Invitation to Revisiting 'Ateneo in Service of the Nation' 50 Years After

The theme of this year’s commemoration of the declaration of Martial Law (ML@52) is Tugon ng Sambayanan: Paglilingkod sa Kapwa.  It is inspired by the speech, “The Ateneo in Service of the Nation,” delivered by Fr. Bienvenido F. Nebres, SJ, then Dean of the Ateneo College of Arts and Sciences, at a Faculty Convocation in September 1974. Fr. Nebres outlined how the Ateneo can respond to the challenges of the Philippine situation of that time in its research, teaching, and community service. He pointed to the need for restructuring and reorientation in the University towards greater responsiveness to and engagement with the poor. 


To frame the series of events and activities marking ML@52, the Office of the Vice President for Mission Integration (OVPMI) and the Office for Social Concern and Involvement (OSCI) have invited Fr. Nebres to revisit his speech from 50 years ago—its context, insights, proposals, and impact, as well as the continuing challenges for the Ateneo de Manila University community today, particularly amidst the Jesuit and University priorities of “walking with the poor and excluded” and “bridging cultural divides”.


We would like to invite you to the event and listen to Fr. Ben’s reflections as well as the insights of our three reactors from the perspective of their own field(s) of interest, experiences, and engagements of service in the Ateneo and the country. 


You may come as early as 04:40 PM for coffee and snacks.