THE LOYOLA Schools (LS) Class of 2020 attended an online seniors’ send-off or pabaon in place of a physical ceremony earlier today, which was streamed live on the Ateneo de Manila Facebook page.
The graduating students were initially set to attend onsite graduation ceremonies. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and strict quarantine protocols, Vice President for the Loyola Schools Maria Luz Vilches, PhD issued a memo on April 7 postponing said observances until further notice.
Filipino Department Assistant Professor Jethro Tenorio, the event host, introduced the traditional send-off as “an act of love” for the graduating students. “This is the Ateneo’s way of saying goodbye,” he said in his opening remarks.
The online event featured special messages from University President Jose Ramon Villarin, SJ and Vilches. Meanwhile, the event speakers were Class of 2020 Valedictorian Yumi L. Briones (BS CH ‘20) and Theology Department Assistant Professor Roberto Conrado Guevara, PhD. Villarin, Vilches, and the two speakers shared a variety of insights that encouraged the graduating students to remain hopeful and do things out of love amid the uncertainties brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Motivated by love
The first speaker, Vilches, praised the graduating batch for their strength after facing a number of crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Vilches also commended the Class of 2020 for their exceptional accomplishments throughout the year: From winning various competitions to arranging donation drives for communities affected by the pandemic.
She then bestowed “three blessings” upon the seniors to guide them on as they leave Ateneo: Inner peace, hope, and fervor.
Vilches’ special message was followed by Briones’ speech to her fellow graduating seniors. She urged her batchmates to “do what [they] can right now” to help each other hone their distinctive skill sets during the pandemic.
Aside from this, Briones explained that the graduates can maximize their personal talents by serving those in their respective fields “out of love”—in line with practicing the Ignatian value magis. “You’ve got your knowledge over your four years of college, share it,” she said.
To conclude her speech, Briones noted the importance of “staying connected” to loved ones rather than spending time worrying about the uncertain future that the COVID-19 pandemic brings.
Following Briones’ remarks, Guevera explained to the Class of 2020 that everyone’s personal “darkness” in difficult times such as the COVID-19 pandemic eventually passes. He then encouraged the seniors to hold onto three things as they leave the Ateneo: Their belovedness, their dreams and hopes, and their friendships with the poor.
Guevara also urged the graduating seniors to continue their journey while carrying their deepest hopes and joys. “Survive, but I hope we can do more than survive. Live more fully. Live more deeply. Live more lovingly,” he said.
Villarin then jested about the different interpretations that he and his peers have given to the Latin phrase Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam or AMDG, including “Ang matakot, ‘di gagalaw (Those who are afraid do not move),” urging seniors not to be paralyzed with fear for what may lie ahead.
Villarin reiterated Briones’ earlier message for her batchmates to exemplify magis, stressing that doing so is “motivated by love.” He further discussed that practicing magis is a choice between “being good and being better” and challenges oneself to pursue the more loving option. He also urged the graduating seniors to visit the Ateneo from time to time, reassuring them that they will always be welcome in their alma mater.
“When life is too much, there is always a home to find in the Ateneo,” he said.
To conclude the LS Pabaon, the graduates participated in an examen and received a final blessing from Villarin.
Graphic by Neil R. Reyes
