The Ateneo JSEC Experience

JSEC has been one of the most common hangout places of students. As early as 7:00am, you see students studying, sleeping or talking with friends until classes start. It doesn’t just serve the purpose of a cafeteria where you just buy the food, eat and leave but a sanctuary where you can make noise, gather tables and chairs to fit the number of friends eating together.

Yes, the number of students who eat there especially during peak hours are too much, add that with the heat of the sun and the “JSEC smell” makes the appeal of JSEC not as enticing but still students will always come back to that place.

My first year in Ateneo, JSEC seemed like the perfect place to just chill and eat with blockmates instead of walking to Katipunan and eating in McDonalds. But just like all things, the hype and excitement for a place dies down and after eating the food there almost everyday, we tend to crave something else. Even up to today in my junior year, trying most of the stalls already and its not even half of the school year makes me and my friends brave the heat to walk to Katipunan to eat something else. Yet despite the having the same kind of food everyday, it nice to know that JSEC will always be there to welcome us back with the chairs that get more comfortable the longer you sit, the worry of not being able to find tables before your next class along with the teamwork you and your friends have to find those “rare Pokemon” tables.

As college students, one of our main worries is our performance in class. The Ateneo culture is probably one reason why most, if not all, students are grade conscious. But we must always remember that as students we are also responsible for our own health! Now to help all those health conscious Ateneans out there, if you are feeling lost in JSEC and don’t know where to buy your daily dose of healthy food, here’s our guide for you!

SaWrap

SaWrap is a Filipino take on burritos, only extra healthy! Their wraps are a mix of vegetables like lettuce, cucumber, tomato, spring onions and bean sprouts. Now that sure is a healthy and delicious way to serve a dish.

Ampersand

Last Nutrition Week, while most JSEC stalls came up with their new healthy food, Ampersand has already got it going. Their daily dose of healthy food is their famous Bibimbap. It’s a mix of rice with beef and vegetables topped with a sunny side up egg. Bibimbap is definitely the best choice for those who want a full and healthy stomach.

Chowchow

Chowchow’s General Chow Mien and Egg noodles are also one of the top choices for a healthy dish in JSEC. It’s a good way of serving vegetables without the unpleasant sight. Their Yumplings are also mixed with vegetables.

There you have it! These are only some of the best healthy dishes in JSEC. So for those of you who always complain that JSEC food is oily and “nakakasawa”, we hope that our post will help you think otherwise! And to guide you more, especially those who are not from Ateneo, here’s a simple map of the JSEC area. Enjoy!