The Wizard Dispatch

06/11/2024

𝗜𝗡 𝗣𝗛𝗢𝗧𝗢𝗦: The collaboration between the College of Computer Studies (CCS) Wizards and the School of Education (SOE) Phoenixes defied expectations and proved to be a formidable competitor in this year’s Xavier Cup. Held from October 19 to 26, the annual sports tournament saw CCS and SOE students rallying to support their alliance, known as the Legion.

From the start to the final day, Legion representatives faced stacked odds against the various colleges of Xavier Ateneo. One of the highlights, the cheer dance competition, posed a significant challenge, as other colleges were eager to capture the tournament’s first gold medal. In the end, the Legion Cheer Squad achieved 346.50 points, finishing 5th in the cheer dance rankings.

The legionnaires bounced back in the remaining days of the competition, securing numerous medals across a variety of events. They won medals in Table Tennis, Badminton, Discus Throw, Taekwondo, Karate-do, and Football. The Legion also achieved podium finishes in eSports, earning bronze medals in Call of Duty: Mobile, Valorant, and Dota 2.

As The Xavier Cup drew to a close, the Legion tallied a total of 27 medals: 9 gold, 6 silver, and 12 bronze, totaling 758 points. This achievement secured them 6th place in the final standings, a repeat of last year’s 6th-place finish, though with a marked improvement from last year’s 682 points.

Photos by Renzo Arbole, Remwell Pepito, Fruee Jane Jaquilmac, and Aleo Alburo
Report by Aleo Alburo

06/08/2024

𝗜𝗖𝗬𝗠𝗜: On August 5th, the College of Computer Studies (CCS) held its annual pinning ceremony for the Class of 2025 at the Xavier University Immaculate Conception Church. Parents, faculty, and staff attended this event to celebrate the incoming interns about to join the workforce.

The ceremony began with a mass, led by Fr. Mars P. Tan, SJ, welcoming and blessing the future interns, immediately followed by opening remarks from CCS Dean Meldie Apag, who welcomed the student interns to this new chapter in their academic journey, reminding them that the ceremony symbolizes the transition from students to professionals, ready to be a positive impact in their chosen fields.

Randell M. Cordova led the students from the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Information Technology, Information Systems, and Entertainment and Multimedia Computing programs in reciting the Pledge to Lead, affirming their commitment to excellence and integrity.

Vice President for Higher Education Dr. Juliet Dalagan gave the closing remarks, highlighting that this batch has been part of the "pandemic batch" and extending best wishes to the student interns as they embark on their internships. She expressed eagerness to welcome them back and hear about their experiences.

The commissioning ceremony aimed to send forth the interns with a message of encouragement, hoping that their internships would develop their competence in their respective fields. This event marks the beginning of a new era for the Wizards, Class of 2025, as they take the first steps toward their professional futures.

Photos by Christian Porol, Renzo Arbole, Nichole Guivencan, and Cherie Estrera
Report by Nesyl Ylanan and Aleo Alburo

18/07/2024

𝗢𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗢𝗡: A tool turned crutch
𝘉𝘺 𝘙𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘦 𝘏𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘢 𝘋𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘛. 𝘙𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘰

I was there to witness the turning point of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Generative AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Bing Chat, among others, became the ideal partner for finishing mundane tasks such as paraphrasing paragraphs or giving ideas for the next essay to haphazardly submit at the very last second. I was one of those people, I admit. There was so much more to do than to contemplate the next synonym of “because” to convince my professor that yes, I was listening to your online class about ethics and morality. Not at all dozing off to continue whatever dream I had earlier.

Using AI chatbots felt like cheating. Because I skipped so many parts of a creative thought process, my outputs weren’t something I felt I “owned.” Not in a sense, anyway. While it was true that the thought that sparked the topic was my idea, formed by my mind and understanding; Is it still my own when the rest of the process was fed to a machine to produce a perfect yet lackluster result? I could do the whole thing by myself, but I found myself whisking away that thought for a more efficient path. The less time spent thinking, the more time I could spend playing the hours away after all.

