A celebration of hope and generosity: Benefactors, 2025 graduating college scholars gather in annual get-together

Scholars from Ateneo de Manila University's graduating batch of 2025 finally got to meet and give thanks to their benefactors on the evening of 14 June 2025. The event, called "Get-together of Benefactors and Class 2025 Scholars," was held at the newly renovated Blue Eagle Gym.

A mass preceded the event — also held at the Blue Eagle Gym — celebrated by Fr Joseph Patrick Echevarria SJ, with Fr Norberto Bautista SJ and Fr Bienvenido Nebres SJ as concelebrants.

The event itself was opened with the singing of the National Anthem by Ms Mariella Joy A Gerelingo (BS Biology '25) and the invocation by Ms Stephanie Marie T Isidro (AB Communication '25).

This was followed by the opening address of Dr Jose Maria Edito K Tirol, Director of the Office of Admission and Aid - Undergraduate Education. Here, Dr Tirol noted the size of the graduating class of scholars, which, at 689, represents 29 percent of the graduating class of 2025 — one of the largest in Ateneo history.

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He also noted the achievements of the scholars, with 451 of them (65 percent of graduating scholars) graduating with honors. These included 40 graduating summa cum laude, 125 magna cum laude, 187 cum laude, and 99 honorable mentions, on top of 24 program awardees.

Dr Tirol’s speech was followed by the thanksgiving address to the benefactors by Mr Robert Nelson R Leung (BS Applied Mathematics '25), Class 2025 valedictorian, who was himself a scholar.

In his address, Mr Leung relayed how the gathering was a celebration of hope. The hope of the scholars, who could only hold on to it in coming to Ateneo, of their parents, and their benefactors. As part of this, he explained how hope can actually be "a terrifying thing."

"I still remember the day hope arrived in the mail," he said. "It came in a little blue envelope marked 'One of Sixty,' on the back of a 2Go motorcycle."

He then relayed how that hope of an Ateneo education led him to uncertainty at first, considering their financial situation.

"Our sole breadwinner was a fifty-something-year-old health worker who'd already been hospitalized for an arrhythmia," he explained. "I knew that if the worst ever happened, if Dad caught the virus, if I lost my scholarship, choosing Ateneo would be the most selfish thing I'd ever done. In my mind, fear and uncertainty had already bolted that door shut."

But he also realized that the hope that found him that day wasn't his. 

"Someone out there, someone who'd never met me, never even seen me in person, and had no way of knowing what I was up for, had decided for God knows what reason to rest their hope upon my shoulders," he continued. "Someone, out of the pure kindness of their hearts, had moved heaven and earth to hold the door open for me." 

"There was no way in hell I would let them down now," he added, "I always say I never chose Ateneo; Ateneo chose me."

Mr Leung concluded his address by stating that the scholars of the class of 2025 were "living testaments" to all that the benefactors' hope had accomplished. He then added that there were millions of children just like them, hoping for someone to open the door for them to have an Ateneo education, and that he prayed that the benefactors would continue to find it in their hearts to rest their hopes on the shoulders of these children.

Robert B Reyes was the guest speaker for the evening. Obet, as Mr Reyes is fondly known, graduated from Ateneo de Manila in 1988 with a degree in BS Management Engineering (ME). He is the co-founder of Promo Exchange Inc. (PXI), a below-the-line marketing services firm with a strong track record of organizing sales conventions, product launches, media launches, mall and barangay activations, and more. PXI's regular roster of clients includes companies like PLDT, Smart Communications, Maya Philippines, and more.

In 2017, Mr Reyes established the PXI Scholarship Fund to support deserving students in Ateneo's Management Engineering program. In addition, Mr Reyes's Management Engineering Class of 1988 has also helped establish two additional scholarship funds to support future ME students.

Mr Reyes's speech focused on five lessons he learned after graduating from Ateneo. The first of these was to "trust the Lord in all things."

"During the first 8 years (after starting PXI), with barely enough working capital, I needed to get collections on time to pay for operations and salaries," he relayed. "Always, as in always, there was money coming in on the day I needed it. Sometimes a bit early, but never a day too late. All of those small miracles brought me to where I am today. Worry not. If it is meant for you, it will happen."

