Ateneans in North America: Rekindling Old Friendships

The last time I attended a convention in the U.S. of alumni and alumnae of all the Jesuit-run Ateneos in the Philippines was more than 20 years ago in 2002. It was held in Seattle and sponsored by the Ateneo Alumni Association of Washington (AAAW). One important lesson I learned from the convention was the realization that rekindling old friendships and maintaining relationships with our alma mater are worth keeping.

The recently concluded Ateneo Alumni Association of North America (AAANA) Convention in Las Vegas last March 27-29 instantly brought back memories of that convention in Seattle. The spirit of camaraderie among the attendees, as we swapped memories of our favorite stories, were real much like what I experienced in 2002.

The convention, organized by the Ateneans of Las Vegas (AOLV), was well-organized with a clear purpose and agenda. The organizers did everything to make the convention the most memorable experience it could be. Volunteers were waiting on the first day to welcome attendees. Once checked in, attendees received the welcome bags and their lanyards with their name tags and the schedules printed at the back.

From the outset, the commonality of experience was obvious, with the attendees reminiscing about their favorite and not so favorite teachers, rigorous academic exercises, their religious training, and the Ateneo discipline that impacted their growing up years They exchanged pleasantries and jokes, followed by raucous laughter that was evidently contagious. The fun had begun. The bond was evident. It was a cue that this was a gathering of boisterous but good-natured Ateneans.

What is an Atenean?

In 1859, the Jesuits opened its first school in the Philippines. Known as Escuela Municipal, the school was later raised to the status of a secondary school. Under the American colonial government, the Escuela Municipal lost its government subsidy and came to be known as Ateneo de Manila in 1901. Convinced that Jesuit education was critical in the formation of young Filipinos, the Jesuits opened several other Ateneos in the provinces. They were Ateneo de Zamboanga in 1912; Ateneo de Cagayan (Xavier University), 1933; Ateneo de Naga, 1940; Ateneo de Tuguegarao, 1945 (closed in 1978); Ateneo de San Pablo, 1947 (closed in 1962); Ateneo de Davao, 1948; Sacred Heart School – Cebu, 1955; Xavier School – San Juan, 1956; Ateneo de Iloilo, 1958.

The graduates of these Jesuit-run schools are called Ateneans. In the context of Jesuit spirituality, they are supposed to do more for Christ (Magis) and ultimately doing everything for the greater glory of God (Ad majorem Dei gloriam). They also have been taught to be “men for others.” As a result, they pride themselves in their Jesuit education and in everything that the Ateneos have stood for.

The word Atenean often evokes a brilliant, self-assured, athletic man or woman of deep faith. At least, that’s the impression of many. Whether that’s the reality is probably debatable.

One hundred twenty-four years later since the founding of the first Ateneo in 1901, 97 Ateneo alumni and alumnae from as far as Singapore, Manila, Hawaii, New York, Utah, Colorado, Virginia, Maryland, Washington, Chicago, San Franciso, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Arizona gathered in Las Vegas to participate in the 7th Ateneo Alumni Association of North America Convention. Also in attendance were four university Jesuit presidents representing Ateneo de Naga, Ateneo de Manila, Xavier University, and Ateneo de Zamboanga.

One of the highlights in the convention was the giving of medals to the jubilarians of Class ‘75 from Ateneo schools at all levels, Grade School, High School, College, Graduate School, and Law School.

Since this was my first time to attend an All-Ateneo Convention in the US in more than 20 years, I did not know what to expect except reconnecting with friends I knew during my high school days in Ateneo de Naga. I didn’t expect to meet college friends from Ateneo de Manila because my circle of friends in college was limited to my basketball intramural teammates, and I understand they are all based in Manila.

As I listened to the speakers, I was a little envious because they struck me as learned individuals, highly successful in their respective craft. But one speaker who impressed me the most was Deacon Stanley Lee, an alumnus of Ateneo de Naga, who formed a non-profit organization named Christian Life Community – Bicol Region, Inc. The organization acquired in 2008 an 11-hectare farmland that Lee named “Badang ni Ignacio” (Farm of St. Ignatius). The farm is in Barangay San Joaquin, San Fernando, Camarines Sur.

The farm, aside from being a wellness center for spiritual renewal that promotes the spirituality of St. Ignatius of Loyola, also provides livelihood and technology to the farmers.

When the four Jesuit university presidents – Fr. Aristotle Dy of Ateneo de Naga, Fr. Mars Tan of Xavier University, Fr. Guillrey Anthony Andal of Ateneo de Zamboanga, and Fr. Norberto Bautista (representing Fr. Roberto Yap) of Ateneo de Manila – discussed their plans, I was baffled, even amazed by what they wanted to do, given the cost involved to make these plans a reality. But when I think about it, the correct attitude towards education is that students are not just taught certain skills but must be cared for as a “whole person,” (cura personalis) which is one of the goals of Jesuit education.

Additionally, Dr. Catherine Manlimos, a graduate of Ateneo de Manila University and Vice President for Mission Integration of the Jesuit-run Seattle University, spoke about the role of Jesuit education in today’s contemporary world. She stressed that Jesuit alumni must engage society and work for justice, following the advice of former Jesuit superior general Pedro Arrupe who challenged Jesuit alumni to be “men for others.”

So, if I am baffled about the Jesuit brand of education being expensive, think about the cost of ignorance.

Which brings me to the issue of giving back. Beneath the laughter, the jokes, and the noise lurked the Ateneans’ debt of gratitude to their alma mater. Talks of giving back something in return for our education started to reverberate in the convention hall.

The Prayer of Generosity by St. Ignatius which asks God to teach us to be generous and “to give, and not to count the cost...to labor, and not to ask for any reward...” appeared to have pervaded many of the attendees. Thus, there was unanimity among the attendees to support the Ateneos financially or through some forms of scholarship. The gods must have worked overtime to enlighten our minds.

The late senator Raul Roco, a Bicolano and Jesuit educated, wrote in the souvenir program of the very first All-Ateneo Convention I attended in Seattle in 2002 the following: “But this global presence of an Atenean personifies a universal being who stands out and succeeds wherever he or she may settle. Truly, the Atenean can be counted upon to build bridges and reach out to people of the world.”

One takeaway for me from the Las Vegas convention was another realization that the seeds the Jesuits have planted in many of their students are finally beginning to bear fruits.