guests were mostly those who have willingly shared and continue to share the Ateneo dream of a new basic education campus in Tumaga, this city. The event started at 4:30 in the afternoon when the guests were taken to a tour of the building's facilities. Donors were shown the plaques of appreciation posted on the walls of facilities they sponsored. A huge donors' wall greeted everyone at the entrance lobby. A monument right at the front lawn of the building was installed bearing a plaque of thanks to the Resources Trading Philippines, Inc., owned by Antonio Lim Bo and family, and to the Family of Wee Bin and Evangeline Yeo Ah for the acquisition of the property and the development of its facilities. The guests included the City Mayor Celso Lobregat, Mr. Luis Alvarez, Engr. Efren Wee, Ms. Victoria Navarro Tan and her family, Ms. Anita Chiong, Mr. Jun Ilustrisimo (U.S.-based ADZU alumnus of high school batch 1956), Mr. Bobit Lucero of ADZU high school batch 1978, Atty. Felipe Wong, Mr. Jonathan Iringan and his family who represented his father, Mr. Lope Iringan, who donated for the high school infirmary, Dr. Mario Arciaga, Mr. Antonio Blanco, president of the Ateneo Alumni Association, members of the Ateneo Alumni Board of Officers, Mr. Pocholo Soliven of high school batch 1981 whose batch pledge of donation for a classroom was mentioned in the affair, Mr. Elmeir Apolinario represented his batch of high school 1978, donor of 1 classroom, Mr. James Makasiar and Raymond Padayhag together with more than 20 batchmates of high school 1980 who donated for 1 classroom and whose pledge of donation for another classroom was announced later in the affair, Ms. Irene Tillah, president of the Parent-Teacher Association of school year 2005-2006 that raised funds for the soon to be constructed covered walkways in the campus, Ms. Anicia Alvarez, Mr. Orlando Esperat, operations manager of BPI, members of the Board of Trustees of Ateneo, members of the Jesuit community including Fr. Manuel Uy, S.J., director of Ateneo de Iloilo, members of the ADZU core management team, other alumni, high school administrators and faculty members, staff, and the project management team. The evening was a happy reunion of people whose generosity knows no bounds. Other donors whose kindness extends to this part of the country albeit they are not based in Zamboanga include the Ateneans-USA in Chicago in the persons of Alfonso Estrada, M.D. (ADMU HS 1968), Diana C. Alvarez-Grzesiakowski (AA '64), Carmelo C. Luna (HS '63), Leonardo C. Malalis (Pre-Med '64), Rene D. Pecson, M.D. ( HS '56), and Tito M. Wee Sit (HS '52) who donated for the biology laboratory, Mr. Antonio Go, donor of the computers in computer laboratory-1, Sok Khieng, president of Norton University in Cambodia, donor of 1 classroom, Mr. Aurelio M. Montinola who donated for 2 classrooms, Mr. David M. Consunji who donated for 1 classroom, and the family of Don Manuel Wee Sit. Another donor who did not make it to the affair was Ong Siok Dian and his family. The Ateneo will always be grateful to all of them and to others who are now seriously considering putting in their part for the success of the Ateneo new campus project. This project, as Ateneo President Fr. William Kreutz, S.J. iterates, will not only benefit the students of the Ateneo but the youth and educators of neighboring communities as well. Solemn Blessing and Inauguration 01 Aug 2006 by veroche On the occasion of the celebration of the Jubilee Year of the Jesuit First Companions, the 30th of July 2006, at 9:30 in the morning, the solemn blessing and inauguration of the new High School Building was held. The ceremony was presided by the Archbishop of Zamboanga, Most Rev. Carmelo DF Morelos, and assisted by Fr. William Kreutz, S.J., president of the Ateneo de Zamboanga University, Fr. Primitivo Viray, S.J., superior of the Zamboanga Jesuit community, Fr. Max Rodriguez of the Claretian order, Jesuit priests, and other diocesan priests who were alumni and friends of the Ateneo whose support to the university has never faltered through these years. The event was also graced by the presence of Zamboanga City Mayor Hon. Celso Lobregat, Vice Mayor Hon. Isabelle Climaco, city councilors, Tumaga barangay captain, Mr. Rodolfo Bayot, other local government officials, members of the Ateneo Board of Trustees headed by its chairman, Atty. Arsenio Gonzalez, Jr., benefactors, friends, office heads and administrators of the Ateneo, high school faculty and staff, and students. Members of the Ateneo High School faculty, staff and students sang a beautiful rendition of "Festive Praise" to the music played by members of the Ateneo de Zamboanga University band, arranged and conducted by its maestro, Mr. Apolonio Enriquez. This part highlighted the event as it most aptly expressed the spirit of the occasion. The affair indeed became a reunion of friends and supporters who believe in the Ateneo dream. Not too many people believed this dream could materialize, but then, on the visperas of the feast of St. Ignatius, after 50 years at