ISFO Podcast

The 16th episode of ISFO Podcast in collaboration with the Ateneo de Davao Campus Ministry Office-Higher Education Unit is entitled "Right Here Hwaiting For You: An Advent Reflection and Conversation In This Time Of Pandemic".

The Church continues to observe Liturgical Celebrations including Advent despite the Covid 19 that greatly affected the way we celebrate them. Consequently, many of us might have felt the burden of waiting for the time that this crisis would end. This waiting has taught us what matters most in life - our relationships with self, family, others, nature, society and God. May our longings inspire us to value these relationships as we celebrate this season of Advent.

The 15th episode of ISFO Podcast in collaboration with the Ateneo de Davao Senior High School Unit is entitled "Peace be with you: Narratives of Peace".

The annual celebration of Mindanao Week of Peace will commence this November 25 to December 01, 2021. As Mindanaoans, peace is both our aspiration and responsibility. An aspiration that we may live peacefully and our responsibility to make it happen. To participate in this event, the Arrupe Office of Social Formation, Leadership Development Program, Socio-civic cluster, Catholic Social Teachings subject, the Arrupe Volunteers’ Club organize this said celebration.

The 14th episode of ISFO Podcast in collaboration with the Ateneo de Davao Senior High School Unit is entitled "Resilience, Reorientation and Reinvention: Online Leadership in this COVID 19 Pandemic".

As the COVID-19 pandemic spread rapidly across the globe, many schools struggled to react both quickly and adequately. Schools were one of the most important societal institutions to be affected by the pandemic. However, most school leaders have little to no training in crisis leadership, nor have they dealt with a crisis of this scale and this scope for this long.

Digital leadership asks students to consider themselves within the context of digital spaces. It also asks them to consider how they affect and influence others online — and how they can improve those environments for everyone.

The 13th episode of ISFO Podcast in collaboration with the Ateneo de Davao Campus Ministry Office Junior High School Unit is entitled "Hinahanap Hanap Kita: Finding God in this Time of Pandemic".

Having this context, the Junior High School Campus Ministry Office's segment on the ISFO TV Livestream focuses on finding God in this time of the pandemic. It aims to present the stories of some exemplary individuals who were able to cope with the challenges of the time and remained to have a positive outlook on life and a deepened relationship with their God. And, as guided by the university's 1A1P Goal #2/RPP Thrust #4, Goal #2 -Increased number in our institutions (e.g., students, employees, staff) and outside who participate in programs that promote mental and spiritual health, the Livestream is hoped to highlight good and effective practices, habits, and skills adopted by some people to inspire others and possibly provide them an idea of dealing with life while facing the pandemic.

The 12th episode of ISFO Podcast in collaboration with the Ateneo de Davao Formation Office Junior High School Unit is entitled "Bakit Ako? Siya na lang! Kaya ko ba? A Conversation on Contemporary Leadership".

The Ateneo de Davao University Vision and Mission articulate the necessity of forming ADDU Sui Generis Leaders. It is a result of the integration of the four areas of students’ formation namely, human, spiritual, social and leadership of the Jesuit Education.  Sui Generis leaders are educated and formed according to the Vision and Mission of the ADDU. They have optimally benefitted from the life of the University – Jesuit, Catholic and Filipino-and have personally appropriated its values and mission. In this context, they are prepared for a life of leadership dedicated to the common good through careful cultivation of appropriate ideals, virtues and leadership skills”, (J. Tabora, SJ, 2012).

Currently, talks on leadership is the in-thing. The Philippine as a nation will have the election where leadership is will shape a new landscape in the country. It is chance for the then trained leaders-to-be to lead. It is but fitting to conduct a talk on Leadership without taking any political stance or bias. Community leadership have their own terms of office where leaders take turns in leading the group. Often times, when the time comes, invited leaders ask: “ Bakit Ako?’ “Siya na Lang” “Kaya ko Ba?”. These are series of questions that only a leader once say ‘yes” and deployed may be able to answer rightfully. Hence, this concept of a formation talk is put forth: “Bakit Ako?’ “Siya na Lang” “Kaya ko Ba?”: A conversation on Contemporary Leadership.

