THE SANGGUNIAN held a prayer vigil last July 4 at the Science Education Complex Field as a response to the growing violence in Zamboanga City.
Sanggunian President Dan Remo said that they are “deeply troubled” by the events in the area.
“Our fellow Ateneans [are] disturbed by the failure of the local authorities to put a stop to these senseless acts of violence,” he said.
Since January of this year, over 180 shootings have been reported in Zamboanga City.
Justin Raphael Wee, a student of the Ateneo de Zamboanga University, was shot in the head last June 22. He is one of more than 250 victims.
The Sanggunian partnered with Buklod Atenista, an alliance of student governments formed by the five Ateneo campuses in the Philippines, to put a spotlight on the growing lawlessness and violence in Zamboanga City.
Attendees of the prayer vigil were encouraged to wear black.
Time for change
During the closing remarks of the vigil, Remo said that Ateneans have long been scrutinized for being uninvolved with national issues.
“I believe that as Ateneans we have great responsibility to the nation. We come from a lineage of heroes, from Rizal to Edgar Jopson to Ninoy Aquino. Ateneans have always been at the forefront of initiating great change in this country,” he stressed.
He said that he hopes the vigil will be the start for Ateneans to change that notion.
“I believe that we have to change that misconception and show to the rest of the country what being an Atenean is all about,” he said.
Sophomore Trixie Tapiador praised the Sanggunian for holding the vigil.
“I’m glad that that they took this as an opportunity to raise social awareness among Ateneans,” she said.
She hopes the Sanggunian will continue to create projects that will encourage student participation.
Remo said that they are planning to hold a youth State of the Nation Address on July 12. According to him, student participants will have a dialogue with President Benigno Aquino III about the violence in Zamboanga City.
