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Colegio San Agustin-Makati is not just a building. We, Augustinians, regard it as our second

home. This is where we spend most of our day - where we practically grew up. Our values: our morals,

our everyday life; and our dreams and aspirations - all part of who we are, all part of our

Augustinian identity.

Forty years ago, Colegio San Agustin-Makati started out from scratch. Through its constant

pursuit for excellence, it has dramatically grown into a world-class learning institution as it is

today. At present, it houses more than five thousand students geared at becoming the country's, if

not the world's, next Christian leaders.

Provincia Augustiniana del Santissimo Nombre de Jesus de Filipinas founded Colegio San

Agustin, Makati in 1969. Priests from the Order of St. Augustine (OSA) serve as fortresses to the

growth of CSA-Makati through the years.

When Colegio San Agustin - Makati started out in 1969, it was not like our way of living

now. It actually began with 314 boys and just 1 girl in the Grade School Department. There was only

one basketball court.

Now, there is a more-or-less equal number of boys and girls. There are many covered courts, the

longest school cafetorium in Asia, air-conditioned classrooms and offices, a state-of-the-art theatre,

a word-class gymnasium on the rise, and a safe and sound environment conducive to learning. Of

course, let us not discount the fact that we have the best teaching force, dedicated and visionary

administrators, and hardworking administrative and maintenance staff.

In line with the school's 40th anniversary, we, the present generation of Augustinian leaders,

assume responsibility in preserving our glorious tradition, our beloved heritage. One is to maintain high

academic performance and scholarly status; two, demonstrate exemplary conduct; three, represent the

school in competitions in and out of the country; four, uphold the school's positive image; five,

strengthening our community extension services; and most importantly, witnessing our Augustinian

core values, namely: simplicity, concern for the common good, friendship, respect and concern for

God's creation, service to the Church, search for truth, interiority, humility, justice and peace, and

leadership and commitment.

The tradition lives on!

Of timeless tradition40csa

1 40th Anniversary

Showers of excitement, smiles, and commemoration filled the

atmosphere as Colegio San Agustin Makati launched the year-long

thcelebration of its 40 Founding Anniversary last August 31, 2008.

Family and friends all gathered together sharing priceless moments - a

perfect setting for the celebration, whose theme: “Joyfully soaring at 40

Together with Minds and Hearts Aflame in God Forever” was splashed across

a giant tarpaulin canvas, strikingly being unfurled.

Sponsored by the CSA alumni, the celebration launch had bazaars

enclosing the Preschool's covered court and surrounding vicinities. The event

was kicked-off via the Augustinian Family Mass. This moment wherein

families and friends alike gather together, sharing a bond and at the same

time worshiping God, was truly a magical sight to see. After the ceremony,

everyone took to the field to witness history again unfold.

40 white doves released into the clear bright sky represented the years

1969 to 2009: Colegio San Agustin’s 40 productive and eventful years. A

wonderful variety of field performances, prepared and participated in by the

different academic departments and showcasing ethnic Filipino festive

dances like the Sinulog (HS), the Dinagyang (GS), and the Maskara (PS) plus

a Neo-ethnic number (Admin Staff) capped the celebration with remarkable

success.

With this, the eagles have soared high once more and the talons of the

Augustinian Spirit have grown much stronger. Long live CSA!

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Celebration Launchby Allison Pascual

2First Holy Communion

3Retreats & Recollections

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Every year, there is a special day wherein we are invited to dwell in God's presence - when we are asked to talk and listen to Him. On that day, we give the utmost importance to the Lord. This day is a day of Recollection & Retreat.

Augustinians from Grades 1 to 6 are enjoined to this experience via the recollection wherein half a day is usually devoted to this encounter with God. Different activities such as praying, singing, and writing down journals help the participants to make this meeting with God memorable and meaningful, if not transforming.

The 1st to the 5th graders are guided through this experience by their CLE teachers and the indefatigable CLE Coordinator, Ms. Kitte Santos. The Grade 6 is taken care of by CLE teachers and a Recollection Master.

Meanwhile, the 7th graders have their retreat. hey get a chance to get to know themselves and each other better while communing with God in a retreat house in Tagaytay. They are accompanied through this journey of new discoveries by their adviser, CLE teacher, and a Retreat Master.

Recollections and retreats are essential. They provide us a sort of an alone time with God, allowing us to converse with Him freely and enabling us to understand more of our faith and beliefs. It is a time to grow in God's love, a time to understand one’s purpose and direction, and a time to be united with others in God.

For 2 days and 1 night, t

Viva Sto. Niño! This perhaps is the resounding cry of devout Catholics throughout the country on this special day of the Child, Jesus – but for the Augustinian 2nd graders, it takes a whole new different light!

Dressed in praline white and adorned with beaming smiles – the CSA 2nd graders, known today as the First Holy Communicants, troop to the CSA chapel to grace their first official participation in the celebration of the Holy Mass as they receive, for the first time, the Body of Christ in the Holy Sacrament of Communion.