The feeling persisted throughout every activity that included writing, it gnawed on me like a prickly heat under a hot day. Guilt rushed through my fingers every time I typed in a prompt. I know the tool itself wasn’t bad, in fact, it was a lifesaver. It was the way I used it that really rubbed me the wrong way. And so I started to think about it, the reason why we used chatbots in the first place is to lessen the process—not replace the process in its entirety.

The overreliance on AI chatbots stunts growth. A double-edged sword that can make or break you. It is meant to aid in times when ideas are short and never should it be the idea itself. Sacrificing creativity and authentic learning for efficiency isn’t the answer to improving as people. But to use tools that can enhance creativity leads to a more free way of thinking. I want to use AI chatbots to aid in my work. I want to freely say that the tool made it easier—but reading it will undeniably show it's more human than machine. And despite the aid of a machine, my work could still resonate with people’s hearts.

———

𝙀𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙤𝙧’𝙨 𝙉𝙤𝙩𝙚: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘪𝘻𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘑𝘶𝘭𝘺. 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘟𝘜 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘢𝘸 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘢 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘸𝘪𝘻𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩@𝘨𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮.

17/07/2024

𝗢𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗢𝗡: Finding strength in adversity
𝘉𝘺 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘙. 𝘓𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘢𝘺

Uncertainty and fear marked the beginning of my college journey. Four years ago, the COVID pandemic forced us to adapt to a new reality, where physical distancing and stringent health measures have caused the world to slow down and seemingly come to a halt. With this came an imposed change in our lives, which for me was the detour of my path to aviation and led me to Cagayan de Oro, pursuing Information Technology—a field I was unsure about.

The abrupt transition was turbulent as I found myself grappling with the complexities of a discipline I did not expect to immerse myself in. The initial months were filled with confusion and self-doubt as I struggled to understand programming fundamentals and concepts where even a simple for-loop seemed to be impossible to grasp, and there was that looming sense of regret that I could not pursue what I originally wanted.

However, as the days turned into weeks and the weeks into months, I realized I had a choice to make: I could either continue to resist this new path or throw myself into it wholeheartedly. Recognizing that this was my reality, I chose the latter. I made use of the large amount of time at my disposal due to the lockdown and started studying more of the lessons and concepts. It felt forced, but I carried on.

Eventually, I started exploring new topics on my own and experimenting with code. I took the opportunity of exams and activities to really go beyond and try my best to see how far I have gone. It also helped that I surround myself with positive and amazing people whom I am grateful for their never-ending support.

Along the path, I hadn't realized how far I had gone, how much I had grown, and how much I had already fallen in love with IT. I only realized halfway through that I had not only become more confident but also discovered the beauty in adversity.

Those trying times put me down along with many others, but I chose to embrace my situation and tried to find the beauty of it, where despite the circumstances I still managed to grow and now it has blossomed into passion, dedication, and competence for a field I once regarded as alien. Let us choose to take the challenge presented before us, choose the right people to surround us, and throw ourselves at it wholeheartedly.

———

𝙀𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙤𝙧’𝙨 𝙉𝙤𝙩𝙚: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘪𝘻𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘑𝘶𝘭𝘺. 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘟𝘜 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘢𝘸 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘢 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘸𝘪𝘻𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩@𝘨𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮.

16/07/2024

𝗢𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗢𝗡: Still figuring things out
𝘉𝘺 𝘒𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘦 𝘚. 𝘠𝘦𝘦

When I started college, I wasn't sure which program to take. But eventually, I chose Information Systems—one that only a few knew about and where I was the only student of my batch during the first semester of my freshman year.

I had doubts at first. Was this a mistake? But I was curious. Despite feeling different from my friends in more popular majors like nursing, engineering, and business-related programs, I delved into learning about databases, programming, and how technology helps businesses.

Surviving college wasn’t just about classes and studying for me. It was finding the right circle of friends that kept me motivated and helped me stay within my chosen path. Being around supportive friends and joining organizations gave me reasons and inspiration to stay.

Although I experienced setbacks like drifting apart from some people along the way and questioning my decision countless times, I persevered. I saw them as an opportunity for growth, teaching me how to be resilient and the importance of staying true to myself.

