| Ateneans Act! |
Ateneans for Accountability and Truth
On 26 February 2008, a group of concerned alumni from different batches met to discuss how the Ateneo community can reach out to others and express "communal action" amidst the deepening crisis, arising from a series of scandals, the threat to the life of Jun Lozada, and other iniquities. The sentiment is that we, "men and women for others," have to be one with our fellow Filipinos in resolving this profound crisis. What unites is our resolve to fight for truth, justice and accountability. The statement titled Ateneans Act (Ateneans for Accountability and Truth) serves as the basis of our unity and action. This is an inclusive project. We hope this will serve as an outlet for the Ateneo alumni to participate in the search for truth, justice and accountability. We invite alumni/alumnae to join us by signing this statement and participating in other activities. Please forward the statement to our classmates, fellow alumni, sons and daughters, and other concerned citizens. Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam We, members of the Ateneo community, address this statement to our Jesuit mentors, faculty members, fellow alumni/ae and, most specially, our countrymen, to express our resolve to live up to the ideals of our beloved alma mater in serving country and people. Formed to become men and women for others, alas, some of our brothers and sisters who have held and/or are still holding positions of influence in government and private business have allowed themselves to become tools of oppression and exploitation by those who only choose to serve themselves. Indeed, some of these fellow alumni/ae are themselves the initiators and perpetrators of these iniquities. Where fraternal conscientization and correction in true Ignatian-Jesuit tradition should have “washed away – not moderated – the spirit of greed” in the hearts of these “vulture-ized” members of the “eagles’ nest,” we, their brothers and sisters, can no longer observe at the sidelines. It is time for us to take action. The nation suffers; institutions of democracy are as carcasses savaged by such vulture greed. Today we can only look back to Ateneo’s storied, nearly 150-year, past where a Dr. Jose Rizal once attended its classrooms, imbibed valued lessons in the humanities, thence epitomized genuine humanity by living the life of a “man for others,” and by it and for it, dying a martyr for country and people. And we feel proud and blessed by his heroism. Whereas today, too, looking at present events, we, Ateneans, are associated with an aberration of humanity called “Jose Pidal”! And we are shamed by that name’s ignominy! LUX IN DOMINO: Light in the Lord. This is our school’s motto. We grant that some of our fellow Ateneans holding office in government, according to their best lights, continue to serve in the belief that the light they hold might help mitigate the darkness cast by the incorrigibly greedy few. Alas, wittingly or unwittingly, their illumination merely acts as sporadic blinding glare for others not yet aware of the darkness that has swallowed the body politic. Theirs is the glint of fool’s gold. To these we quote from Mt. 6:23: “If your eyes are diseased your whole body will be in darkness. Then, if your light has become darkness, how dark will be the darkest part of you!” To these fellow Ateneans in government, particularly in the executive branch which holds the helm of governance, we implore you: HARK BACK TO YOUR ROOTS: LUX IN DOMINO. Be one with us in humbly asking for the forgiveness of our countrymen for letting them down during their time of need – in these trying times when many of you – and us – could have been instruments of the Light, inspiring hope and serving our fellowmen…AD MAJOREM DEI GLORIAM! Therefore, by way of fraternal correction and restitution for our collective acts of omission and commission, we humbly ask you, fellow Ateneans who continue to help prop up this administration that is collapsing by the sheer weight of its iniquities, to resign your posts and join the ranks of the majority of our countrymen who are SEEKING TRUTH, ACCOUNTABILITY, JUSTICE AND DECENCY in government. RESIGN NOW AND BE THE LIGHT IN THE LORD! Read the Filipino version, click here. Write Comment
