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BylineJULY 2026JULY 2026JULY 2026VOLUME 8, ISSUE 2VOLUME 8, ISSUE 2VOLUME 8, ISSUE 2The English Student-Community PublicationThe English Student-Community Publication of Ateneo de Zamboanga Universityof Ateneo de Zamboanga University Junior High SchoolJunior High School The English Student-Community Publication of Ateneo de Zamboanga University Junior High SchoolThis Survival Isn’t on Peaceful ModeThere is a reason Peaceful Mode is so comforting in Minecraft. The monsters disappear. Hunger no longer drains your health. You are free to build, explore, and gather without constantly looking over your shoulder. For a moment, the world feels forgiving—as if consequences have quietly been switched off. Reality, however, has never offered such a setting. The Earth does not recognize difficulty sliders. Carbon dioxide continues to trap heat whether we acknowledge it or not. Plastic discarded into rivers does not vanish with the current; it breaks apart into microplastics that return through the very water we drink and the food we eat. Pollutants do not ask for permission before entering ecosystems—they simply follow the laws of chemistry and biology. Nature is built on balance, homeostasis. Every forest filters air, every mangrove softens storm surges, every river carries life beyond the visible water on the surface. Disturb one part of that system long enough, and the effects ripple outward. Environmental pollution is not a collection of isolated problems—it is a chain reaction, where one neglected consequence quietly becomes the next . If the science is no longer in the picture, then perhaps the real question is no longer scientific. Why, despite decades of research, measurements, and warnings, do the same environmental problems continue to grow? It is not because ecosystems fail to respond. They respond exactly as science predicts. More often than not, it is human decisions that fail to respond with the same urgency. In truth—the same notion from teachers has been repeated for generations on end: “plant trees, water plants, segregate trash.” But when environmental polices only exist on paper, when regulation bends under convenience, pollution stops being an environmental issue. It becomes evidence of a deeper unwillingness to confront consequence before they become crises. Perhaps the greatest misconception is believing that damage can always be dealt with later. That rivers can wait another year. That forests can afford There is a reason Peaceful Mode is so comforting in Minecraft. The monsters disappear. Hunger no longer drains your health. You are free to build, explore, and gather without constantly looking over your shoulder. For a moment, the world feels forgiving—as if consequences have quietly been switched off. Reality, however, has never offered such a setting. The Earth does not recognize difficulty sliders. Carbon dioxide continues to trap heat whether we acknowledge it or not. Plastic discarded into rivers does not vanish with the current; it breaks apart into microplastics that return through the very water we drink and the food we eat. Pollutants do not ask for permission before entering ecosystems—they simply follow the laws of chemistry and biology. Nature is built on balance, homeostasis. Every forest filters air, every mangrove softens storm surges, every river carries life beyond the visible water on the surface. Disturb one part of that system long enough, and the effects ripple outward. Environmental pollution is not a collection of isolated problems—it is a chain reaction, where one neglected consequence quietly becomes the next . If the science is no longer in the picture, then perhaps the real question is no longer scientific. Why, despite decades of research, measurements, and warnings, do the same environmental problems continue to grow? It is not because ecosystems fail to respond. They respond exactly as science predicts. More often than not, it is human decisions that fail to respond with the same urgency. In truth—the same notion from teachers has been repeated for generations on end: “plant trees, water plants, segregate trash.” But when environmental polices only exist on paper, when regulation bends under convenience, pollution stops being an environmental issue. It becomes evidence of a deeper unwillingness to confront consequence before they become crises. Perhaps the greatest misconception is believing that damage can always be dealt with later. That rivers can wait another year. That forests can afford Ateneo de Zamboanga University Junior High School (ADZU-JHS) held the culmination of its annual Fiesta de San Ignacio de Loyola and Nutrition Month celebrations in the school lobby on July 29, 2026. The event was carried out by the Christian Life Education (CLE) and Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE) departments under the theme “One Ignatian Heart, One mission of Service” and “Ignatian Servimos: Together in Nourishment, United in Care for Creation” that featured differe
The Ateneo de Zamboanga University Junior High School community gathered and held its revered celebration of the Feast day of St. Ignatius of Loyola through a Eucharistic celebration, presided by University President Fr. Guillrey Anthony "Ernald" M. Andal, SJ and co-celebrated by school Principal Fr. Roberto “Bert” M. Boholst, SJ, at the Junior High School lobby on July 29, 2026. Meditating on the legacy of St. Ignatius, Fr. Ernald centered his homily on how a life-altering defeat sparked the beginning of his conversion, highlighting that moments of failure can lead to renewal, discernment, and a profound relationship with God. “If you are feeling frustrated, God is there to say, 'Sugohaesseo,' meaning 'You have done well,'" said Fr. Ernald, drawing from Korean culture to remind the community that God recognizes all sincere efforts. Before the mass concluded, Fr. Ernald led a special blessing for the faculty and staff service awardees, recognizing their dedication and commitment to the Ignatian mission. St. Ignatius of Loyola, the school’s patron saint, is annually commemorated on his Feast day, July 31, as founder of the Society of Jesus, whose Ignatian mission grounds all Ateneo institutions. The Mass also marked the opening of the culminating showcases of Nutrition Month (TLE) and Fiesta de San Ignacio (CLE), which commenced with an opening salvo, followed by the Ignatian cosplay contest