Choosing a less popular program taught me the importance of taking risks and facing uncertainty. It showed me that true success comes from pursuing what inspires me, even if it means stepping into the unknown.

Embracing this journey of the unknown is not just about finding a job or a title, it’s about understanding myself deeply and aligning my choices with my passions and values. With every challenge and unexpected turn, it taught me valuable lessons, bringing me closer to uncovering my full potential.

Now, as a graduate, I've learned that success isn't just about following a clear path. It's about finding what makes you happy and doing something meaningful. Trying an unfamiliar program taught me to be brave, explore new interests, and stick to my beliefs.

What’s next? I am still figuring it out. I think I will find my direction soon. This uncertain time will make sense in the future. It is all part of discovering where I belong and what truly fulfills me. I believe my journey of exploring different paths will eventually lead me to the right one.

I've come to understand that uncovering one's true calling is a gradual process. It's about embracing the journey rather than rushing to the destination. Each step forward enriches my understanding and enables me to make a meaningful impact.

———

𝙀𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙤𝙧’𝙨 𝙉𝙤𝙩𝙚: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘪𝘻𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘑𝘶𝘭𝘺. 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘟𝘜 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘢𝘸 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘢 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘸𝘪𝘻𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩@𝘨𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮.

15/07/2024

𝗢𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗢𝗡: I wasn’t prepared for this
𝘉𝘺 𝘑𝘶𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘌𝘺𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘠. 𝘑𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘣𝘢𝘴

Ever since my adolescence, all I could think about was to graduate, become independent, move away, and have a life of my own. But now that I hold the piece of paper that serves as the one-way ticket to it all, everything seemingly became so daunting, elusive, and hard to let go.

Who knew my routine would suddenly change in a snap on the most random day? Who knew the future I always envisioned would later seem too impossible to reach? Who knew I would be so sentimental about the bonds I formed? I guess nobody—but now I do.

I always looked forward to this, but nobody prepared me for the overwhelming emotions of saying goodbye to the familiar faces and places that have been my sanctuary for the past two years. And I hate the pandemic for robbing me of so many opportunities and possibilities that could’ve happened in the first two years.

No more echoing laughter in the hallowed university halls. No more asking and comparing answers after a brain-racking exam. No more sleeping in the most random places on campus after a sleepless night of reviewing or writing a thesis. No more having the first meal of the day during lunchtime at Magis Canteen or a nearby 𝘬𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘢 with friends. How can I relive all of these now that I’m no longer a student? I just wish I had known they would become my fondest memories while I was still living in the moment.

I am so unprepared to face another chapter where I don’t have the faintest idea of what might happen. The safety net of being distracted by my academic and organizational responsibilities is now gone, and the vast expanse of possibilities stretches out before me.

But things can’t stay the same, can they? And maybe we can adapt to change like we always did. Unpreparedness may be one of the reasons why this new, unfamiliar journey is significant and profound. Uncertainties, new beginnings—they could be a door to finding our feet and realizing our potential.

Cliché as it sounds, I still believe everything will fall into its rightful place someday—we all will get there. Maybe not as we planned, but hopefully it is something we deserve. So, here’s to embracing the warmth of the unknown.

———

𝙀𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙤𝙧’𝙨 𝙉𝙤𝙩𝙚: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘪𝘻𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘑𝘶𝘭𝘺. 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘟𝘜 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘢𝘸 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘢 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘸𝘪𝘻𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩@𝘨𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮.

14/07/2024

𝗜𝗖𝗬𝗠𝗜: The College of Computer Studies (CCS) proudly conferred degrees upon its undergraduate and graduate students during the 85th Commencement Exercises held at the XU Gymnasium on July 11.

The Hooding Ceremony, scheduled at 1:30 PM, started around 2:00 PM along the Finance Office pathway. Parents of the graduates proudly adorned their sons' and daughters' heads with gray-colored hoods in a symbolic gesture of academic achievement.

CCS, together with the College of Engineering (COE), College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), and School of Education (SOE), gathered at the XU Gymnasium to commemorate the completion of their studies.

