“NGAYONG KAHARAP ko po kayong mga kapwa Atenista, hinihimok ko kayong makiisa sa positibong transpormayon ng bansa (As I face you, fellow Ateneans, I urge you to join in the positive transformation of the country).”
These were the words of President Benigno Aquino III when he addressed Ateneo students, faculty, alumni and guests gathered at the Henry Lee Irwin Theater during the Ignatian Festival held last July 20.
The President was the keynote speaker of the two-year-old festival, which followed the theme “Ateneans in Nation Building.”
University President Jose Ramon Villarin, SJ said that this year’s Ignatian Festival theme is one of the Ateneo’s three strategic thrusts, the other two being mission and identity, and environment and development.
According to Villarin, next year’s Ignatian Festival will highlight environment and development “to complete the cycle.” The celebration last year had mission and identity as its theme.
The 2013 Ignatian Festival was co-organized by the University Development and Alumni Relations, Jesuit Communications Foundation, Inc. through the initiative of the Office of the President.
A call to Ateneans
In his 10-minute speech, Aquino said that the path to nation building entails working towards a viable solution rather than simply pointing out the problems at hand.
“Obligasyon mong makiambag sa solusyon. Tungkulin mong itama ang mali (It is your obligation to contribute to the solution. It is your responsibility to straighten out the wrong),” he said.
“At ‘di po ba, kung ‘di ka kumilos, magiging bahagi ka na rin ng problema? (And is it not when you don’t act, you also become a part of the problem?)” Aquino added.
During the celebration of the 522nd birth anniversary of St. Ignatius of Loyola, Aquino also called Ateneans to move out of their comfort zones and embody the Atenean virtue of being men and women for others.
“Huwag ninyo sanang ikukulong sa mga gusali’t pasilyo ng paaralang ito ang diwa ng inyong pagka-Atenista (Do not keep the essence of your being an Atenean within this school’s buildings and halls),” said Aquino.
“Maging man-for-others kayo, na hindi lamang nabubuhay para sa sarili, kundi lalo’t para sa kapwa (Be men-for-others, who do not live just for themselves, but also for their fellowmen),” he added.
Becoming “wide-eyed” Ateneans
In a separate interview with The GUIDON, Villarin reflected on the message of Aquino’s speech, saying it was “very Jesuit” in nature.
He also likened Aquino’s speech to Pope Francis’ message during the 2013 World Youth Day, in which the Pope called for the people to “go and make disciples of all nations.”
Villarin said that becoming aware of the environment outside school will motivate Ateneans to strive harder within the university.
“Get to know how complicated the world is—how it works, even corruption, the way it works, so that you’re wide-eyed when you leave us,” he said.
“You will want to prepare well. You would want to study well, ‘cause you know what’s waiting for you out there,” Villarin added.
Ateneans in nation building
According to Villarin, Aquino was the immediate choice for keynote speaker given the theme of this year’s Ignatian Festival.
He shared that, despite intensive preparations at the time for his 2013 State of Nation Address, Aquino did not pass up on the opportunity to address the Ateneo community for the third time.
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