AdNU Celebrates its Autonomous Status

It was high-power festivity for the Ateneo de Naga University on June 17, 2008 as the entire University celebrated its new autonomous status. That had come on June 2 when the Commission on High Education in an en banc resolution declared the Ateneo de Naga University autonomous for five years under CMO 52, s. 2006.  It also declared the Ateneo’s College of Education a new Center of Excellence for Teacher Education.

AdNU President Fr. Joel Tabora, S.J. had declared June 17 an “all day, all-night” celebration of thanksgiving and rejoicing.  There were three high points to the celebration:  the Eucharistic Celebration presided over by  the newly-installed Provincial Superior of the Philippine Province, Very Rev. Fr. Jose Cecilio “Jojo” Magadia, S.J.; the Academic Convocation in which CHED Commissioner Nona Ricafort and CHED Director Dominador Peralta, Jr. of Region V together turned over the documents of autonomy to Fr. President; finally the re-consecration of the University to God through the intercession of Ina, Our Lady of Penafrancia.  Before the Mass a festive parade filled the streets of Naga, a parade which turned into a procession at the Cathedral when Ina was carried to the Ateneo as its most precious guest.  After the Mass, there was a university-community supper for all, then singing, dancing , games, and bonding in friendship, till dawn.

During the Academic Convocation, formal felicitations were delivered by Mr. Ronel Velarde, Officer-in-Charge of the Ateneo de Naga University Supreme Student Council; Fr. Jojo Magadia, Provincial Superior of the Jesuits in the Philippines; Sr. Asuncion Evidente, D.C., President of the Universidad de Sta. Isabel and of the Bicol Foundation for Higher Education (BFHE); Dr. Dominador Peralta, Jr., CHED Director of Region V, and Dr. Nona Ricafort, CHED Commissioner.   Members of the Board of the BFHE presented Fr. Tabora with a plaque of congratulations.

In his speech accepting autonomous status Fr. Tabora thanked the CHED for the singular honor accorded to the Ateneo de Naga University.  He dedicated the new autonomous status to the Ateneo’s constituents in Bicol through Ina.