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Aquino to Ateneans: Don't just gripe on Facebook, find solutions
(UPDATED 1:50 p.m.) – President Aquino urged the elite Ateneo de Manila community on Saturday to help find solutions to the nation's problems and not just complain on social media.
“Ang paghanap ng solusyon sa mga problema ay hindi madadaan sa pagsulat ng reflection paper, sa pagpo-post ng status sa Facebook o sa basta-basta pagre-retweet lang. Hindi sapat na alam mo na ang problema. Obligasyon mong makiambag sa solusyon,” said Aquino, who went back to his alma mater for the 2nd Ignatian Festival Saturday morning.
“Step out of your comfort zone and be men and women for others,” said the Ateneo economics graduate, batch 1981, a year when his martyred father Ninoy was already a political exile in the United States.
Noynoy Aquino is the first Ateneo graduate to become president. But as a legislator, he was known to be privately critical of his alma mater when it chose not to actively oppose then-President Gloria Arroyo, unlike Ateneo's archrival De La Salle University.
Aquino's speech could be seen as a call for greater political engagement on a campus known more recently for its introspection, or what some critics might call passivity.
The university is at a crossroads, having recently changed leadership from long-time president Fr. Bienvenido Nebres, SJ to the younger Fr. Jett Villarin, SJ.
Controversy roiled the Ateneo campus last year when nearly 200 members of the faculty signed a statement in support of the then-Reproductive Health bill, championed by Aquino but fiercely opposed by Catholic bishops, one of whom declared that pro-RH professors should not be teaching at Catholic universities. The issue triggered a public debate about academic freedom.
Villarin responded with a finely calibrated statement toeing the church's party line on the RH bill, but respecting the freedom of its faculty and students to make its political stand.
Be like Ignatius
Typically, Aquino sought to prick the conscience of his wealthy audience by urging them to follow the example of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, the Ateneo’s patron saint, who renounced the wealth he enjoyed as a member of a rich family in Spain and lived a simple life as the founder of the religious order, the Society of Jesus.
Aquino, however, is the scion of two political dynasties not known for simple lifestyles. The president himself is fond of luxury cars.
“Ang paghanap ng solusyon sa mga problema ay hindi madadaan sa pagsulat ng reflection paper, sa pagpo-post ng status sa Facebook o sa basta-basta pagre-retweet lang. Hindi sapat na alam mo na ang problema. Obligasyon mong makiambag sa solusyon,” said Aquino, who went back to his alma mater for the 2nd Ignatian Festival Saturday morning.
“Step out of your comfort zone and be men and women for others,” said the Ateneo economics graduate, batch 1981, a year when his martyred father Ninoy was already a political exile in the United States.
Noynoy Aquino is the first Ateneo graduate to become president. But as a legislator, he was known to be privately critical of his alma mater when it chose not to actively oppose then-President Gloria Arroyo, unlike Ateneo's archrival De La Salle University.
Aquino's speech could be seen as a call for greater political engagement on a campus known more recently for its introspection, or what some critics might call passivity.
PNoy addresses audience at Ateneo de Manila on Saturday. Ateneo president Jett Villarin, SJ listens on stage. Malacañang Photo Bureau
The university is at a crossroads, having recently changed leadership from long-time president Fr. Bienvenido Nebres, SJ to the younger Fr. Jett Villarin, SJ.
Controversy roiled the Ateneo campus last year when nearly 200 members of the faculty signed a statement in support of the then-Reproductive Health bill, championed by Aquino but fiercely opposed by Catholic bishops, one of whom declared that pro-RH professors should not be teaching at Catholic universities. The issue triggered a public debate about academic freedom.
Villarin responded with a finely calibrated statement toeing the church's party line on the RH bill, but respecting the freedom of its faculty and students to make its political stand.
Be like Ignatius
Typically, Aquino sought to prick the conscience of his wealthy audience by urging them to follow the example of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, the Ateneo’s patron saint, who renounced the wealth he enjoyed as a member of a rich family in Spain and lived a simple life as the founder of the religious order, the Society of Jesus.
Aquino, however, is the scion of two political dynasties not known for simple lifestyles. The president himself is fond of luxury cars.
Aquino was the keynote speaker of the school festival with the theme, “The Atenean in Nation Building.”
Aquino, who is slated to give the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, did not drop any hints about the contents of his speech.
His speech at the Ateneo instead dwelled on how his education under the Jesuits molded his character.
His speech at the Ateneo instead dwelled on how his education under the Jesuits molded his character.
He cited in particular an economics professor in college as a mentor whom he liked debating with.
He said he and the professor regularly spent the last 15 minutes of their class discussing concepts and issues in economics and poring over economics books.
“Ang sabi niya (professor) sa akin, gusto niya akong maging katulad ng aking ama kaya naman pinilit niya talaga akong hubugin at padaanin sa mga pagsubok,” he said.
Aquino urged Ateneans not to limit their love for the country to within the four walls of the campus, but live out the school’s teaching of being “men and women for others” in whatever profession they might be in.
“[Sa] anumang ahensiya kayo nagseserbisyo, isabuhay ninyo ang diwa ng inyong pagiging Atenista. Maging man and woman for others kayo na hindi lamang nabubuhay para sa sarili kundi lalo’t higit para sa kapwa,” he said.
Aquino joked that Ateneans should not just display their school pride during basketball games, but strive to be living examples of the values taught by the school.
“Nawa’y hindi mawalay sa ating isip: Atenista ka sa bawat sandali. Atenista ka, hindi lamang sa tuwing nananalo ang Blue Eagles sa basketball. Atenista ka, hindi lamang sa pagpuna ng mali sa lipunan, kundi lalo’t higit, sa pagtukoy ng solusyon, at sa paninindigan upang gawin ang tama’t nararapat. Hindi ka namimili ng tao at pagkakataon—dahil sa bawat isa at sa bawat sandali, Atenista ka,” he said.
In 2011, Aquino also visited the Ateneo to give the commencement address in which he urged graduates to “never be afraid to do what is right.”
Ateneo President Father Jett Villarin, SJ said Aquino’s emphasis in his speech on being “men and women for others” is a timely reminder given that 2013 marks the 40th year since it was first coined in by the late Superior General of the Society of Jesus, Father Pedro Arrupe, SJ.
“[President Aquino’s] mention of that phrase was a way for us Ateneans to regain our bearings and remember again [that although] life is difficult, we are called to dedicate our lives to others,” he said.
Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, who was in the audience, said Aquino’s speaking engagement at the Ateneo was “a good break” for him because he has been been spending the entire week working on his SONA together with his speechwriters.
Almendras said the entire Cabinet is unaware of what the President will say in his speech on Monday, adding that Aquino may revise certain details in his SONA on the day itself.
