Fr. Xavier Olin, S.J. and Fr. Art Borja, led the celebration of the Mass last November 12, 2008 to remember Xu Guang Qi, our ancestors, and our dearly departed.

Last October 18, 2008 was the turn of the High 4 students to take the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi or the Chinese Proficiency Test.

All majestic undertakings start with a humble meeting of a chosen few. This was the case during the High 3 Xavier-Shanghai Study Tour Orientation held in AVR 1 last Friday October 24, 2008.

Singapore is known as the Tiger City. Whenever we see this name, we think of a first-class nation, where the streets are clean and the crime is virtually zero, and everything seems perfect. However, through the Xavier Singapore Experience, I learned so much more than just that.

Frankly, the journey to Singapore did not start a few months ago, rather it all began from way back, to a time when my senses had a first taste of the excitement of learning and exploring all the great and wonderful things about the earth and about life itself.

With October being the month of the Holy Rosary, the club found it fitting to present various song, dance, and poetry reading performances dedicated to the Virgin Mary by inviting performers from different year levels.

Four members from the high school student council attended iLead (I. Leadership. Excellence. Attitude. Discipline), a convention inviting leaders to join in the protection of Mother Earth, last September 27, 2008 at St. Theresa’s College (STC).

In a stunning display of knowledge on concepts and general science-related subject matter, Marquis Tan (H3B) and Raphael Ku (H3C) entered the Rio Tinto Big Science Competition and emerged as two of the six students who perfected the test.

With their strongest performance in recent history, the Stallion writers rose to second overall in the 15th Division Secondary Schools Press Conference (DSSPC).

The Xavier School Juniors Basketball Team kept possession of the Philippine Athletic Youth Association(PAYA) Juniors Championship for the third consecutive year as it stomped on Claret School of Quezon City(CSQC) 78 - 69 last 29 October 2008 at the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagle Gym. Also, it was Claret’s third bridesmaid finish after wrestling the PAYA title from Xavier in 2005.

The Xavier Midgets Basketball Team beat Ateneo de Manila University last October 18 to finally bag the elusive PAYA Midgets Basketball Tournament Championship.

This member of the Xavier Bowling Team made history last October 5, 2008 as he became the first Xaverian to bowl a perfect “300” game while still enrolled in Xavier.

The fun just never stops with XSBATCH83. Although everyone literally is on overdrive preparing for the Grand Alumni Homecoming this November 29, we managed to break away from it all – if but for an afternoon – to celebrate the birthday of Xavier’s most sought-after politician – Secretary Arthur Yap.

And here are more reasons — FREE Entrance! FREE drinks! and FREE food (yummy)!

In celebration of the Silver Jubilee of Xavier School Batch 83 this year, the XSBATCH83 Foundation is giving out a cash incentive of Fifty Thousand Pesos (P 50,000.00) to the most represented batch in the homecoming this November 29, 2008.

I wasn’t particularly crazy about the “Titanic,” that 1997 movie directed by James Cameron, which, by the way, not only broke box office records but also won the Oscar for Best Picture that year. But years after seeing it, I still remember its final scene.

Today, we praise him and commemorate him, to encourage ourselves to imitate his good deeds. I think we should learn from him, learn from his great wisdom and his four passionate loves.

When the opportunity came for our eldest son to attend the third “edition” of the XCE program, my wife and I hurriedly applied. Why, you may ask? It is probably best captured by three basic reasons: Immersion, Independence and Character Formation.

On Nov. 11, close friends and associates gathered to greet Fr. Ismael Zuloaga a “Happy Birthday!” It was a belated celebration since his birthday happened during the semestral break.

I also would like to thank you for all the prayers offered by so many persons during the celebrations. We felt moved by the Xavier School choir and by the presence of many concelebrating priests, religious, and lay people.

The November Xavier Family Mass was an occasion to honor our ancestors, our beloved departed, and Hsu Kuangchi whose 375th death anniversary was commemorated on the same day, November 8.