His second lesson was that "God's plans are way bigger than mine." And he relayed how, despite his initial plans of simply getting rich in the corporate world, he found that it was not for him.

"I never did like all the fake deadlines and meetings and presentations. The never-ending quest for growth," he explained. "Growth in sales, market share, and profits. That was when I decided to quit. Despite my own fears and apprehensions, I started my own below-the-line marketing firm."

"Fast forward to 20 years and there are absolutely no regrets. Today, I am in a position to help others through scholarships."

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For his third lesson, Mr Reyes explained that the scholar's life goal should be "to become the best version of myself." As part of this, he explained that he found joy naturally when his life — his values and beliefs, passion points, and skill sets — all came into alignment. He then went on to explain that, to find this alignment, the scholars need to work with their gifts and talents, while accepting their differences and weaknesses. He also told them to accept that failure is inevitable and that all they could do then was to learn from their failures.

Tying into the theme of weaknesses and failures, Mr Reyes's fourth lesson was for the scholars to remember that "I may be far from perfect, but I am still worthy."

He related how he always felt "unworthy" while growing up, and how he used to compare himself with those around him.

"Envy is tiring," he said. "In reality, we actually don't need to be better than anyone. On our own, we are good enough. We may be far from perfection, but it's meant to be that way. We are all works in progress. It will always be that way until our final days. This is a reality we have to accept."

Mr Reyes's fifth and final lesson is that "abundance is for all of us."

He relayed that the scholar's life of abundance had already begun by having been given the opportunity to study at Ateneo. As such, it was now their turn to find their own success so that they too, could share that abundance with others in need.

"We are called to become the best version of ourselves and then share — share our time, talent and treasures."

Following the addresses, the scholars finally got to meet their respective benefactors for a photo session.

The photo session was followed by the awarding of the Paghahandog ng Sarili Award. The recipients of this year's awards were the Ateneo Alumni Association's Order of the Blue Eagles; the family of Natividad Y Cheng, co-founder of Uratex Philippines; and Mr Robert B Reyes.

Next up was the awarding of the St Ignatius Award for Most Outstanding Scholars for 2025. This year's awardees were Ms Stephanie Marie T Isidro (AB Communication '25), Ms Andrea Joyce Y Peñaflor (BS Biology specialization in Biomedical Science '25), Mr Lean C Rosendo (BS Psychology Minor in Education '25), and 2025 class valedictorian, Mr Robert Nelson Leung.

Following the awards, the graduating scholars of Batch 2025 were sworn in as members of the Ateneo Alumni Scholars Association (AASA) by AASA president Ms Lorna Datiles-Fabian (BS Business Management '80).

The event was closed with remarks by Ateneo de Manila University President Fr Roberto C Yap SJ. 

"Another school year is done and our students continue to amaze us," Fr Bobby stated. "This evening we celebrate a record number of graduating scholars, a staggering 689 students."

Fr Yap then reflected on how the scholarship program of Ateneo, as established 65 years ago by the late Fr Thomas B Steinbugler SJ, continues to flourish.

"The steadfast faith, love, and support for Ateneo de Manila remains unwavering and constant," he added. "Moreover, it is a testament to God's grace, alive and well in our lives. God places us in situations and places where we can be instruments of his grace."

Following this, Fr Yap then posed the question of how the recipients of this grace could respond to it.

"We respond with a genuine and heartfelt sense of gratitude," he said. "On behalf of our graduating scholars, their families, and Ateneo de Manila University, I would like to extend my gratitude to our benefactors, who have been more than just financial supporters."

"You have been mentors, guides, and inspirations," Fr Yap continued. "Thank you for being our companions in fulfilling our Jesuit mission of educating and forming young people who will meet the challenges of the world. You have enabled students to receive a solid foundation that will not only change the trajectory of their lives, but also contribute to humanity's march towards a brighter, sustainable, and equitable future."

Following Fr Yap's address, Mr Patric John P Pascua (BS Applied Physics '25) led the crowd in the singing of the alma mater, after which dinner was served.

Ateneo de Manila University congratulates the graduating scholars of Class 2025 and wishes them the best in their future endeavours.