SINCE ITS creation in 1938, the silhouette of the Blue Eagle has inspired generations of Ateneans to reach greater heights, summoning them to embody the premier virtues of the Blue and White.
Subsequently, the perennial excellence comprising the 100 years of Ateneo sports warrants a closer look at the fabled history of the Blue Eagle name, the honored moniker that has championed an earnest community.
More than a moniker
When Ateneo began to participate in organized sports in 1924, they were mainly knighted as the “Blue and Whites” among many others. Soon after, the trend of Catholic schools abroad rebranding their team names from saints to monikers reached Loyola Heights. Thus, in 1938, Ateneo officially became the first school across the country to adopt a moniker: the Blue Eagles.
In 2022, Ateneo birthed a more united and majestic Blue Eagle identity by adopting the moniker for all its sports teams, after years of the title being mainly carried by the Men’s Basketball Team.
From being the first school to pageant a mascot to parading a live eagle with the basketball team, Ateneo has transformed the Blue Eagle moniker into a source of pride that champions the community.
The birth of illustrious wings
In his booklet, “On Wings of Blue,” renowned Ateneo graduate Lamberto V. Avellana noted that the Blue Eagle took the color from the school to represent Ateneo’s high-flying athletes who dominantly sweep the field away. “For he flies high, and he is a fighter, and he is King!” Avellana stated in his literature.
The moniker has since become an icon of unity and pride for athletes and fans alike, emphasizing that win or lose, the players have a nest where they can regroup and sharpen their talons for the next big flight—an Atenean core that graduating Women’s Volleyball Team Captain Lyann De Guzman has stressed.
“Win or lose, the Blue Eagle is still there to support and give positivity to the Ateneo community,” she noted.
What it means to soar high
Expanding the nuance, the Blue Eagle name is far more than donning the beloved blue and white jerseys. Since the moniker’s inception, its identity has entailed a dogged pursuit of distinction in all facets of life.
Thus, in its fullest potential, to be a Blue Eagle means pursuing fellowship and academic excellence beyond athletic prowess in competition. As Women’s Basketball Head Coach LA Mumar avowed, the becoming of a Blue Eagle means upholding both scholarly and sporting glory.
“We are passionate inside the basketball court and also very passionate with our academics. […] [because] we celebrate high QPIs as much as UAAP wins,” Mumar earnestly said.
For De Guzman, meanwhile, being a Blue Eagle conveys loyalty and compassion toward your peers amid tough challenges. “For me, it is important to be the one to start or encourage my teammates to never stop no matter what,” the skipper reflected in a mix of English and Filipino.
Talons stuck together
Soaring above insurmountable heights is not the only virtue the Blue Eagle, as a moniker, signifies. Besides the abstract wings, the label fronts firm talons that signify a camaraderie with claws locked in for excellence.
In a strong case of familial spirit, a concord among the Ateneo community was epitomized during this year’s Cheer Rally, as the event celebrated the 85th anniversary of Raul S. Manglapus’ (AB ‘39) composition of the iconic fighting song, “Blue Eagle, The King.” The wave of mentors, athletes, and fans launched heaps of praise for the Season 87 teams, emphasizing the honored hymn’s message that “blue feathers never will fall.”
With tenacious efforts continuing to unfold among the Atenean teams of the first cour, the moniker has seeped its way into the hearts of younger Blue and White fans who have shown their support. As Mumar perfectly reflected, “We have little girls coming up to us wanting to play for [the team]. So, talagang (truly) the sport is growing.”
Onto a triumphant culture
With its storied past, the Blue Eagle name has exemplified the pursuit of excellence under the brightest lights while also endorsing fellowship among the community. At its core, however, the honored label has signified something far more nuanced than a call for unity. As witnessed by the Atenean community, the Blue Eagle label also means to soar in all aspects of life, whether in competition, class, or any other challenge that confronts them.
Ultimately, that is the Blue Eagle philosophy: reminding a community of the potential greatness embedded in their hearts. As long as Ateneans continue to strive for these virtues, making known “to the breeze our victories”—as sung in Blue Eagle, The King—will remain everlasting.