The eleventh episode of ISFO Podcast in collaboration with the Ateneo de Davao Formation Office Grade School Unit is entitled "The Hard Work and Heart in Teaching".

We live in a world of constant change that is accompanied by both challenges and consolations. As educators in this era, we are frontline in these dynamic and evolving experiences. Different narratives and stories may bring us to a deeper reflection of our personal experiences in carrying out our personal and communal mission as teachers.

Fr. Arrupe wrote that “today our prime educational objective must be to form men-for-others; men who will live not for themselves but for God and his Christ” (Men for Others, Valencia, 1973). While we envision the kind of students that we will provide for society, we, teachers, must first and foremost develop these values and attitudes. The values of commitment, compassion, competence and conscience. The 5C’s for Human Excellence. The aim of Jesuit Education. It will be through this that we can accompany our students most especially today.

The mission to accompany our students is further articulated in the Universal Apostolic Preferences (UAP) which is “journeying with youth” – accompanying young people in the creation of a hope-filled future.
With these challenges in teaching, a live streaming event sponsored by the Grade School Formation Office in collaboration with the Ignatian Spirituality and Formation Office (ISFO) will gather educators from different schools, confronted and immersed in different situations in the delivery of education in our context today. The conversation in this event highlights the sharing of personal experiences, of challenges and consolations, of risks and uncertainties in teaching.

The tenth episode of ISFO Podcast in collaboration with the Ateneo de Davao Campus Ministry Office Grade School Unit is entitled "Tara, TAPOK ta! Talk and Pray for us to be Ok".

Spiritual wellness forms part of the wellbeing of a human person. Thus, this live streaming episode organized by the Ateneo Grade School Campus Ministry Office in coordination with the Ignatian Spirituality Formation Office (ISFO) is a SPIRIT-CHECK. This is an opportunity to discuss and appreciate the God-experiences of the community to ensure, promote and nurture the spiritual wellness of one another.

In our formation sessions, we teach our pupils ways on how to nurture their Spiritual Wellness by finding more time for prayer like mindfulness exercise, examen, guided meditation and cultivating their set of values to guide their decisions and actions. Taking care of our spiritual health is equally important as looking after our physical and mental health because this forms part of our resiliency. Spiritual Wellness is something that we can be connected with someone who is greater than us.

The ninth episode of ISFO Podcast in collaboration with the Ateneo de Davao Guidance Center Higher Education Unit is entitled "Wonder Teacher, Ikaw Naman! Self Care and Wellbeing for Teachers and Staff Amidst the Current Crisis".

On the occasion of World Teacher’s Day, the ADDU College Guidance Center with the Ignatian Spirituality and Formation Office(ISFO) will give tribute to our teachers and school workers who are models of heartfelt dedication and commitment through this event in order to promote their wellbeing.

Every day is an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of students. Beyond teaching the subject matter, this is extended to a chance to take care of the learner. Taking care of the learner is the most challenging part of being a teacher because it takes the whole self to do so- mind, heart and spirit.

Teachers and school workers are also human beings who need care too. How can we thrive as teachers especially during this difficult time? As we witness the suffering of our students and help them cope with their issues, we are also dealing with our own realities.To be a teacher nowadays requires stamina and lot of energies not only with academic pursuits but with dealing with the learner as a person in distress. Self-care and wellbeing are necessary to reach our potentials and mold the potential of our students in the classroom and beyond.

The eighth episode of ISFO Podcast in collaboration with the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines is entitled "Bet mo ba siya? Kwentuhang Eleksyon". Marami ka bang tanong tungkol sa halalan? Di ka pa sure o convinced kung bakit importante bumoto sa darating na eleksyon? Gusto mo lang ba makahanap ng inspirasyon, o makarinig ng mga opinyon bakit mahalaga ang boses mo bilang kabataan?

Kasama natin ang mga estudyante sa iba't-ibang panig ng Pilipinas at papagusapan kung bakit mahalaga makisangkot sa darating na eleksyon.

