College Seniors Celebrate Endings and Beginnings at Pabaon 2021
Pabaon is Ateneo’s unique way of sending off its graduating seniors through loving messages, prayers and a reminder to set the world on fire.
The Loyola Schools, through the Seniors Integration Program and the Ateneo Seniors Alliance 2021, sent its seniors off through the traditional Pabaon – Ateneo's special way of saying goodbye to its graduating class through a series of messages and well wishes held last 15 June.
Recognizing that Batch 2021's culminating year in Ateneo is marked by a full year of online classes brought on by the pandemic, host Jethro Tenorio of the Filipino Department acknowledged that "we are parting ways even when we are already parted from each other." Given these unique circumstances, Tenorio described the event as an affair to say goodbye, guide, and ground the graduating seniors as they end and start a new chapter of their lives in a time of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, ambiguity, and disruptiveness.
"We won't just be handing you your diplomas and singing our alma mater song. We want to send you off with something… (because) to leave with a pabaon, is to be loved,” he said.
Batch 2021 had the opportunity to hear from Dr. Maria Luz Vilches, the Vice President for the Loyola Schools; Dr. Luis Dumlao, Dean of the John Gokongwei School of Management; Dr. Jonathan Chua; Dean of the School of Humanities; Dr. Raphael Guerrero, Dean of the School of Science and Engineering; and Dr. Fernando Aldaba, former Dean of the School of Social Sciences. Their parting words for the graduating seniors were each hallmarked with a call for transformative leadership, sustainable stewardship, and active citizenship.
As this year's Pabaon Speaker, Mr. Louie Julian of the Theology Department, talked about loss and how the pandemic has brought about so much of it. Julian noted the three responses to loss: to mourn, to be angry, and to be generous — a radical, life-giving response to loss; a refusal to be a victim of loss; and a great act of hope.
"Seniors, you started here in Ateneo with an Orsem theme called likha or create. Go now, and contribute to the creation of a new world that will emerge from this great loss."
University President Fr. Roberto C. Yap SJ delivered his Pabaon to the first graduating college class in his term with a message of pride: "You were given a last-minute curveball and overcame the odds. No other class can say that they were able to hurdle their senior year during a global crisis and I think that in itself, is a very tough thing to accomplish."
Yap sent off Batch 2021 with his final pabaon – words of wisdom reminding everyone to do the kindest, most loving thing for it is the real meaning of magis, and a final blessing as this year's graduating seniors come down from the hill.
