THE ATENEO community recognized the service and dedication of school administrators, faculty members and non-teaching personnel in their respective duties through its tri-annual Awards for Excellence ceremony held at the Mariano Singson Hall Auditorium last December 11, 2014.

The Awards for Excellence for Administrators are given to deans, associate deans, chairpersons and directors of the Ateneo Grades School, High School, the Loyola Schools and the Professional Schools.

The Awards for Excellence for Professionals are conferred to outstanding faculty members, while the Awards for Excellence for Staff are given to dedicated non-teaching personnel from the said affiliated units.

In a meeting on November 5, the Ateneo Board of Trustees agreed to recognize 46 awardees: Nine recipients each for the Awards for Excellence, for Administrators and for Professionals, and 22 recipients for the Awards for Excellence for Staff.

The Board is composed of Jesuits, stakeholders and members of the academe who govern the Ateneo and all its auxiliary units.

Furthermore, six non-teaching personnel were inducted into the 2014 Staff Excellence Hall of Fame, a distinction given to staff members who have received Awards for Excellence for Staff at least five times.

The said inductees include the following: Mario Boco from the Facilities Management Office, Aida Bringino from the Office of the Vice President for Finance and Treasurer, Richard Gabito and Wenefredo Legada from the Office of Administrative Services, Fidela Mallillin from the Education Department and Jocelyn Mendoza from the Ateneo Grade School.

Exemplifying Ignatian values

In his opening speech during the awarding ceremony, University President Jose Ramon Villarin, SJ lauded the awardees for their committed service to the Ateneo.

“This ceremony is our simple way of giving recognition to those of you who have given much of yourselves to the mission that is the Ateneo. We honor and esteem you for embodying in your lives the Ignatian traits of magnanimity and largeness of heart,” said Villarin.

He stressed that the Ateneo’s mission of being men and women for others does not just end on a mere exchange. “Alam niyo po, kung ang Ateneo de Manila ay nakabase sa kaliwaan lamang, matagal na po tayong nangaliwa (You know, if the Ateneo de Manila solely relied on getting even, we would have long gone astray). This mission is not built on a transaction.”

Furthermore, Villarin remarked that the awardees have exemplified magis by constantly going beyond what they are expected to perform.

“Why do you go the extra mile? Because you are happy when you make others happy. The source of your happiness is not to be found inside you. The source of your happiness is in others,” he said.

Giving thanks

Several awardees expressed their gratitude to the Board for acknowledging their commitment and dedication to the school and the community it embodies.

In an interview with The GUIDON, Mallillin shared that in her 25 years of service in the Ateneo, she was able to adjust in her day-to-day work and enjoy getting to know the students who seek her assistance.

She said that when her work becomes overwhelming and stressful, she draws inspiration from her family.

“Everything that I do is always for [my family] and I am so lucky to be in a job where I can happily serve the students and push for the dreams that I have for my family at the same time,” Mallillin said.

Mallillin, a seven-time recipient of the Awards for Excellence for Staff, thanked the Board for appreciating the work that she and her co-employees do for the university.

“Ateneo has been a blessing for me and my family. We would not be where we are now if not for this school,” Mallillin added.

As for Director for Administrative Services Marie Joy Salita, she said she was thankful and happy upon finding out that she was a recipient of the Awards for Excellence for Administrators this year.

Salita has been working in the Ateneo for 17 years now and has been a consistent recipient of the said award for five years.

She shared that the most difficult part of her job is “striking a balance between being and doing.”

“But by God’s grace, I am always reminded of my mission: That I am an instrument of God’s love and blessings and I am grateful. That’s what keeps me back on track whenever there are hurdles to overcome,” she said.

Furthermore, she said that she wanted “to commit to continue working hard with [the Ateneo Board of Trustees] in their mission [of being men and women for others.]”

Additionally, Physical Education Instructor Edwin Ang said that he was shocked when he found out he was one of the recipients of the Awards for Excellence for Staff this year.

“I never even contemplated nor imagined about the Excellence Award. I just do my work day in and day out, to the best of my abilities,” he said.

Ang shared that the challenge for him now, after he was bestowed the award, is to strive to do better than before. “The hard part is trying to live up to the recognition that was awarded to me. It makes me want to do better.”