NEW TRADITION. University President Fr. Jose Ramon Villarin, SJ hopes that the Ignatian Festival becomes an annual event where the Ateneo's mission and identity are renewed. Photo by Alexandra L. Huang

THE ATENEO de Manila University held its first ever Ignatian Festival, entitled “Atenista ako, Kadiwa ni Ignacio,” last July 21 at the Henry Lee Irwin Theater.

The festival was put together in commemoration of the feast of St. Ignatius, organized with the university’s strategic thrust of mission-identity in mind. Under University President Fr. Jose Ramon Villarin, the Ateneo has identified three strategic thrusts: mission-identity, nation building and environment-development.

“Under mission-identity, I said, ‘What’s a good way to deepen the sense of who we are, what we do and what are we about as Ateneans?’” said Villarin, when asked what made him decide to hold the festival.

“We were thinking of a tradition, starting a tradition, and we don’t know if this [Ignatian Festival] will work. It’s an experiment in a way,” Villarin said. “So we’ll just try this out right before the feast of St. Ignatius.”

He added that it is important for the school to be renewed in its mission and identity because they are central and foundational, as well as the beginning and the end. “If you know who you are, what you do, [it’s] your destiny… that will follow.”

The Jesuit Communications Foundation, Inc. (Jescom) and the Office of University Development and Alumni Relations collaborated to put up the event.

Alumni and student leaders from all levels were invited to attend the festival.

Ignatian legacy

Jescom Executive Director Emmanuel Alfonso, SJ said that the festival is significant to Ateneans because it points to the root of the school and what the Ateneo is about.

“We are refocusing the priority of the school. We are helping the president to remind the school that [living out Ignatian values] should be your priority,” he said.

“So the Atenean should notice that, ‘Uy bakit mayroong ganito?’ (Why does the school have this event?) So I guess the Atenean now will have to rethink on why we do these things.”

Fifth year student Brian Farne agreed that through the festival, he was able to return to the core of the Ateneo formation.

“It goes even before the school’s goal of being people for and with others—we go to the very context of Ignatius himself, and why he was driven by such passion to serve the greater glory of God. Through this, we could better understand what the Ateneo wants its students and professionals to become,” Farne said.

Kadiwa ni Ignacio

The organizers of the festival considered many title suggestions, in order to find a good title that will highlight the purpose of the event.

The first one was “Atenista ako, Apo ni Ignacio” but Villarin rejected the idea. “I found it too paternalistic. So I said, let’s have something in line with spirit,” he said.

“The soul of the Atenean is St. Ignatius. Not many would know that,” Alfonso said. “The Atenean should realize that what makes you Atenean is the spirit of tradition of St. Ignatius, like magis, finding God in all things, being men and women for others. You have to come from the spiritual tradition always.”

In line with this perspective, Alfonso came up with the title “Atenista ako, Kadiwa ni Ignacio” (“I’m an Atenean, in the spirit of St. Ignatius”).

“Success” despite the weather

Alfonso noted the success of the event, enumerating three reasons. “One was that despite the rain, people came. We were very happy. So in terms of numbers, we consider it a success.”

His second reason was that they were able to start the festival amid the inclement weather. “‘Yun lang ‘yung goal namin eh. Ang mahalaga lang is nasimulan mo na (That was our only goal. What is important is that we have already started it).”

Third, he said that the feedback has been really heartwarming. He said that the students were even looking forward to the event next year.

Villarin graded the event a B+ overall. “Why not an A? Well, we could’ve gotten more people. The rain sort of impeded, but I’m happy to know also, rain [or] shine, people still came. And judging from the feedback, it was great.”

“For me, I’d like to do this again. We should do this again. It’s a way to come together as a community. This is another tradition,” he said.

Farne said that he would go to a similar event in the future. “If this happens again next year, then I think I would once more be a part of it. I hope, however, that more undergraduate students will participate in such [an] event.”