AFTER NINE long years, Jose Ramon “Jett” T. Villarin, SJ concluded his term as University President with many gaps left unfilled. For instance, despite Villarin’s assurance that the administration will swiftly respond to sexual harassment and mistreatment cases, he failed to issue pertinent updates to the Ateneo community. Villarin’s administration similarly left the Ateneo Employees and Workers Union (AEWU) in the dark about information crucial to the union’s evaluation of wages, as evidenced by their 2019 silent protest.
His successor, Roberto “Bobby” C. Yap, SJ, has shown promise in addressing such missteps through his open willingness to confront social issues. However, concrete measures to remedy resounding grievances from his predecessor’s term as well as specific goals for the University have yet to be heard. As Yap officially takes the reins, it is imperative now, more than ever, to hold transparency to a much higher regard—not only by addressing the Ateneo community’s growing unease, but also by establishing trust amid these trying times.
Written in ink
As the former president of Xavier University (XU), Yap did not shy away from public service. In 2017, Yap established Xavier Ecoville, a resettlement project that housed approximately 2,800 Typhoon Sendong survivors. Aside from this, long-term rehabilitation was extended to Marawi City’s internally displaced persons through XU Tabang Marawi’s agroenterprise program.
Yap’s term also paved the way for out-of-school youth to receive quality education through the School of Education’s Alternative Learning System satellite center: The Xavier Ateneo Night School Program.
Apart from cementing XU’s role in community-building, Yap is openly vocal about social issues. During his presidency in XU, he actively joined protests against the death penalty and co-signed a statement in support of the Bangsamoro Organic Law along with other Catholic religious leaders in Mindanao.
Through the various community-building efforts he championed during his presidency in XU, the Ateneo community can undoubtedly expect Yap to continue Villarin’s vision of a more progressive University.
Fine print
Despite Yap’s well-received run, his term in XU was not free from controversy.
During his presidency, Yap witnessed his fair share of labor issues. In 2017, the annual Christmas Cash Gift tradition was abruptly suspended as a cost-cutting measure. In response, the Xavier University Non-Teaching Employees Labor Union (XUNTELU) staged a peaceful protest to express their dissent, explaining that the bonus had already ripened into a permanent benefit. After a series of mediated negotiations, the XUNTELU eventually received the Christmas Cash gift, albeit reduced.
In 2019, the XU community criticized Yap for providing his consent to create a commercialized “Campus of the Future” by selling a portion of wildlife sanctuary Manresa Farm to Cebu Landmasters Inc.—resembling the criticisms that questioned the validity of Villarin’s Areté as an institute for the arts.
Last July, before leaving XU, Yap approved a protocol that discourages the community from posting negative sentiments on social media that “may cause damage to other persons and institutions.” This elicited heated comments over potential online censorship and prompted XU’s Central Student Government – Commission on Students’ Rights and Welfare to investigate these worrisome provisions.
Yap’s XU social media protocol has already ignited fears in the Ateneo community that this will eventually become a reality for the University. Administrators of the ADMU Freedom Wall Facebook page even considered shutting the page down altogether and that they “felt safer running the page” with Villarin’s support.
Yap’s past controversies in XU warrant a closer look into how he can build a stronger presence given his new term, as these will only feed sentiments of unease and apprehension within the Ateneo community otherwise. With this, establishing trust early on in his term while filling in Villarin’s gaps amid the COVID -19 pandemic is a balancing act that Yap must navigate and overcome.
Turning the page
As Yap begins his term on a precarious note, the issues left unaddressed from Villarin’s presidency will likely take the backseat. However, the University community should not be quick to judge his leadership right away. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the University unprecedented challenges— such as the difficult transition to online learning—that require rigorous planning and dialogues with constituents.
This, however, does not excuse Yap from filling the gaping holes from Villarin’s presidency as these matters have been swept under the rug for far too long. It is in choosing to be upfront about urgent and sensitive issues—most especially in the memos released—that will lead Yap towards establishing stronger bonds with the Ateneo community early into his term.
In a time where staying connected matters most, Yap’s open discussion of long-term specific plans and visions for the University is a crucial step he must take to directly engage with the community. By imparting these to the University’s constituents, Yap can ensure that their interests, grievances, and triumphs are also ultimately his own.