Vice President of Higher Education Juliet Dalagan presented the candidates for graduation from the four programs. A speech from XU President Fr. Mars Tan followed, culminating in the ceremonial turning of the tassels as they were conferred their degrees and awarded their diplomas. CCS graduates cross the stage to receive their degrees, followed by their counterparts from COE, SOE, and CAS, each led by their college deans.

The ceremony proceeded with the presentation of academic honors and loyalty awards. The solemn Graduation and Alumni Pledge followed, led by XU Alumni Association President Robert W. Raypon.

As the ceremony drew to a close, Fr. Mars Tan delivered his parting message and offered a heartfelt blessing to the graduates. The event concluded with the graduates singing the XU Hymn, marking the culmination of their academic journey.

Report by Christina Francine Pioquinto
Photos by Aleo Alburo

11/06/2024

In a memo released on June 10, University President Fr. Mars Tan SJ announced that the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities (PAASCU) granted Computer Science and Information Systems programs re-accreditation for five years. This decision was confirmed in a letter dated June 5, following the PAASCU visit last April.

College of Computer Studies (CCS) dean Dr. Meldie Apag and Vice President for Higher Education Dr. Juliet Dalagan were congratulated by Tan for this achievement. He also expressed his gratitude to the PAASCU team, former CCS dean Engr. Gerry Doroja, Strategy and Quality Management Office, Physical Plant Office, and other central administration offices for offering their support to CCS.

Tan concluded his message by stating, “PAASCU re-accreditation is the seal of quality assurance that at Xavier Ateneo, our students truly experience excellence.”

Read the full memo here: https://www.xu.edu.ph/presidents-memo-link/6570-memo-u2324-088-paascu-re-accreditation-of-the-computer-science-and-information-systems-for-five-years

Report by Julian Eymard Janubas

21/05/2024

𝗙𝗔𝗕𝗘𝗥 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: The Xavier Computer Enthusiasts' League (XCEL) Electoral Commission (ELECOM) officially opened the voting period for XCEL Elections 2024 yesterday, May 21.

All current Computer Science (CS) students are encouraged to cast their vote on or before tomorrow, May 22.

Online ballot forms can be accessed here: https://forms.gle/G6NHspvg7ZSaTeMP9

Report by Julian Eymard Janubas
Layout by Kyla Marie Otacan

15/05/2024

The second-year students of the Entertainment and Multimedia Computing (EMC) program are set to screen their six animated films at Faber Hall 202–203 on Friday, May 17, from 1–5 PM.

Dubbed “Frame by Frame: Reach for the Stars,” the event is supported by the faculty members and their co-curricular organization, the Ateneo Information Systems Student Association (AISSA).

The following student-animated films are the outputs of the merged final project of their EMC 22 – 2D Animation and Design and EMC 30 – Design and Production Process courses:
• When Nature Calls by BATANADELA
• Fishy Dish by Silly Strings
• Tainted by LAZER Studios
• The Beast of Revelation by Studio GYATT
• Routing Maintenance by Studio EMERGE
• Cy by Red Label

Attendees are encouraged to wear cosplay costumes.

Report by Julian Eymard Janubas
Posters courtesy of AISSA

13/05/2024

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙙𝙞𝙙 𝘾𝘾𝙎 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚? 𝙇𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙌 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙀 𝙤𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙠𝙚𝙮𝙗𝙤𝙖𝙧𝙙. 👀

The College of Computer Studies (CCS) Wizards took the Huge W as the CCS Week 2024 came to an end. The week-long celebration was filled with various activities including sports and esports tournaments. As Wizards compete to win glory and magic, they stand at the nexus of strengthening their bond not just as a college but as students of Xavier Ateneo.

Witness the Wizards through this video as they are with magic beyond their field of studies, but with magic that spells camaraderie, growth, and excellence.

(No copyright infrigement is intended. We do not own nor claim the audio used in this video presentation)



Video by Fruee Jane Jaquilmac, Julio Ceasar Napone, Aleo Alburo, and Remwell Pepito
Motion Graphics by Enzo Rabaya

12/05/2024

𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗞: Xavier Computer Enthusiasts' League (XCEL) Electoral Commission (ELECOM) releases the official slate of 2024 XCEL elections.

