MANILA, March 13 (PNA) — President Benigno S. Aquino III urged fellow Ateneans to join hands in building a better nation for the country’s future generation.
In his speech during the 40th anniversary of the Ateneo Professional Schools (APS) Wednesday night, President Aquino reminded Ateneo professionals about their ultimate goal of “collectively” building the nation through their skills and expertise.
“Kasabay ng pagdiriwang at pagsasariwa sa Four as One, nawa’y huwag nating makaligtaan na itong Four as One ay Four as One for Others. Manindigan sana tayo na ang ating pagpapakadalubhasa ay hindi para sa ating mga personal na interes kundi para sa mga nasa labas ng bakod at pader ng Professional Schools,” he said, referring to the APS theme “Four as One,” which reflects the collective nature and identity of APS.
The APS is the collective entity gathering four graduate schools of the Ateneo: the Ateneo Graduate School of Business (AGSB), the Ateneo Law School (ALS), the Ateneo School of Government (ASOG), and the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health (ASMPH).
During the ceremony, the President witnessed the signing of the four commemorative bricks, inscribed with the Ateneo seal and brand, by the deans of the four schools as well as the President of the Ateneo University. The four bricks represent the strong foundation of the APS and their existence over the last 40 years.
The deans were Dr. Antonio G.M. La Viña (ASOG), Alberto L. Buenviaje (AGSB), Dr. Manuel M. Dayrit (ASMPH), and Associate Dean Lily K. Gruba (Officer-in-Charge, Ateneo Law School).
President Aquino entertained three questions from the deans where he recounted the problems he and his officials had to face in steering the country towards the straight path.
“In my mind, ‘baka pwede pa akong go another 20 rounds of the — everything that has to deal with this job’ pero I don’t think I am prepared to sacrifice everybody else’s lives,” he said when asked on his thinking about his stint as President.
The President believed that he has done so much in reforming the government and yet he wanted to do more with God’s grace.
“I pray to God and say … I ask that we be made instruments of His will; That we be able to create His kingdom here on earth; and the third is to shield us [from harm],” he said.
President Aquino ended his speech by recalling Padre Roque Ferriols’ words saying: “Nasabi na ang dapat masabi, pero ang pinakamahalaga ay hindi pa rin nasasabi, ito’y magagawa lamang.” (PNA)