Everything Good under the SOM

The John Gokongwei School held its JGSOM Week with the theme "Everything Good Under the SOM" last 15-22 September 2003.  JGSOM Week packed a non-stop series of events in an eight-day celebration of the school's four years. The affair gathered twelve (12) business-oriented student organizations of the Ateneo and pitted them in a weeklong series of academic and non-academic contests that showcased the students' abilities, creativity, and passion for magis—all in the spirit of friendship and camaraderie.

Here are profiles and the events that were held:

Let the celebration begin! Dean Rudy Ang delivers his opening remarks

SOM Week Olympics style

Student Officers take oath of sportsmanship

Scoreboard about to be unveiled

Scoreboard unveiled

Mr. and Ms. JGSOM 2003

JGSOM Week is the Best!

SOM Week Launch – Competing teams were gathered and took their oath of sportsmanship that signaled the start of the competition. This ten-minute event included a release of balloons, the entrance of the torch carrier, parade of team leaders, and the unveiling of the SOM Week scoreboard. The event was held in September 15 and was sponsored by the BOA.  

Entrepreneurship Expo – The Entrepreneurship Expo was a weeklong bazaar that featured selected successful business enterprises of Ateneo alumni. The expo provided an opportunity for the alumni to share their accomplishments and knowledge to the rest of the Ateneo community. This year's theme was "In Focus: Visions and Ventures." The event was sponsored y AMA. 

Digital Art Gallery – The weeklong digital art contest showcased the Atenean's talent in graphic design. The goal of the event was to hone the skills of students in graphic design and foster friendly competition among the participants. The event was sponsored by MISA. 

Get I.T. – ACTM addressed the questions "What is ICT? What can it do for me?" through a weeklong exhibit of various technologies that drive the society today. The exhibit featured hardware, gadgets, and programs, including informing seminars by prominent people in the I.T. industry.

Corporate Social Responsibility – The MEA-sponsored weeklong event showcased the socially-oriented projects of the JGSOM business organizations. In doing so, these student organizations proved that they do not only train future business leaders into better managers but also socially responsive citizens. The event also included a free medical and dental check-up in cooperation with Pfizer.

Just Give SOM Blood – ACTM, in cooperation with the Philippine Red Cross, sponsored this weeklong Blood Drive.

StAEAtch Our Money – AEA's StrAEAtch Your Peso (SYP): How far will it go garnered praises even outside the university as it became one of the finalists for the Best Organization Project Award in the Junior Philippine Economics Society (JPES) Excellence Awards. Aptly entitled StAEAtch Our Money (SOM): The P100 Challenge, this SYP offshoot was bigger and better. Participants were given a list of products they had to acquire within a hundred-peso budget. Each group scourged Metro Manila to bargain for the cheapest goods and come up with the least expenditure. The event was held in September 15.

Clash of the Intellex 2003 – This event provided JGSOM Business Organizations and their moderators the opportunity to showcase their wit and intelligence through a quiz bee. It was able to promote clean, fun, and learning experiences for the students and the moderators and at the same time, strengthen camaraderie among the organizations. The LEX-sponsored event was held in September 17.

Corporate Cribs­ – This event was a part of a series of learning activities complementing to AIESEC's International Traineeship Exchange Program. This video presentation promoted several companies and programs to the Ateneans through a one-of-a-kind culture and working atmosphere exposure. It was shown at the Escaler Hall in September 18.

Marketing Contest – Students in teams of four (4) or five (5) vied for the marketing trophy as they conceptualized, designed, and presented a marketing strategy that highlighted the role of Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) for the brand and product of the marketing case. The even was sponsored by AJMA and held in September 19. The team that represented MEA won the top prize. 

MACantahan Na! – MACAntahan Na! was an acoustic concert that featured the musical talents of students from the college. Some faculty members and high school students also performed in the concert. The event was sponsored by MACA and held in 19 September for the benefit of CRIBS, Philippines.  

Both Sides of the Coin  – Perspectives on Entrepreneurship – The Entrepreneurship Convention provided students with an opportunity to interact with successful entrepreneurs and to listen to their experiences, preparatory to pursuing paths of their own. Entitled "Both Sides of the Coin: Perspectives on Entrepreneurship," the four sessions tackled on of the most pressing questions on the minds of the students as they consider a future in entrepreneurship. The panelist for each session presented two differing perspectives on the following questions: "To BA or not to BA: Do I need a Business Degree to Go Into Business?,"  "Kinship or Friendship: Should I go Into Business with my Family or with Friends?," " Franchisor or Franchisee: Should I Take  a Franchise of Someone Else's Business or Should I start One Up of My Own?," "The Time is Right – Should I Go Into Business Right After Graduation, or Should I First GoTo work  for someone\ else The event was sponsored by JGSOM, AMA, and the Ateneo Placement office and held in September 20..

Adrenaline – This was the first JGSOM Sportsfest. Basketball and volleyball were the two major events plus fun games and relays were put to add variety. The whole-day affair showcased the athletic abilities of the members of the eleven (11) SOM and BOA organizations. This was sponsored by MECO and held in September 21.  

Mr. and Ms. SOM­ – This was also the JGSOM WEEK AWARDS NIGHT and the culminating event of the weeklong festivities. This was sponsored by BOA and held in September 21.

MECO was proclaimed the over-all student organization champion by earning the highestpoints from all the activities in the week-long celebration. MEA and LEX placed 2^nd and 3^rd respectively.