and Zumba dance activity, and capped with the announcement of winners.AdZU JHS marks Feast of St. Ignatius with Eucharistic MassJob DeveralaFAITH IN ACTION. Fr. Ernald Andal, SJ leads the Eucharistic celebration as the AdZU-JHS community commemorates the Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola at the JHS lobby on July 29, 2026. The celebration highlighted St. Ignatius’ legacy and the community’s continued commitment to the Ignatian mission. | FAITH IN ACTION. Fr. Ernald Andal, SJ leads the Eucharistic celebration as the AdZU-JHS community commemorates the Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola at the JHS lobby on July 29, 2026. The celebration highlighted St. Ignatius’ legacy and the community’s continued commitment to the Ignatian mission. |Robyn YumolAdZU-JHS opens Feria de Ignacio ‘26, creates opportunitiesAnika DelgadoCLUB HUNT. Students explore club exhibits and interact with organization representatives during the Feria de Ignacio ’26 at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University Junior High School on July 15, 2026. The annual club fair introduced students to various organizations and encouraged them to pursue their interests, talents, and passions beyond the classroom. | CLUB HUNT. Students explore club exhibits and interact with organization representatives during the Feria de Ignacio ’26 at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University Junior High School on July 15, 2026. The annual club fair introduced students to various organizations and encouraged them to pursue their interests, talents, and passions beyond the classroom. |Robyn Yumol Ateneo de Zamboanga University - Junior High School (AdZU- JHS) officially launched its annual Feria de Ignacio Club Fair on July 15, 2026, offering Grade 7 students, transferees, and other interested learners opportunities to develop their skills, explore new talents, and join clubs that match their interests. Carrying the theme “One Ignatian Heart, One Mission of Service," this year’s fair gathered different clubs, each showcasing their programs, advocacies, and activities to encourage participation from new and returning students. Club representatives stationed at their respective booths welcomed students and encouraged them to register for membership. Members of the Council of Leaders served as the event’s emcees, delivering important reminders and ensuring that the program ran smoothly. Additionally, organizers name each cluster after significant places St. Ignatius of Loyola visited during his lifetime, including Manresa and Pamplona, connecting the students to the Ignatian values that continue to inspire the community. Students visited different booths, interacted with members, and explored clubs and organizations that aligned with their interests and passions. Moreover, club members promoted their organization around the lobby, encouraged students to register for their clubs, and sold various items in their respective booths. Following the club fair, every club conducted interviews and screenings for registered applicants on July 20-22 and August 3-4, 2026. The annual Feria de Ignacio serves as the school’s club recruitment fair by introducing students to the different clubs and encouraging greater participation in campus life.
AdZURUNNERSMARIA SESECompanionshipCompanionshipWalkingWalkingininMaria SeseTanya De LeonTanya De LeonStudent's Nutrition Go-To FoodMargaux Garcia to eat in moderation, especially things like sweets or desserts. Healthy eating shouldn't always mean trading taste preferences for nutrition. Not all of these options are as drastic as changing whole meals, a lot of students just choose to reach for water instead of a sugary drink or may go for something more balanced, maybe even skip sweets as a whole. These small changes may seem ordinary, something to be repeated — a habit. But day by day, they slowly reform into a healthier lifestyle. So as the sound of the canteen, students setting their plates down onto the table, Ateneo invites its students to not only look for taste, but for nutrition as well. After all, food and drinks isn't just enjoyment — it is a choice that fuels the body and soul. text text text A few inspired Ateneans trail after him, hoping to get their steps in for the day. It is a scenery the community is very much familiar with—students and teachers alike roaming the school grounds after the last bell resounds through the halls. Many choose to walk the cemented path surrounding the building. Others explore inside and try to find new corners around the halls. Few brave the muddy fields that met the rain just hours ago. Some might think that Ateneans are simply health conscious. After all, nutrition is a topic often discussed inside classrooms, even having its very own month-long celebration. Meanwhile, as they all fall to the charm of strolling around lazily under the gentle sunlight, mundane conversations occur within the masses. Students complain about their assignments due the next day while teachers talk about their stressful schedules. Both make unhurried small talk when they pass by one another, oftentimes having new realizations when they exchange curious stories that happen in the same campus. In the late afternoon breeze, a Jesuit in shorts rather than robes, jogs around the campus as part of However, what they rarely realize is that these everyday conversations end up doing more for them than the act of walking itself. As they unravel their overwhelming thoughts, rant about their burdens with friends, and ease their anxiety with corny jokes, it slowly becomes a little easier to breathe. Somehow, their stressful day ends with small smiles and genuine laughter. It becomes routine for the average Atenean to walk the same path with the same friends, to converse with the same people, and to conclude their day with chatter that sounds exactly like home. Somewhere along the way, the supposed health benefits of walking isn’t what keeps them staying a little bit longer when the day is finally over. Rather, what really makes it worthwhile is the warm company Ateneans never fail to give wherever and whenever. That reason is a much more meaningful one to stay behind, even if left unsaid. Perhaps, it may be the quietness of the companionship that makes it even more special—one that does not ask for more than a few minutes of banter in exchange for the familiar comfort it gives. Hundreds of students