Our second Lost & Found Fridays — held on 03 July — was a special Ignatian episode in celebration of the Ateneo 2020 IGNATIAN FESTIVAL: Like the first one, this one was also virtual, and it was also designed to gather our community on our brand new AteneoBlueCloud campus-not for us to talk shop or to discuss business matters, but “to take a deep breath, to take a step back, and to take in the wider view.”
A wide variety of poems, in English as well as Filipino, was prepared for the evening not only as springboard for reflection and prayer, but also as celebration of the beauty and power of the word: From Australian Jesuit Andy Bullen SJ’s “Pamplona” to Mary Oliver‘s well-known and well-loved “Wild Geese” to less familiar but no less powerful poems like Kei Miller‘s “The Book of Genesis” and Patrick Kavanaugh’s “The One.”
We also listened to the works of our own homegrown poets: Rofel Brion (Interdisciplinary Studies), Benilda Santos (Filipino), Rayvi Sunico (Interdisciplinary Studies), and the late, great Rolando Tinio.
Missy Maramara (Fine Arts) assembled some of the best performers among our faculty and students: Ricky Abad (Arete), Joseph Dela Cruz (Ateneo Senior High School), Devi Paez (English), Ron Capinding (Ateneo Junior High School), Ariel Diccion (Filipino), Serge Gabriel (OSCI), and Jethro Tenorio (Filipino), as well as fresh graduates, Bina Basilio, Cholo Ledesma, and Quiel Quiwa.
Aside from the carefully curated array of poems, the evening also offered appropriate reflections from Bobby Guevarra (Theology Department, AdMU Loyola Schools), as well as Fr. Francis Alvarez SJ and Fr. Albert Alejo SJ (both Jesuits from the Loyola School of Theology), with hauntingly contemplative guitar solo interludes courtesy of no less than Ateneo de Manila Junior HIgh School Principal, Jonny Salvador.
Here is the complete program for the evening, for your reference, tastefully designed by Ateneo SALT’s Meg Villena:
Take some time to listen to the poetry, reflections, and prayers. Here is Part 1 of the evening: “FINDING.”
Part 2 of this Lost and Found Fridays is called: “IN ALL THINGS.”
Here is Part 3 (“GOD“) of the evening.
Here is the special conclusion of our Ignatian episode of LOST & FOUND FRIDAYS.
Over a hundred members of the Ateneo de Manila community showed up to “take a deep breath, to take a deep breath, and take in the wider view.” Hosted by Devi Paez of the English Department, the evening was full of surprisingly powerful moments that provoked our minds, moved our hearts, and also nourished our souls.
Before giving his final blessing, University President, Fr. Jett Villarin SJ, read the final poem, “Traveler, There are No Roads. It was both a closing prayer and also an appropriate way to introduce the theme of the Ateneo 2020 Ignatian Festival: ONE FOOT RAISED.
It’s a vivid image of what we are all called to do at these uncertain times-to be ready to be sent on mission, prepared to go where there are still no maps or paths, where as the poet Machado has told us in his poem, we shall create our road with our very walking and with our very footprints.
Thanks to our co-organizers: Arete, the Office of Mission and Identity, and the LS Office of Campus Ministry.
We look forward to having you join us at next month’s Lost + Found Friday!