The seventh episode of ISFO Podcast in collaboration with the Community Engagement Junior High School Unit is entitled "Woke up like this! Gulat ka ba? Mulat? O Gising". If we listen to how people express their thoughts on certain topics or issues nowadays, most of it, if not all, would indicate how polarized our views are. Many tend to feel entitled to their public opinion, without compromise, hence causing a divide in public trust. In most cases the public view is driven by tribalism: we tend to cluster into groups that compete against each other, where negotiation and compromise are perceived as betrayal, whether our views are anchored on political, racial, economic, religious, gender, or generational, cultural and ideological.

The title “Woke Up like This” alludes to the term “woke”, which refers to the manner by which we express our views and opinion to public concerns using social media platforms. This encompasses our levels of our awareness to issues, which affect us (whether they be economic, cultural, racial, political).

The sixth episode of ISFO Podcast in collaboration with the Campus Ministry Higher Education Units is entitled "Buksan, Tuklasin, Suyuin: Pagninilay kay Birheng Maria, Huwaran ng Pananampalataya." This is an invitation that one can look into one’s faith in our kinship with self, others, nature and God. This will be examined through the lens of Mother Mary, the perfect model of  faith that listens, ponders, consents and embraces the will of God. One relatable area that can be examined is how our faith has been affected with this crisis brought by the pandemic.

With this, hopefully we could look at our own lived experiences as we reflect on Mary’s example of faith in responding to God’s invitation and calling for us in this secular age.

The fifth episode of ISFO Podcast in collaboration with the Student Development Center of Ateneo de Davao Grade School is entitled "It's Okay not to be Okay."  It came up with something new for our grade schoolers that will allow them to interact with key persons in the community who can support them emotionally,  mentally and help them realize that it is ok not to be ok. This activity is intended for Grades 4,5 and 6 pupils to help them better understand the importance of mental health at this time of pandemic and learn ways and strategies to cope with online learning and life in general.

The fourth episode of ISFO Podcast in collaboration with the Offices for Student Discipline across all units of the University. This episode aims to (1) discuss about safety and privacy online, and ways that youth can protect themselves; (2) encourage a balanced use of social media (nurturing online and offline relationships); (3) raise awareness on cyberbullying, some of the potential signs of who might be bullying or getting bullied online, and propose solutions; and (4) encourage positive aspects of social media such as connecting with like-minded peers around a special/niche interest.

The third episode of ISFO Podcast in collaboration with the Arrupe Office of Social Formation"O, bai! You Got a Friend in Me". This is a conversation that hopes to be a positive step towards celebrating friendship and collaboration of the Ateneo de Davao University with its IP community partners. Members of the Ateneo de Davao community will share inspiring stories about their meaningful encounters and friendship with indigenous peoples that have transformed their lives for the common good, especially the encounters deepened through the programs of the Arrupe Office of Social Formation.

This is the second episode of ISFO Podcast in collaboration with the Ateneo Senior High School Campus Ministry Office.

This is a reminder of our Marian faith which is also in time for the celebration of the Feast of the Assumption of Mary. Assumption Day commemorates the belief that when Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, died, her body was "assumed" into heaven to be reunited with her soul, instead of going through the natural process of physical decay upon death. By sharing Jesus’ suffering at Calvary, Mary also shares in his Resurrection. Her version of sharing in the Resurrection is the Assumption. With this, we too, look forward to the Resurrection.

This is the first episode of ISFO Podcast in collaboration with the Wellness and Testing Center of the Senior High School Unit. This aims to campaign for mental health awareness and well-being. The event will explore further  mental health issues and struggles as experienced by the AdDU community. The concerns will be discussed and suggestions of ways of moving forward that focuses on forgiveness and building of hope as we welcome another new school year.   

The famous line “Akala mo lang wala pero meron, meron, meron” is incorporated into this week’s theme. This is a reminder that there is hope in every hardship. Being hopeful and moving forward during these days is incredibly difficult and challenging. But after some time, the students will notice that by taking one step after another, they have eventually overcome the struggle.  The willingness to continuously keep moving forward is not only important during tough times. It’s just as important in many other aspects of life as well.