La Purisima, the Ateneo de Zamboanga University High School finally inaugurated its new building at Barangay Tumaga, this city. The building stands on a part of an 8.3 hectare property, envisioned to become a basic education campus in the future with the grade school building to be built on the east of the high school structure. The entire site development plans include a commercial building at the south east end of the property which will be made accessible to the public, a campus church at the north end and a school theater (please click site development on home page). This is a dream that in its entirety is still yet to be fulfilled. With God's help and generosity, and the kindness of others, all these will come true -- hopefully in the next five to ten years. Ateneo High School opens School Year 2006-2007 in Tumaga 26 Jun 2006 by veroche The Ateneo de Zamboanga University High School makes history as they open School Year 2006-2007 at their new building in Barangay Tumaga, this city. After 50 years in the La Purisima Campus, the high school finally moves on to an entirely new site, six kilometers away from the city's hub. From a nipa- sawali building in Jardin de Chino (now La Purisima Street) way back in 1946, to their recently vacated high school building that was built in 1979 in the same campus, the Ateneo high school steps in to their new and enormous building of 18,000 square-meter floor area in Tumaga, set against the enthralling view of Mt. Pulongbato and Sulu seas. With the increasing number of enrollees of the High School every year and the impressive record of academic excellence in various fields, the new site is viewed to pave the way for a better learning environment for the young women and men of Zamboanga and its neighboring environs. Hence, with a celebration of the Holy Mass on June 26th in the year 2006, at exactly 9:00 in the morning, the ADZU High School welcomed its new school year at this new site. Albeit not the building's official inauguration, the event already became a reunion of friends and supporters. More than a thousand students together with members of the high school administration and faculty, parents, guests from the La Purisima Campus, and community leaders attended the Mass which was held at the spacious lobby of the new school. The Mass was concelebrated by Jesuit priests, with Fr. John Chambers, S.J., High School chaplain, as presider. Formal school year opening ceremonies followed. Highlights of which included the introduction of the new members of the faculty and staff and the announcement of students' sections. Animated by the same Ateneo zeal, the high school community ended the ceremonies with high hopes and gratitude as they begin a new episode in their journey towards academic excellence, better service to the community and highly effective spirit in bringing about change in this City and its region. The entire high school community was also thankful to Fr. William Kreutz, S.J., ADZU President, Project Manager Engr. Rodel Tarabi and his team, Arch. Manuel Lim III and his staff, contractors, workers, and other individuals who up to this time continue to give so much of themselves for the success of this new campus project. June 21 21 Jun 2006 by veroche With only a few days away from the schedule of opening of classes on June 26, the construction team prepares the last finishing touches on areas that will be occupied by the end-users. The ground floor lobby (please view picture gallery) is completely tiled. A few remaining touches on the administrative offices are scheduled within the week. Other areas on the ground floor are being completed as the opening date approaches. Classrooms are receiving last few touches. Painting works are all finishing up to provide sufficient curing time before the opening. Basement canteen and other facilities are being prepared. Few remaining works on the hallways are underway, readying for the opening. The entire construction team, together with the contractors, gears up their efforts to welcome high school students to their new building. May 31 31 May 2006 by veroche The entire construction team gears up all their efforts to open the structure just in time for the start of classes in June. On its 10th month of construction, the team is now on finishing works. The entire project management team has identified priority areas which include the the administrative offices, one audio visual room, and the chapel at the ground floor; and the library, faculty room, computer laboratories and classrooms at the second floor. All the other classrooms from third to fourth floors and the canteen at the basement are also at the top list. Painting has been started. Grading of soil at areas to be landscaped is being done. Landscaping including the procurement of plants and trees are being managed by the high school team. At the La Purisima campus, the team has been very busy preparing for the transfer. They have also been very actively involved in the interior designing of the various facilities. On May 30, the faculty has