Report by Julian Eymard Janubas

[𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧]

To: 𝗫𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆
From: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗫𝗖𝗘𝗟 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻
Date: 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟭𝟭, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯
Subject: 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬

12/05/2024

𝗜𝗡 𝗣𝗛𝗢𝗧𝗢𝗦: XU College of Computer Studies (CCS) fourth-year students presented their theses and capstones during the 3rd CCS Research Forum at Faber Hall (FH) 201–203 on May 10, with the theme "Advancing the Nexus of Computing Research for the Community."

The event commenced with an invocation and the singing of the national anthem, followed by an opening speech by Xavier Ateneo – Knowledge and Technology Transfer Office (XA–KTTO) Coordinator Marie Antonette Emata.

Information Technology (IT) and Information Systems (IS) students began their presentations at FH 201 shortly after, while Computer Science (CS) and Entertainment and Multimedia Computing (EMC) students initiated theirs at FH 202–203.

"Evaluating the Effectiveness of SVM Using Students' Behavior from LMS Data" and "Streamlining XU Campus Security: A Dynamic QR Code Entry/Exit Visitor Mgt System" were awarded best presentations for CS and IT, respectively.

Moreover, "Utilization of A Web-Based Request System for the Communication and Promotions Office of Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan" and "MontiEdu: An Interactive Simulation for Students in MMS Child Development Center" respectively received the same recognition for IS and EMC.

Awarding of the overall best presentations with cash prizes ensued. The best presentation from IT took 1st place, while the best presentations from EMC and CS placed 2nd and 3rd, respectively.

Closing remarks from CCS Dean Dr. Meldie Apag followed, highlighting the importance of research beyond mere compliance. "This is not only for the grades but also to benefit atong clients—most especially, and of course, be recognized internationally. So, I hope you will aim for that one," she imparted.

The forum then concluded with a photo opportunity per department and collectively.

Report by Julian Eymard Janubas
Photos by Aleo Alburo and Julian Eymard Janubas

10/05/2024

𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗡𝗢𝗪: Fourth-year College of Computer Studies (CCS) students gather at Faber Hall 201-203 to present their theses and capstones for the 3rd CCS Research Forum.

Report by Julian Eymard Janubas
Layout by Kyla Marie Otacan

07/05/2024

𝗜𝗡 𝗣𝗛𝗢𝗧𝗢𝗦: On May 4th, the College of Computer Studies (CCS) Wizards emerged victorious in the Esports Finale at CCS College Week. Participating teams included 6H, Hatagi Kog Babae Pls Brod 2024, CXE, and BLT for the last Valorant games, alongside Gradwaiting, Team Bungkag, Sang’s Angels, and 6H for the Counter-Strike 2 games. Students from CCS celebrated their successes in the Sports and Esports tournaments during the evening at the closing ceremony of CCS College Week.



Words by Nesyl Ylanan
Photos by Daren Jamito, Renzo Arbole, and Aleo Alburo

05/05/2024

𝗜𝗡 𝗣𝗛𝗢𝗧𝗢𝗦: Students from the College of Computer Studies (CCS) filled both covered courts and XU gym with excitement and enthusiasm as Days 2 and 3 of CCS Week commenced on May 2 and 3, 2024. Athletes from the Futsal, Volleyball, and Basketball tournaments ignited fiery displays of skills and effort as they battled to escape elimination. Following the eliminations were the sports' intense semi-finals and champion matches.



Words by Aleo Alburo, Christina Francine Pioquinto, and Christopher Robledo Basin
Photos by Daren Jamito, Julio Ceasar Napone, and Aleo Alburo

04/05/2024

𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗡𝗢𝗪: The Computer Studies Student Council (CSSC) is gearing up to conclude the College of Computer Studies (CCS) Week with a closing program on the XU Magis Roofdeck, set to start tonight at 6:30 PM. The program assures a night of activities with host spiels, quiz bowls, an intermission number by Arkhes and Girlÿver Jandayan, and a performance from the Legion Cheerdance Showcase. Also in the program will be the Tekken 8 Exhibition Matches and the awaited Awarding Ceremony for the sports and Esports tournaments.

Report by Aleo Alburo
Layout by Kyla Marie Otacan