FROM HER time as Queen Eagle of the Ateneo Women’s Volleyball Team, Bea de Leon’s legacy in the Ateneo community continues to shine beyond her athletic mastery. After a fateful online encounter with Ayen Retuta, who was in need of extra financial assistance to pursue an undergraduate degree in the Loyola Schools, Bea was able to establish the Bea de Leon Scholarship.

Leadership and excellence personified

Coming into the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) league in Season 77, Bea made an immediate impact as a key piece in an Ateneo Women’s Volleyball team that strung together an undefeated run to capture the Season 77 title. The middle blocker-stalwart displayed her strong athleticism with effective blocking and high-flying spikers, contributing in areas where the Blue Eagles needed her the most. Acquiring more experience in her five-year collegiate tenure only molded Bea into a more capable leader, as she led the Blue Eagles by skill and character.

Playing out her final year in Season 81 after a period of deliberation, the now Philippine Volleyball League standout made sure to exit the halls of Loyola Heights triumphantly. With her leadership being instrumental to her role as team captain, Bea helped end Ateneo’s four-year championship drought and was awarded the Finals’ Most Valuable Player.

While her list of athletic accolades positions her as a hallmark of excellence in the game of volleyball, one should not look past the greatness embodied by Bea off the court. Being a well-rounded individual right from her upbringing, Bea ensured that her time as an Atenean would not be squandered.

Although she did not want to initially take up an athletic scholarship granted by Ateneo, Bea later accepted it as she sought to eventually “pay it forward.” She maximized her opportunity by exhibiting her academic prowess—graduating as a consistent dean’s lister with a degree in AB Management Economics and currently taking up Masters in Sustainability Management still in Ateneo. Being an exemplar of the “Ateneo way,” Bea was also listed as a finalist for the 2018 Ambrosio Padilla Athlete of the Year Award.

Beyond displaying what she is capable of outside her sport, Bea proves to be a worthy role model through her philanthropic generosity. Now 26 years of age, Bea turned her pre-established vision of paying her scholarship forward into reality, founding the Bea De Leon Scholarship Program earlier this 2023.

Paying it forward to the Ateneo community

Unbeknownst to Ayen at the time, a tweet she would make last April 2022 that detailed her acceptance into the Ateneo de Manila University prompted Bea to work towards the creation of her scholarship. Despite not being granted a scholarship, Ayen’s tweet was an expression of gratitude that her dream school selected her, tagging Bea and Thirdy Ravena—both of whom are Ayen’s idols.

Like a story of fate, Bea saw the tweet and reached out to Ayen via direct message. Bea, after discovering Ayen’s background—a consistent honor student in high school, active in extracurricular activities, and a scholar all throughout—realized this was the opportunity she was waiting for to give back to the Ateneo community.

An idea that began between Bea and Ayen’s online exchange led to the creation of the Bea de Leon Scholarship. During their Twitter conversations, Bea asked Ayen if she wanted to be her scholar and the eager soon-to-be Atenean did not hesitate to say yes. According to Ayen, “A tweet being liked by your idol is one [thing], but being your idol’s scholar is another.”

The Bea de Leon Scholarship was officially established in the Loyola Schools (LS) last January 27 through a Memorandum of Agreement Signing led by University President Roberto “Bobby” Yap, SJ. After filing all the necessary paperwork, Ayen was eventually admitted to LS under the BS Management program.

Ayen, prior to being the first recipient of the eponymous scholarship, has been a fan of Bea since the Blue Eagle’s championship run in UAAP Season 77.  Ayen has noted that her admiration for de Leon stemmed from her ability to excel in both the volleyball court and the school halls, her “heartstrong” personality, and her faith in God. These traits embodied by Bea motivate Ayen to be “limitless in achieving her goals, to strive amidst trying times and to treat everyone with an open heart and give back to the community whenever possible.” Apart from Ayen, Bea has inspired many to work hard in pursuit of their dreams—as seen in her many fans who are motivated by her to this day.

While her initial acceptance to Ateneo was a joyous moment, Ayen also opened up about how she perceived herself to be unfortunate. Not being granted an Ateneo scholarship initially added to the long list of events in Ayen’s life where she considered herself to be unlucky. However, “Being miraculously chosen by [de Leon] and her family [as their scholar] has broken down this unhealthy barrier that I built for myself,” shared Ayen. She added, “The scholarship gave [her whole family and herself] hope of having a much more comfortable life in the future.” Thus, the de Leon Scholarship has drastically affected the life of Ayen beyond the opportunity to attend her dream school; it has also affected her on a deep personal level as well.

In an interview with CNN Philippines, Bea shared that the next step for the scholarship is to determine the definite systems moving forward. As Ayen’s case was primarily built on fate, the scholarship selection process would be formalized, including the application process and what qualifications criteria a hopeful applicant must possess.

Moreover, Bea hopes to get her fellow athletes to come together and fund a certain amount to help create scholarships to aid future students like Ayen. Through these types of scholarships, it is also a way of returning the opportunity that was given to them by the Ateneo athletic scholarship. As Bea’s dream is to have a student-athlete scholarship, given that she herself was a student-athlete, the establishment of the Bea de Leon Scholarship is only the beginning.

A woman for others

The meaning of sports and volleyball, which Ayen used to see as a mere platform for athletes to play, has immensely changed. “I owe it to volleyball for teaching my 14-year-old self how to dream… Sports and volleyball have blessed me with people like [de Leon] and her family who have sparked a difference in my life and wish the best for me.”

As the well-known Ateneo saying goes—“to be persons for others”—the creation of the Bea de Leon scholarship undoubtedly solidifies Bea’s embodiment of the Ateneo way. From Ayen’s perspective, not many athletes go to such lengths to be of service to others—quite clearly, this is de Leon’s legacy. After all, an athlete’s critical role in matters bigger than sports will far outshine any highlight they produce on the court.