Aquino speaks before the Class of 2011

PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III (AB Eco ‘81) graced this year’s Loyola Schools (LS) graduation exercises as the commencement speaker.

Aquino delivered his address in the high school covered courts after the LS Baccalaureate Mass, which was held in the morning of March 24. Security was tight as early as 6:00 AM to ensure the president’s safety.

Aquino delivered his speech entirely in Filipino, and frequently drew amused reactions from the crowd with his references to college life.

He challenged graduates to live out their Atenean education. “To what extent is your being ‘a man for others’? How far is ‘down from the hill’?” he posed as questions.

He advised graduates not to be afraid of doing what is good. “It’s wrong to do nothing while others suffer. It’s wrong to ignore fellow Filipinos,” he said.

“If it is not included in the computation of your QPI [quality point index], will you still do the right thing?”

He also asked graduates to share their dreams and to partake in solving the problems of society.

“Atenean, the world is waiting for you at the bottom of the hill. As Fr. Ferriols once said, ‘lundagin mo beybe (leap for it, babe)!’” he said, eliciting amused reactions from the audience. Katerina D. Francisco

Fun run held for Fr. Ben

LAST MARCH 13, the Ateneo community united to celebrate the 71st birthday of former University President Fr. Bienvenido Nebres, S.J., by joining in the “Fun Run for Father Ben”.

The event was organized by the Ateneo Track and Field Program, in cooperation with the University Athletics Office and the Office of University Development and Alumni Relations.  Donations were also accepted for Fr. Nebres’ favorite charities, such as the Ateneo 500@150 Sesquicentennial Scholarship Fund, Pathways to Higher Education, ACED Feeding Program and Gawad Kalinga. Michaelangelo N. Guballa