On Being Blue

Last night, my siblings and I attended the Blue Night, an alumni gathering held for Atenistas based here in Cebu. It was there I was reminded of why we chose Ateneo.

And the question many Ateneans are asked: What does it mean to be an Atenista?

For one, it means that you were blessed enough to attend one of the finest schools in the Philippines. A school steeped in tradition, history, and national pride, and so much more.

From personal experience, Ateneo taught me so many things. For starters, Ateneo taught me the value of hard work, the importance of adapting, and basically, the huge impact that making a difference can produce. I had brilliant teachers, some scary, some friendly, some intimidating, but all part of the Ateneo experience of preparing you for the world ahead. I got lost on campus, attended the wrong class, and I regularly ate at Manang's. I loved seeing Bel Field at Christmas time with all the pretty lights but I never attended Simbang Gabi. I watched basketball games at the Araneta Coliseum and learned most of the cheers. And I made it through to graduation in 2006.

This year, the Ateneo de Manila University is celebrating their 15oth anniversary.


In honor of this celebration and working with the mission of "Building the Nation", the Ateneo is aiming to raise funds for 500 new scholarships. Currently, the Ateneo has 1,088 scholars out of a school population of 7,963 which brings the scholar percentage to about 13.7%. They seek to raise this percentage to 20% thus effectively projecting 1,600 scholars out of a student population of 8,000, or hopefully, one scholar out of five students in the coming future.


I am a teacher and I truly believe that education is the key to our country rising up. It pains me to see how lacking our educational system really is and how many out of school youth there are.

But if we can make a difference in the lives of those 1,600 scholars by helping them receive the education that we were blessed with, I can't even begin to imagine how those 1,600 scholars would make a difference in our country today. Many Ateneo scholars have already gone on to serve our country in many different ways. (You can actually read more about their stories and the scholarship fund by clicking on the banner above.)

I know helping our country can seem like such a daunting task. But as with every journey, every undertaking, every dream, it can be achieved. As always, one step at a time. So let's give. And give back.

Ateneo truly chose a wonderful way of celebrating their 150 years.