“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 father Ninoy was still a political prisoner under the Marcos regime.
The president urged the audience 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 was the keynote speaker of the school festival with the theme, “The Atenean in Nation Building.”
No hints on SONA
Display school pride not just in basketball
Aquino was the keynote speaker of the school festival with the theme, “The Atenean in Nation Building.”
No hints on SONA
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 focused on how his education under the Jesuits molded his character.
His speech at the Ateneo instead focused 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—a Jesuit priest whom he did not
name—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 they should 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 a living example 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 Jose Ramon 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.
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