BANAAG Yearbook Writeup

If this class were compared to a Filipino dish, it would be a meticulously cooked sinigang. Every student in this class contributes to the harmonic explosion of flavors, just as high quality ingredients provide the same impact. It's no wonder therefore, that when people pass by and taste this class's exquisite diversity, they say that the class is "palatable" and its taste, "memorable."

This sinigang is enriched with the diversity in talent and the degree to which the students have improved themselves through selfless sharing of their God-given skills and gifts. This diffusion of flavors provides the equilibrium that all gourmets look for.

The class in itself has developed into a hodgepodge for leaders, a niche for blooming artists and a home where every person can expose who they are without fear of rejection or neglect. Actually, this class can be considered a utopia in many ways. But 4218's identity would not have been completed without the unwavering support of their second mother, Ms Asther Buban. With every student's uniqueness and this learning group's sincerity, every sip of this priceless sinigang of laughter and joy is in itself an unforgettable experience.

The best thing about this class, however, is that it is not merely a class; it has evolved into a family that will continue to endure the tests of time. What seemed like a lifetime of smiles, sobs, excitements, anxieties, enough to sustain the "perfect" relationship was actually condensed into just a school year - a year that will forever be emblazoned into the students' memories and lives.

4218's legacy to the Ateneo cannot be measured by the awards and distinctions that they received. Rather, what this class prides itself with are the relationships - the unity, life and vigor - that the students have formed with themselves, with their teachers and with this institution itself. In the end, the indelible mark that the class has left is none other than the love that they have created and established.

Indeed, this class has fulfilled the demand of excellence and has radiated its light - its "BANAAG" - to the entire Ateneo community.

- Kenneth Abante