The Ateneo de Zamboanga University witnessed the lowering of the Centennial Logo at the Multi-Purpose Covered Courtsas the AdZU Band played Himno de San Ignacio de Loyola, signalling the end of a four-year long celebration of this Jesuit university’s centenary.
Earlier, members of the Ateneo community convened at the said venue for a Mass on the eve of the feast of its great founder –St. Ignatius of Loyola. Chief presider was the bishop of the Prelature of Isabela de Basilan, the Most Rev. Martin Jomuad, D.D. and the homilist was incoming AdZU president Fr. Karel San Juan, SJ; they were joined by the Jesuit fathers, Diocesan and Claretian clergy, some of whom came from as far as the Prelature of Ipil.
In his homily, Fr. San Juan cited Ateneo’s generosity through the years in assisting the region in times of human and natural calamity. He stressed to preserve such value as Ateneo moves beyond its 100th founding year. Taking this cue, Bishop Jomuad likewise thanked the university community when it assisted in the repair of the cathedral of his prelature after it suffered heavy damage during a terrorist attack two years ago.
The Mass was followed promptly by a wreath-laying ceremony at the statue of St. Ignatius at the Centennial Plaza.
The afternoon of July 30 saw the Ground-Breaking Ceremony for the new AdZU Grade School Complex at the Fr. William H. Kreutz, SJ Campus in Tumaga, north of this city. In attendance were four of the past and present presidents Ateneo de Zamboanga –Frs. Bill Kreutz, Tony Moreno, Willy Samson and Karel San Juan of the Society of Jesus. The complex is expected to welcome its students come October of next year.
Later was the launching of the AdZU Centennial Coffee Table Book at the Carlos Dominguez Conference Hall. The book features three chapters that chronicle Ateneo’s history from its foundation a hundred years ago. Ms. Ma. Cristina Agdeppa-Cañones wrote on Pre-War Ateneo, former Liberal Arts dean Dr. Aileen Barrios-Arnuco detailed Ateneo’s rise from the ashes in her chapter on Post-War Ateneo while Ms. Monabelle Blanco-Delgado wrote the concluding chapter on Ateneo in Recent Times. OIC university president, Fr. Wilfredo Samson, SJ has this to say in his welcome remarks: “we launch a beautiful book with stories of people who made the Ateneo a story.”
Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco, who once served in the university as a teacher, graced the launching and in her short message stressed the Atenean formation of men and women in service of God and country.
The day was capped with a dinner at the Astoria Regency that featured entertainment from the cast of Ciento and the Baile Folklorico de Ateneo of the Center for the Performing and Visual Arts. At the said event, the new community vision of the Ateneo de Zamboanga University was re-launched as Duyan ng Magiting played for the last time.