An event of religious significance, this day of “firsts” finally came after a week-long practice and years of preparation through catechism courtesy of their advisers and CLE subject teachers. A short agape and a frenzy of cameras clicking complete the celebration and commend the whole event into a truly memorable experience.

The First Holy Communion, usually the second of the 7 sacraments we officially receive, is important in our lives. It introduces us to the Body of Christ, placing us onto the threshold of this new and continuous relationship with Jesus as we receive Him to work in us. With each “communion” with Him, we strengthen our faith and become better Christians and true children of God.

by Angela Rebecca I. Flestado & Lara Andrea R. Montales

by Lara Andrea R. Montales

4Marian Month Celebrations

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Thousands of devout Catholics come together this month to parade more than a hundred images and statues of the Blessed Virgin Mary in a solemn procession to commemorate her birthmonth.

Known as the Marian Procession, this September revelry in honor of the Blessed Mother is one event every Augustinian student looks forward to.

With the ceremonies commencing at the high school covered court via a short opening prayer and a chorus dedicated to Mary, the procession got off to a start as the Augustinian revelers uttered the first lines of the Apostle's Creed – the opening prayer for the Holy Rosary, a

devotional prayer given to us by the Blessed Virgin herself. Leading the procession was the salute “Ave Maria”

devotedly carried by high school students, ushering the Holy Cross and an image of the Virgin Mary being supported by chosen CSA students, employees and parents and f l o c k e d b y t h e c u t e s t preschoolers dressed as angels.

Each grade level sent a group of representatives to join in on the procession to continuously pray the Holy Rosary as they trail behind the beautifully adorned images and portraits of the Blessed Mother representing her different roles and titles significant to our religious life. These faithful participants accompanied the images constantly singing Marian hymns after completing a decade for each mystery of the Holy Rosary.

T h e r e s t o f t h e Augustinian community is set up along the route of the procession, joining in on prayer and hymn, waving and cheering as the processionals pass them by. At the CSA chapel, they wait along the path and made room to let the images pass as the procession finally reaches its final destination.

With spontaneous applause, they show their joy and faith as the images of the Blessed Virgin are moved forward to be set up at the altar. Soon after the images were incensed, the celebration was solemnized by Rev. Fr. James G. Uy, OSA via a ceremonial blessing on all the participants.

by Veronica Felice T. Audije

55Amistad Agustiniana

No amount of distance hindered the Augustinian spirit from realizing the Amistad Agustiniana held last January 30-31, 2009 in CSA - Makati, wherein students from different Augustinian schools all over the country celebrated the spirit of friendship and camaraderie. The Amistad Agustiniana gathered students from grade six to 4th year high school to participate in this one-of-a-kind meeting of friends and acquaintances sharing the same Augustinian spirit. The two day revelry proved that Augustinians are undeniably sociable and well oriented – an image of the totally developed person. The Amistad experience was enriched by a series of insightful group works, an amazing Friendship Night, heartfelt prayers, and electrifying energizers excitedly participated in by everyone.

The Friendship Night, which started early at 8 pm and ended at 10 in the evening, was easily the best part of the celebration as the students rocked the night away. The Seniors band played for the group who moved and grooved to the beat of every tune played. Afterwards, participants from each Augustinian school vied with each other through a showcase of talents, all amidst the encouragement of each group's signature cheers. A prayer session held at the GS covered court followed by a photo shoot for CSA's 40th anniversary celebration ushered in the activities of the second day. An enlightening kite-making activity dominated the rest of the morning which peaked in after all kites flown up the sky finally descended and settled on the ground – a fitting symbolism to a universal truth in life: Every journey reaches its end!

The Amistad Agustiniana formally ended with the celebration of the Holy Mass.

by Allison Pascual

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by Allison Pascual & Lara Andrea R. Montales

For over 3 centuries we knew them as conquerors who stole our country's freedom under the banner of “cross and sword.” Their 300 years of stay in our country has left us no choice but to assimilate their way of life - their very beliefs and culture - into ours. It was a grim past and yet it was also a past of enlightenment and development – one that we both were able to surpass.

Such is our country's history with Spain that present day relations can only lead to mutual respect and admiration. Today, in CSA, we celebrate this relationship of comradeship and friendship annually in October via the “El Dia De La Hispanidad” - also known as the Filipino-Spanish Friendship Day.

On this day, students come to school wearing their best Spanish costumes eagerly anticipating the opportunity to parade their garbs in celebration of a culture that we know only too well. A day of revelry and remembrance, the event seeks to strengthen the Spanish-Filipino bond by offering a glimpse of our once shared past. During this year of preparation for the 40th founding anniversary; however, CSA also celebrated the United Nations' Day at the same time as El Dia De La Hispanidad, providing the perfect opportunity for our foreign Augustinians to wear their respective national costumes.

Unlike the two year old “El Dia” jubilee, the “UN Day” celebrations started a long time ago on October 24, 1948. This event commemorates the United Nations' coming into force when the five permanent members of the Security Council - France, Republic of China, The Soviet Union, United Kingdom, and the United States - approved the charter of peace that had been drawn up earlier that year.

6El Dia De La Hispanidad & UN Day Celebrations