AJHS Study Tour 2025: the 5 C's and my trip to Australia

Ateneo de Manila Junior High School (AJHS) conducts annual Global Study Tours to give students the opportunity to travel abroad and deepen their understanding of the global community.

From 11 to 19 June 2025, 22 AJHS student delegates, accompanied by one teacher and one administrator, visited Australia. There, they engaged in immersive activities focused on academics, culture, the environment, and leadership.

What follows is the personal account of recent AJHS completer Nathaniel Caparas (10-Pignatelli, Class of 2025).

When I received the invitation to go to Australia, I was thrilled, as it was an opportunity to experience a trip abroad by myself for the first time. Looking back on our departure day, I knew even then that this blessing of an entirely new adventure would be full of lifelong learning and wonderful memories to be made during those nine days. During the trip, I saw how God reminded me of the values that we exemplify as members of the Ateneo community—the 5Cs: Competence, Conscience, Compassion, Commitment, and Christ-centeredness.

First and foremost, COMPETENCE—the ability to enhance overall knowledge—was strengthened through many experiences during the Australia study tour that supported our growth and capabilities as students. During our second and third days, we visited St. Aloysius College, a fellow Jesuit school. There, we learned about the similarities and differences in the academic systems, cultural approaches, and beliefs between Ateneo de Manila University and St Aloysius College. Additionally, this experience was really fun since we got to roam around the campus and had the opportunity to join a few classes with our assigned buddies. In my case, the most memorable and fruitful experience amongst all the classes was Biology since I was able to dissect a cow’s eye and learn about its different parts, such as the “tapetum,” a turquoise layer of the eye.

Furthermore, on our sixth day, we learned about employability skills in the age of artificial intelligence in Macquarie University. One learning from Mr. Prashan, our mentor, was that employability encompasses a growth mindset, lifelong learning, holistic approach, personal branding, and portfolio career, which helped us gain valuable insights into future careers.

Beyond visiting universities, we also had a cultural and environmental activity day. Specifically, we learned about aboriginal or native practices such as weaving, painting, and the use of traditional tools. This activity was truly enjoyable because we discovered new hobbies that we can do in our everyday lives.

We also went to Irrawong Waterfall, which was a 20- to 30-minute walk from where we were staying.  Nonetheless, once we had reached our destination, the breathtaking view washed away our exhaustion. Even though we felt tired during those walks, we learned about various types of creatures and trees. I remember being told that we were walking through a natural habitat for snakes, but luckily, we didn’t encounter any. Not only that, we also practiced our self-reliance by organizing and packing our belongings during the whole trip.

Second, CONSCIENCE—doing what is right—was something that we practiced throughout the study tour. One simple but important aspect of this was following and adapting to the rules of Australia. For example, I learned that when you walk on the sidewalks, I should always go on the left side. While it may seem small, this taught me how even basic actions show respect and discipline. Besides this, one of the memorable and powerful moments that deepened our moral understanding was the visit to the Australian War Memorial. There, we reflected on the sacrifices made by soldiers from around the world, including those from the Philippines during the First and Second World War. We also witnessed the Last Post Ceremony, where we honored and remembered Private John Hanrahan, who served Australia in the First World War. Their sacrifices made clear to me that their courage to protect their own country not only shaped Australian history but the values of peace and justice. This experience truly made me reflect on why some countries still choose to engage in war, even though no one really wins because in every war, lives are lost. Therefore, this realization has driven me to fight for what is right. Even if the battles are not happening in our country, we must still fight and find various solutions to all the wrongdoings so that people may live in peace.

Third, COMPASSION—the ability to show care and love to others—was shown throughout the entire trip, especially in the shared moments with those whom I now proudly call friends. They were the ones who made this study tour truly special every day—whether we were exploring new places, eating breakfast together, or simply laughing over the smallest things. Among all these moments, the most memorable ones were the times when we shared stories with one another and spent our evenings relaxing by the lake. There was even a time when we stayed up past midnight and wandered around the quiet grounds of the place we called home those days, and every laugh and story we shared felt like our way of holding on to the memories just a little longer before parting ways on our final day of the tour.

Alongside this, we also created strong relationships with our teachers, easy tours staff, and Ms. Robyn. There were times when we all helped each other in preparing our food, buying the groceries, and more. With all of these and many other experiences with them, I really felt happy that we found a way to feel like we are one family.

Fourth, COMMITMENT—dedication to one’s responsibilities and goals—was reflected on how we actively participated and listened attentively during activities. For me, this was shown when we visited Questacon - National Science and Technology Centre. There, we were taught how science works through firsthand experiences. Additionally, I remember trying out the earthquake room with my friends and teachers, where we experienced three different types of earthquakes. Beyond these, Questecon also reminded us of our duty as Ateneo students—to deepen our understanding of the sustainable development goals.

One thing that I will always remember was a quote by Ban Ki-moon, former UN Secretary-General: “There is no ‘Plan B’ because we do not have a ‘Planet B.’” This quote also reminded me of Pope Francis’ encyclical letter, “Laudato Si: On Care for Our Common Home.” These two great men made me realize that we truly need to stay committed to finding solutions- no matter how big or small- to make our world a better place. With this in mind, as members of the Ateneo Community, we are called to share our learnings and experiences so that we may help, inspire, and teach others for the GREATER GLORY OF GOD. 

Fifth and most important, the source of the 4Cs, CHRIST-CENTEREDNESS—living a life rooted in the teachings and example of Jesus Christ—was at the heart of this study tour. On the last Sunday of the trip, June 15, we visited St. Mary’s Cathedral, where we celebrated the Eucharistic Mass. For me, this moment was truly meaningful as I was given the opportunity to express my gratitude and offer all my thoughts and prayers to God. In addition to this, we also celebrated a Eucharistic Mass at Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church with the Aloysius students before beginning the day. Experiencing this Ignatian value did not only happen when we visited Churches, but in every single moment of our stay in Australia. We felt God’s presence in our learning, in the people we encountered, in the moments of joy and growth we shared together. Whether through simple and quiet moments or the beauty of the nature around us, what became clear is that God was with us every step of our journey.

Before bringing this to a close, I would like to share my most memorable moment from this trip—one that will always be close to my heart. It happened on June 18, a day before my birthday, when I was surprised by my friends and teachers. During this particular moment, it felt like everything slowed down, as if I were in a dream. Though this was the first time that I celebrated my birthday away from my family, the joy and love I felt from everyone around me filled that gap. In that simple yet profound moment, I remembered that one quote from Themis Solis, “To love is nothing. To be loved is something. But to love and be loved, that’s everything.”

That said, I want to express my utmost gratitude to those who made this tour unforgettable and meaningful. Thank you to my loving and supportive parents and siblings; our teachers, Sir Guerrero and Ms. Reyno; the EasyTours staff, Ms. Chel and Ms. Cha; our EMT, Sir Lloyd; our loving and motherly tour guide, Ms. Robyn; and of course, my friends who became my second family. Furthermore, I want to thank Ateneo de Manila Junior High School for giving me this opportunity, which I also hope all students from grade school to senior high will be given the opportunity to experience this kind of meaningful and enriching activity. Programs like these not only teach us beyond the classroom, but also help us grow as individuals, deepen our values, and build lasting relationships with friends.

AD MAJOREM DEI GLORIAM