Press Statement on Autonomy Status

Press Conference: 16 June, 2008
Ateneo de Naga University

Fr. Joel Tabora, S.J.

The Ateneo de Naga University gratefully accepts its new autonomous status granted us under CHED Memorandum Order 52, s. 2006 for five years through an en banc decision of the Commission on Higher Education on June 2, 2008.  Ateneo de Naga University  wishes to dedicate this singular distinction to the Bicolano People through our beloved Patroness, Ina.

The distinction has been conferred in this manner as of yet only on eleven higher educational institutions in the country.  We are both humbled by the recognition and encouraged to dedicate ourselves more to quality education in Bicol that is at once Filipino, Catholic and Jesuit.

“Autonomy” in this context formally recognizes our long tradition of integrity, our untarnished reputation, our enduring commitment to excellence, and the sustainability and viability of our operations.  It recognizes our excellence in  Humanities, Science, Mathematics, the Social Sciences, Business and Management, and in Education.  It recognizes our outstanding achievements in Information Technology, Business Management, Entrepreneurship, where we are CHED Centers of Development for Excellence,  and especially in Teacher Education, where we have also just been named a CHED Center of Excellence. 

Our faculties and staff, our entire university communities, have labored hard and sacrificed much to attain this recognition. 

But arriving at this point has been possible only because of the long-standing  trust  and support that our constituents in Naga and in Bicol have placed in us.  These are primarily our students and their parents, many of them children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren of other Ateneans, who through the years have allowed us to attain the status we now enjoy. They are also students who have heard of our educational culture;  they have come, and not found the school wanting. 

But we are also thankful for the guidance and support that our entire CHED-Region V has extended us throughout the years through its Director, Dr. Dominador Peralta, Jr,,   We are especially grateful for, and moved by,  the solid and tenacious recognition accorded us through its Regional Team of Experts, including Dr. Gregoria Benosa of Divine Word College in Legazpi, Dr. Teresa Borromeo of St. Louise de Marillac of Sorsogon, Dr. Domingo Ortega, Jr. of University of St. Anthony in Iriga, and Dr. Sally Gerona of the Naga College Foundation.

Though Ina, our patroness, we now dedicate this “autonomous” status to our constituents and supporters with much gratitude and deep resolve to continue serving the Bicolano people through quality education – both in basic as well as in higher education.  

We intend to use our autonomy to improve our service of our constituent community in Bicol, as well as open our doors to the East Asian region, in ongoing implementation of our mission as a Filipino, Catholic and Jesuit University.

We will do so “in autonomy” – with increased consciousness of the interior imperatives of our educational mission that shall govern our directions and programs.  After the last General Congregation 35 of the Society of Jesus, this includes an awareness  of our being sent to the difficult  Frontiers of today world, yet rooted in the heart of Christ.  It includes being enflamed by the fire of Christ’s love, and being ready to kindle others in that love.  It includes enduring  friendship with the Lord, His Church and Magisterium, friendships with others in mission, and friendships with those we are called to serve.

We will certainly not work an autonomy of solipsistic isolation.  CHED recognizes our autonomy, but autonomously we wish to work even more closely with CHED – following, if not surpassing, guidelines on standards and quality assurance.   We wish to contribute more to the mandate of CHED to promote quality higher education and make quality higher education accessible to the Bicolano people and beyond.

We wish to continue to work closely with the Catholic Dioceses of Virac, Sorsogon, Masbate, Daet, the Catholic Prelature of Libmanan, and especially the Archdiocese of Caceres under the leadership of His Grace, Archbishop Leonardo Legaspi, D.D.  Similarly, we will work with friends and colleagues in other institutes of higher education in the Bicol Region, especially in the Bicol Association of Catholic Schools and Bicol Foundation for Higher Education.

Needless to say, we are very happy.  In our joy, we have declared Tuesday, June 17, a special day of celebration for our University Community.  As we celebrate, we will thank the Lord in Eucharistic Celebration at 4:30 pm, formally receive the documents of our autonomy from CHED thereafter, and re-dedicate our University to the service especially of the Bicolano people through Ina.  

Please be with us to share it with your readers, listeners, and audiences. We promise it will be a colorful day.