started moving their things to the faculty workroom at the second floor of the new building. Another major movement will be at the library (equivalent to 4 classrooms in size) where very careful planning had been done by the project management and high school teams. Classroom furnishings (desks, blackboards, etc.) are already done. Powering up (in terms of water and electricity) is now underway. May 05 05 May 2006 by veroche To date, installation of interior and exterior concrete hollow blocks is 90% and 85% finished respectively. Plastering is 80% complete. The installation of windows and doors is ongoing. The Construction Team is putting all its effort to finish the project on time and the priority areas, which include the library, faculty workroom, computer laboratories, administration offices, and the audio visual room will be ready by the last week of May. April 12 12 Apr 2006 by veroche To date, the Masonry Works are now at the fifth floor level. Concrete topping at the second floor level and installation of tiles and column fins (downspout cover) have started. Cleaning of the building peripheries is being done as well. Installation of Door Jambs and Windows is 40% complete. Fabrication of grilles and railings is being done, and installation is scheduled to start on the 17th of this month. Painting works follow the same schedule. With the construction of the Power House (already 80% complete), installation of Electrical Primary Line is now being done. March 22 22 Mar 2006 by veroche The topping-off ceremony, a common practice in construction when the structural works are complete, has just been held on March 15, 2006. Fr. William H. Kreutz, SJ, president of the university, was the celebrant at the thanksgiving Mass held at the ground floor lobby of the new building. Close to 500 people attended the event. The structure is complete. Masonry works are intensified, reaching the fourth floor to date. Construction of the parapet at roof deck is ongoing. Cover of the west, east and north stairwells is now almost complete. Construction of the power house is 50% complete. Plumbing and electrical materials are now on site. Installation of cable trays has started at the basement level. February 16 16 Feb 2006 by veroche To date, the entire fifth floor level is already concreted. Concrete pouring on the roof deck will start on the 21st of February, with projected finish date of February 28. At the basement, the concrete slab is practically complete while the concrete hollow block exterior walls and partitions are already installed. Masonry works at the ground and second floors have been started. January 17 Update 17 Jan 2006 by veroche Schedule of pouring of beams and slabs at the last portion of the 4th floor level will start on 17th January. With the good weather condition for the past days, Site Development works have commenced with the pouring of Road 1 at the east end. Sub-base preparation of Roads 3 and 4 has resumed. For the 5th floor level, formworks have already started and pouring of the first portion of Slab and Beams is scheduled to be on the 26th of January. At the Basement Level, masonry and plastering works are scheduled to be finished by the 22nd of January, while rectification of alignments of beams and columns is ongoing. The slab is to be poured, straight to finish, on the 25th of January. At the ground floor level, laying of concrete hollow blocks is ongoing. Plumbing fixtures, tiles, doors and jambs, windows and grilles are soon to be ordered. The Project Management Team has identified areas such as Offices, Laboratories, Library and Faculty Work Room as priority areas and are targeted to be ready for move-in come 15th April. January Update 04 Jan 2006 by veroche To date, the third floor level structural works are in place. Masonry works have been started with the laying of hollow blocks at basement, ground and second floor levels. The first section of the concrete slab on the fourth floor level is scheduled to be poured on January 6th. Installation of sanitary pipes and electrical conduits are ongoing. Electrical wirings are scheduled for installation on the first week of this month. Water pipes have been delivered and now up for installation. Waterproofing of water cistern is almost finished. November 2005 update 24 Nov 2005 by veroche To date, site works and civil/structural works are already 80% and 28% completed. Ground floor slab is finished. Stairs up to second floor and main (front) stairs are done. Water cistern is in place. Concrete pouring on second floor is scheduled to be finished this November. The third floor and the fourth floor slabs are projected to be finished by the end of December. Masonry works are scheduled to start on the first week of December, although installation of dowels for masonry partitions is ongoing. The electrical and sanitary roughing-in works are also in progress. Waterproofing of retaining wall is already completed. A deepwell is also now in place, equipped with a 7.5Hp submersible pump, currently discharging water at 55 gallons per minute.