crowded in one canteen, most of them focused on simply eating, some on conversations with their friends. So many choices for food and drinks, no doubt that all of them must be delicious. But the month of July opens up an intriguing question: What do the Ateneans choose nutrition-wise? Ateneo De Zamboanga University (ADZU) has been celebrating nutrition month all month-round for this July, reminding its students that nutrition matters as much as taste does in what they consume. However it isn't that easy to actually moderate one's food choices. In school, nutritional choices are hard to make, especially in a canteen full of scents and the sight of students indulging — the healthier choice can easily become a total afterthought. Ateneans may choose solely based on how affordable it is, or how familiar it is to their own palette. Yet behind every order placed or food tasted, there is something a student, more often than not — fails to actually consider what their body might need, this is why students have their nutrition food go-to meals already in mind. even healthy if eaten in limits. Some may even opt for available classic Filipino The options of nutrient-dense meals, often chosen by Ateneans, may be simply fried chicken or meat meals — protein filled and yummy, even healthy if eaten in ha ADZU's Nutri-Choice:ADZU's Nutri-Choice:limits. Some may even opt for available classic Filipino vegetable meals, something light to keep their their stomachs full. Most choose
The fun thing about Jenga is the thrill. You know the blocks aren’t on your side, but you can bank on them not being on your opponent's side either. You're well aware it takes one slip of the hand for the tower to topple over, deeming one side a winner, and that's the entire fun of it. Now, when we see that very balancing act in real-world politics, when politicians decide to stack promises upon promises without much solid foundation — like they don't realize it's not just wooden blocks at stake, but an entire country — it's suddenly a lot less fun. Last Monday's State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. laid out an ambitious picture of where the country stands and where his administration intends to go. From infrastructure and public services to economic growth and government reform, the speech attempted to reassure the public that progress is underway. On climate and disaster resilience, Marcos highlighted initiatives to strengthen the country's preparedness for natural disasters, improve water management, and expand renewable energy efforts. He emphasized that development should not come at the expense of sustainability, framing resilience as a necessary investment rather than an optional one. But do we ever hear how the mechanism on how this will be worked towards? On the economy, the president focused on job creation, infrastructure projects, investments, and measures intended to ease the cost of living. He also further affirmed the economic benefits of Pax Silica, noting the millions of job opportunities it holds for the Filipinos — but not quite much about the job opportunities that run our economy that it does end up taking: farming and fishing.Jumpingthe Gun Jumping the gun is an idiom that describes acting too quickly, often before fully understanding a situation. While swift action may project decisiveness, haste does not always translate to meaningful solutions. More often than not, it results in responses that address the symptoms of a problem while leaving its roots untouched. Too often, our response to violence in schools follows this same impulse. A student pulls a punch or pulls out a weapon in different cities, different circumstances. Almost immediately, the familiar response follows from government agencies, legislators, and schools alike: ban off-campus activities, prohibit certain items, tighten regulations, cancel field trips, and confiscate anything that could potentially be used as a weapon. These measures are understandable. When tragedy strikes, institutions are expected to respond. Parents seek reassurance, schools review their protocols, and students deserve to know that the adults entrusted with their safety are taking action. Immediate interventions have their place. Like a tourniquet on an open wound, they help contain the damage while larger solutions are being developed. But should damage control be the only control an institution has? Must tragedy always precede meaningful reform? Does change require national headlines before schools begin examining the conditions that allowed violence to emerge in the first place? These questions become even more pressing when considering the role schools are meant to play. Education is, by nature, preventive. Schools are not merely spaces where knowledge is transferred but communities where character is formed. They are responsible for cultivating judgment, empathy, resilience, and the ability to live peacefully with others. Yet, when violence occurs, schools often default to the easiest actions available. It is easy to inspect bags. It is easy to suspend activities. It is easy to release statements condemning violence. It is easy to remove scissors from classrooms or tighten disciplinary policies. These actions are visible. They demonstrate that something is being done. But they do not necessarily answer the more uncomfortable question: Why did violence become imaginable in the first place? A student determined to harm others does not depend solely on a particular object. A pencil, a chair, or any ordinary item can become dangerous under the wrong circumstances. The problem has never been limited to the weapon itself. It lies in the conditions that make violence seem like an acceptable response. This is why security cannot end with bag checks. Physical security measures have value. They may deter certain threats and help prevent prohibited items from entering school grounds. However, they are only one layer of protection. They cannot detect emotional distress, unresolved trauma, persistent bullying, social isolation, or deteriorating mental health. They cannot replace meaningful relationships between students and educators. Nor can they cultivate the values that discourage violence long before security personnel ever inspect a backpack. For AdZU in particular, a Jesuit institution grounded in Ignatian spirituality, the response to such incidents should reflect its commitment to cura personalis—care for the whole