MEMBERS OF the Loyola Schools flocked to the MVP basement at 3:00 PM on January 30, in celebration of University President Fr. Jose Ramon Villarin, SJ’s 53rd birthday.

Snacks were prepared for the students, faculty, staff and maintenance personnel who dropped by. Villarin was in the venue until the gathering ended.

Called Open House, the celebration is a yearly event organized by the Office of the University President wherein members of the Ateneo community are invited to celebrate the President’s birthday.

Villarin said that the Open House has always been a tradition. “Pero ngayon mas maraming dumating (But more people came today)!” he said.

Prior to the Open House, the book launch of Startle, a collection of Villarin’s homilies, was held at the Faber Hall Function Room.

Last year, Villarin celebrated his at Faber Hall Function Room. His predecessor, Fr. Bienvenido Nebres, SJ, held his Open House at the President’s Office in Xavier Hall.