Ate & Kuya Day 2025 Marks Fourth Year of Honoring Support Staff

“We love and appreciate you, ates and kuyas!”

This was the message that Grade 11 students, along with the school’s Human Resources Department and Outreach Department, wanted to express to our school’s support and service staff this Christmas season, during the Ate & Kuya Day event held last November 29.

First organized in 2022 as one of the social impact projects for the Empowerment Technology (EmTech) subject, Ate & Kuya Day was such a heartfelt success that future batches made it a yearly event. Now in its fourth year, this year’s gathering was arranged by Project Manager Gianna Oreese Villacorta, along with batchmates Dylan Riley Co, Rhian Denise Hang, Vanna Isabelle Ho, Gabrienne Eira Lao, and Bethany Grace Tan of batch Olive for their EmTech subject. 

Guided by the theme Sinagtala—or starlight—School Principal Evangeline Co opened the event by emphasizing the essential role of support staff in the school. She expressed how they serve as a constant light and guide to the school community, helping the school become a more nurturing place for everyone. 

Grade 10 Araling Panlipunan Teacher Elgin Mabolo then shared a message on the importance of humility, urging the ates and kuyas to uphold a spirit of service towards others.

The celebration continued as the ates and kuyas participated in a series of lively games, including Guess the Christmas Song, TikTok Dance Challenge, and Deal or No Deal. They also played several station games such as Stacking Cups, Pass the Hula Hoop, Tumbang Preso, Nips and Straws, Sipa, and Cup Pong.

In addition, a video presentation featured teachers and students from various departments expressing their gratitude to the staff for their service to the school, from setting up events and handling technical issues to ensuring safety and faithfully cleaning up after everyone.

The ates and kuyas also went home happy with raffle prizes, which included gift bags, earbuds, Zhen Bao Hotpot vouchers, SM Department store gift vouchers, and home and kitchen appliances. They were also given a loot bag containing personalized water bottles, two-kilogram sacks of rice, canned goods, one daily devotional book, mamon, spaghetti, and spaghetti sauce. 

“I hope the event can show the ates, kuyas, and guards just how much the MGCNLCA community appreciates them for all the hard work they do for us every day. Through the event, I hope they go home encouraged and inspired by all the blessings and messages shared by the faculty, students, and parents,” Villacorta shared.