A SPECIAL Academic Convocation was held on September 16 at the Henry Lee Irwin Theater to honor six awardees who exemplify excellence and have greatly contributed in their chosen fields.

The six honorees include Ozanam awardee Teresa Fernandez, Gawad Tanglaw ng Lahi awardee Agnes Locsin, Government Service awardee Conchita Carpio-Morales, Bukas Palad awardee Orlando Quevedo, OMI, DD, Parangal Lingkod Sambayanan awardee Delbert Rice (posthumous) and Lux-In-Domino awardee Mari-Jo Ruiz, PhD.

In an interview with The GUIDON, University President Jose Ramon Villarin, SJ mentioned that the manifestation of the Ateneo values in the awardees’ work is a unifying characteristic present in all of them.

LIFE SERVICE. Orlando Quevedo, OMI, DD receives the Bukas Palad Award which is bestowed upon religious leaders who embody the Catholic and Ignatian ideal of generosity. (Photo by Tynie Asprec)

The Special Academic Convocation is an annual event that celebrates the recipients of the traditional university awards.

The awards

The Ozanam Award is given to those who emphasize the goodness of Catholics and other Christians while embodying the social teachings of the Church.

This award was bestowed upon Fernandez for her efforts in fighting against domestic violence, advocating women’s rights and her exemplary service to the poor and the oppressed.

The Gawad Tanglaw ng Lahi is awarded to those who work toward propagating Filipinism and the Filipino identity through cultural channels.

This award was given to Locsin, a choreographer, for her work in incorporating indigenous culture into her ballet productions, thus showcasing Philippine history.

The Government Service Award is given to those who have held a position in the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the government and have worked towards the common good of the people.

Carpio-Morales was lauded with this award for her admirable public service and for devoting 40 years of her life to government work.

She played a key role in the impeachment trial of former Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona in 2011.

The Bukas Palad Award, meanwhile, is given to those who exemplify the Ignatian spirit of generosity and have committedly served the Church.

This was awarded to Quevedo for his contributions in attaining peace between Muslims and Christians in Mindanao.

Quevedo is a co-founder of the Bishop-Ulama Conference of the Philippines, which is comprised of Catholic and Muslim peace workers, as well as advocates from other faiths, that aims to end religious conflict in Mindanao.

The Parangal Lingkod Sambayanan honors those who have given outstanding public service that complements the work of the government.

Rice, who passed away last May, was posthumously awarded for his efforts on sustainable upland development and education for indigenous peoples, among others.

Finally, the Lux-In-Domino Award is presented to those who uphold the Ateneo way of living and the values of the Ateneo. This award is given to university alumni only.

Ruiz, the first female awardee, was recognized for her outstanding academic leadership and for investing 47 years in the Ateneo as a mathematics teacher.

Ruiz has been published locally and internationally for her work and was one of the pioneers of the Management Engineering program of the Ateneo.

Bestowing of awards

During the convocation, the awardees expressed their gratitude to the university and to those who have guided them in their work. Moreover, the recipients shared what drove them to move towards excellence in their respective fields.

In Fernandez’s speech, she thanked her community partners who have helped her in championing women’s rights. Fernandez described her community partners as selfless in “sharing their last centavo” to help the abused.

Locsin, on the other hand, performed a dance instead of a speech to express her gratitude in receiving the Tanglaw ng Lahi Award.

Quevedo said that the Bukas Palad Award should remind everyone of their common mission to proclaim “God’s reign of salvation,” which has always been his own focus as a priest and bishop.

“To be Christian is nothing more and nothing less than to be [a] disciple in mission. To be a missionary disciple is to tell the story of Jesus,” said Quevedo during his speech.

After being awarded, Carpio-Morales said that she is delighted that the Ateneo is committing itself to good governance through its promotion of justice, integrity, and transparency and accountability in public service.

She added that eradicating corruption is imperative in giving Filipinos the full measure of a “robust economy.”

As for Rice, his daughter, Flora Gerdan, received the award for him. Gerdan said that she views her father’s life as a “lifetime of faith, love and service.”

“This award is a fitting farewell tribute to a man who dedicated 58 years of his life to uplift the lives of people…. He lives in our hearts and that is enough to keep us going in our own journey in this life,” said Gerdan.

Finally, Ruiz said that her work has always been done out of her love for mathematics, her students and the Ateneo, and that she was never in pursuit of any awards.

“I am here in the Ateneo because this is where He led me. This is where I am meant to be,” said Ruiz.

Choosing the awardees

University President Villarin said that the deliberation for the awardees is a year-long process, involving many individuals within and outside of the Ateneo.

He shared that the purpose of the Special Academic Convocation is to affirm those who try to live out the ideals upheld by the university. He said that the event is a reflection of what the Ateneo represents.

“What do you mean [by men and women for others]? It is a general statement. I think, every now and then, we need to see what that means in the flesh,” said Villarin.

Additionally, Villarin said that even after the affirmation of the awardees in the Special Academic Convocation, he believes that they would still continue their exemplary service and selflessness.

With reports from Carlos L. Arcenas