02-04-2008 05:29 Just some thoughts 1) On the part: "Today we can only look back to Ateneo's storied, nearly 150-year, past where a Dr. Jose Rizal once attended its classrooms... living the life of a man for others..." Note, though, that the challenge to be "man for others" was made by Fr. Arrupe in the 1970s, when Fr. Arrupe visited the Ateneo as Father General of the Society of Jesus. Putting "man for others" and Jose Rizal together will be an application out of context. 2) On "Where fraternal conscientization and correction in true Ignatian-Jesuit tradition..." And on "by way of fraternal correction and restitution for our collective acts of omission and..." The phrasing seems to me to employ some power-dominance setup, a'la "si papa nag salita, kaya si anak susunod" type. It is contrary to my reading of Jesuit social engagements (see, e.g., Heroic Leadership, 2004). Of course, the Jesuits have vowed to obey the Pope and to mobilize soonest when asked by the Pope (which is their 4th vow, btw), but Ateneo alumni are not Jesuits. I see a disjoint in the Ateneo ACT statement and the reference to Ateneo tradition. 3) On "we implore you: HARK BACK TO YOUR ROOTS: LUX IN DOMINO." I think the line will be stronger if it is stated like reminiscing to the years when Ateneans were still "idealists" untainted by the glare of gold (as pointed) and wanting to serve as they move to engage the Philippine society (thus, the song: down from the hill.) 02-04-2008 05:19 Some Comments First, from a purely literary perspective, perhaps the statement can be worded more sharply. Personally I find it structured rather "wordy" with too many compound or complex sentences. I guess whatever statements from the ateneo must be "pointed" and "flawless" in form. On the substantive side I find the paragraph which begins "LUX IN DOMINO" a bit intriguing. As far as I know, most if not all, the Ateneans serving in government now are all the usual (if not prime) suspects. They are not even merely "mitigating" the darkness with their so-called "lights" - they are, in fact, spitting at the light. Enlighten me, Name me a couple of these "illumined" Ateneans in government now. Must be like searching for a single moral needle in Sodom and Gomorrah. Anyway... Moreover, what is meant by "fraternal correction and restitution for our collective acts of omission and commission..."? As Ateneans who are supposed to be "men for others" and "Lights in the Lord" we must act not out of any "fraternal" considerations but simply because it is the only right action to do. And why "collective acts of omission and commission"? Are all of us Ateneans to be bunched together with the likes of Bunye and Neri? The intent of the statement is to be lauded. Perhaps, the message can be sharpened. Just my couple of centavos, though. Thanks, JL 16-03-2008 16:51 Economist and Founder, EPIC25 100% is the needed response against Arroyo. Is this Ateneans Act! initiative at 100%? No, it is at 0.1-- it is 99.9% inadequate. The needed response is a \"Tiger\" initiative that would turn all 37 million Filipino workers into a strong, highly paid, globally-winning economic force. But, there are no focused Tiger ideas among Ateneans--not even among the economics professors such as Cielito Habito. If de Castro replaces Arroyo, he would be as unTiger as past Presidents have been. So, I\'d rather that Ateneans act to become the President of the country by appointing themselves to be a Shadow government that inspires and helps each Atenean to be a Tiger-- a person who turns himself and his friends into a group, a company, that wins in world markets. Tony Meloto, Harvey Keh, Cielito Habito, the Ayalas, Henry Sy, Lucio Tan, Senator Villar, and the late Senators Recto and Maglapus are examples of WHAT NOT TO BE. They never earned enough billions of dollars as businessmen for the Philippines to import the machines to build the country. Or, they did not push through policies to get that done. Thus, the Philippines lacks electricity, lab equipment, space rockets, farm harvesters, violins, library books, jets for a modern, great life. Best models for Ateneans Act to emulate--to replicate in the Philippines--are Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, LiKashing. They have been leaders at world conquest acting by themselves to be Tigers at buuilding the world despite Georg Bush, despite Saddam Hussein, despite Gloria Arroyo, despite ZTE/NBN. A similar group of globally superior Filipinos are needed to build the Philippines and the world. Let Ateneans Act think of itself as a Shadow Government majestically moving outside of Gloria\'s or the U.S. very tiny orbits. There is a solar system and a universe out there to conquer. Forget Gloria-- she is a flea, she does not exist. An economically efficient, globally winning Tiger Shadow Govt will make the Philippines and the world prosper. Focus on that. Build a new Philippines, and a new Filipino mind beyond Gloria and her political critics--they are all globally empty in the head. Powered by AkoComment Tweaked Special Edition v.1.4.6 |
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