Message from the
OUDAA Director

Mens sana in corpore sano from Latin means “a healthy mind in a healthy body.” Ateneo education considers this wise principle as an essential part of our mental and psychological well-being. And so this July issue of the Fabilioh! covers our exemplary athletes, our modern day heroes who have made us proud as Ateneans -our student-athletes, student first, and athlete second, who have sacrificed much to achieve championships for our beloved Ateneo.

This phrase comes from Satire X (c. 2^nd century A.D.) of the Roman poet Juvenal (55-128 A.D.) and it is first in the list of what is desirable in life:

“Orandum est ut sit mens sana in corpore sano.” - You should pray for a healthy mind in a healthy body. Ask for a stout heart that has no fear of death, and deems length of days the least of Nature’s gifts that can endure any kind of toil, that knows neither wrath nor desire and thinks the woes and hard labors of Hercules better than the loves and banquets and downy cushions of Sardanapalus. What I commend to you, you can give to yourself; for assuredly, the only road to a life of peace is virtue.” 

Virtue not vanity is the end goal of a healthy mind and a healthy body that brings us deep inner peace. This is brought about by the hard discipline of both critical and analytical thinking and rigorous physical exercise. In order to endure life, we have to have a “stout heart that has no fear of death.” We have to have a big heart filled with Love that gives us tremendous courage to the point of making choices to “lay down our lives for our friends (John 15:13)”. 

A student-athlete is like a warrior. He wants to win battles and trophies that symbolize glory, prestige, pride, and honor. From an outsider’s eye, one can never fully understand and appreciate the “woes and hard labors” of a student-athlete – the balancing act that he does between his sport and his academics; the risks he takes with serious injuries that can end his career; the jeers he swallows when he loses (just to be honest, we want winners, not losers); the intense pressures from all sides – his family, school, friends, rivals, fans – just to name a few. And even if he wins and becomes the hero or player of a game, how long would the cheers and jubilations last before he gets buried in people’s dark memories.  

But again we might be missing the whole point why student-athletes enter this arena of success/failure; glory/humiliation, tears of joy or sadness. It is all in the name of Virtue – the virtue of discipline and the pakikibagay in teamwork, the virtue of obedience to their coaches and trainers, the virtue of Magis in their constant pursuit of excellence no matter the losses, the virtue of resilience, bravery, loyalty, commitment, humility, and others.

All these virtues that create a happy, peaceful and loving life are ingrained in the character of our student-athletes. Some of them have become national sports icons and we are proud to say that we have attended the same Ateneo that we cherish. 

To all our student-athletes past, present, and future we take a deep bow as our way to honor you.

Fabilioh!

Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam!