“WE’VE SET the stage. Time to launch.”

With his first term coming to a close, University President Jose Ramon Villarin, SJ said he will start fully implementing the strategic thrusts he has set for the Ateneo from 2014 to 2017, his second term as university president.

“I am bigger than this office [and] this job, and God is bigger than I am. As for hopes, the second term is when we will start implementing the strategies we’ve set for ourselves,” he said in an interview with The GUIDON.

During his investiture speech as the 30th Ateneo university president in September 2011, Villarin emphasized the three thrusts he wants the Ateneo to follow: Nation-building, mission identity and environment development.

Villarin described his first three years as the period for “setting the stage” and “preparing the launching pad” for programs and policies to be implemented in the university.

Now he is looking forward to the groundbreaking of the Ateneo Creative Hub for his second next term.

“It will be a national center where we hope to strengthen our appreciation of all things Filipino, our capacity to produce new things out of a social, cultural and techie innovative spirit,” he said.

Villarin added that the groundbreaking of the complex will occur in 2014. Start of construction was originally set for 2013, but it was delayed due to the natural calamities that swept the nation last year.

According to him, the establishment of the Ateneo Creative Hub will be a concrete response to the Ateneo’s three strategic thrusts.

On nation-building and mission identity

Loyola Schools Vice President John Paul Vergara, PhD said that Villarin was able to uphold to the nation-building thrust when he appointed Fr. Jose Cruz, SJ as vice president for University and Global Relations, and Atty. Jaime Hofileña as vice president for Social Development.

Villarin created the Office of the Vice President for University and Global Relation to strengthen the ties between the Ateneo and its partner universities abroad.

Meanwhile, the revival of the Office of the Vice President for Social Development was intended to serve as a response to both the nation-building and environment development thrusts.

The office is tasked with empowering the future efforts of the Ateneo community in addressing issues on environmental, social, political, national and local development.

Vergara also commended Villarin because the Integrated Non-Academic Formation Programs (INAF) underwent changes by moving towards discipline-based and interest-based formation activities.

“Even when you graduate, that experience (INAF programs) [will tell] you, ‘I can do other things besides helping out my profession or helping me; I can help the community,’” Vergara said.

Meanwhile, establishing the Ignatian Festival and the LS Christmas Parks sought to give members of the Ateneo community a sense of purpose and belonging. These two projects, according to Villarin, fall under his mission identity thrust.

On environment development

Villarin listed the following as part of his achievements for the environment development thrust: The creation of the Ateneo Institute of Sustainability, the introduction of electronic shuttles (e-shuttles) on campus, the improvement of campus sidewalks and the implementation of the one-way traffic scheme.

The Ateneo Institute of Sustainability is a hub for the environment that aims to spearhead the achievement of the Ateneo’s goals for Villarin’s environment development thrust.

The e-shuttle system was launched in the Ateneo on February 2013 to lessen the dependence on private cars in school and to increase the mobility of motorists.

The e-shuttle service has drop-off points at the Ateneo Grade School, the John Gokongwei School of Management (JGSOM) Student Enterpise Center, the Science Education Complex, Xavier Hall and the Ateneo High School.

The one-way traffic scheme was implemented on campus as the adminstration’s trial response to the recommendations of the Ateneo Traffic Group (ATG).

The campus sidewalks were improved through porous paving, which allows rainwater to be absorbed by the soil to decrease run-off and wasted water.

Ateneo Environmental Science Society Associate Vice President for Externals Christine Legaspi praised Villarin for his efforts.

“As an environmentalist, I approve of these projects because this presents that the campus is on its way towards being sustainable,” she said.

Expectations for the next term

LSVP Vergara describes Villarin’s first term as generally successful.

He added that having an approachable university president like Villarin was helpful in formulating strategies for the Ateneo.

Similarly, Council of the Organizations of the Ateneo President Micha Aldea commended Villarin for firmness in advocating for his advocacies despite criticisms, including the initial negative reaction of the Ateneo community to the one-way traffic scheme.

Aldea said she hopes to see a more constant dialogue between the administration and the students during Villarin’s second term.

She recommended programs like the Magtanong sa VP at mga Dekano to be promoted more so as to allow the administration to better hear the concerns of the student body.

Likwise, Aldea said students should be more active in voicing out their needs.

“Kung availability lang naman, nandiyan na silang (administration) lahat. Masuwerte tayo na mga Atenista na handang makinig ang admin sa ating mga kailangan (The administration is always available to hear our concerns. Ateneans are very fortunate to have administrators who are always willing to listen to our needs),” she said.

Villarin is positive that the community will continue improving during his second term because Ateneans “never ceased in growing.”

“I see greater openness to change. What has been most consoling is to see that Ateneans have never lost their love of country and love of the poor. It is good to be in the company of people who have big hearts,” he said.