US Ambassador to the Asian Development Bank Visits  AdNU-Bikol

United States Ambassador to the Asian Development Bank, Hon. Curtis S. Chin,  came for a four day visit to Bicol and Ateneo de Naga University last February 2-5, 2008.  Dubbed as a “Visit of Friendship”, Ambassador Chin came not so much as to inspect the ADB Projects in Bicol, but to see and get to know the community outreach program of the University in the hope that the ADB may become the University’s ally in this direction.     Ambassador Chin was first introduced to the Bicol region by Ms. Maria Cristina Tabora, the New York based sister of the University President, Fr. Joel E. Tabora, S.J.

The itinerary arranged by the University for Ambassador Chin was quite hectic - in its desire to show as many of its community initiatives.   On the day of his arrival, Ambassador Chin, after a breakfast meeting at the Avenue Plaza hotel with City Mayor Jesse Robredo, went to meet the Local Chief Executives of the four partner municipalities of the University – Cabusao, Calabanga, Sagnay, and Buhi - and listened to some of the respective municipalities’ development plans/projects to respond to their constituents’ pressing social and economic needs.    The group of Ms. Toni Yulo-Loysaga, Executive Director of the Manila Observatory, and UP Volcanologist, Dr. Lagmay,   were also in attendance and presented the disaster/risk map for Mt. Mayon and the Bicol River.

After the lively exchange with ADNU’s partner municipalities, the Ambassador drove to Cabusao to visit and meet the beneficiaries of the University’s feeding program and the Municipality’s proposed water system project.    This area visit had given the Ambassador a clear idea of the situation earlier presented by the representatives of the Municipality.

The evening of the first day of Ambassador Chin’s visit was capped by a welcome dinner hosted by the University for Ambassador Chin at the Madrigal’s Coko Café.  With some of the brightest of ADNU’s students, such as the members of the award-winning Remontados, (ADNU’s student debating society), some officers of the Supreme Student Government led by its President, Ms. Ira Howard, as well as some of the student scholars of the Business Management Honors Program of the Madrigal and Kristong Hari Foundation, the evening was filled with light exchanges, with musical and cultural entertainment rendered by the same students.

The following day, February 3, 2008 was spent visiting with the ADNU partner communities.   Accompanied by the University President, Fr. Joel E. Tabora, S.J., Atty. Miles Raquid-Arroyo, USIC Chairperson, with her husband Mr. Tom Arroyo,   Mr. Renne Gumba, Director of the Institute of Politics and Mr. Elmer Sto. Domingo, CCD Director, the Ambassador’s first stop was the Municipality of Calabanga where an on-going project – a 24-km farm-to-market road funded by the ADB was inspected.  The group then proceeded to Bgy. Dominorog where the Ambassador had a lively exchange with the children beneficiaries of the University’s feeding program.  

Taking a one-hour drive, the group then proceeded to the Municipality of Sagnay and visited the University’s feeding programs in Barangay Mabca, and in the island barangay of Atulayan.   The lunch served by the community in Barangay Atulayan was, according to the Ambassador, the best he had so far.   The visit to Atulayan also yielded another inspiring development:  the University President made a commitment to take in the Barangay SK Chairman as a scholar of the Chito Madrigal Foundation.

After the totally heart-warming exchange with the Atulayan community, the group then proceeded to take the almost 2-hr long drive to the Municipality where the Municipal Mayor, Rey P. Lacoste, graciously welcomed the Ambassador and the Ateneo Team.  After a breathtaking boat-ride around Lake Buhi, Mayor P. Lacoste very generously hosted a sumptuous dinner by the pool in the picturesque Buhi Resort.

In spite of his hectic and busy schedule, Ambassador Chin also had a chance to play tourist and visit one of Bicol’s fast-becoming-favourite tourist destination - the Whale Shark (Butanding) of Donsol, Sorsogon.   The experience of actually seeing the magnificent creatures in their natural habitat was a first even for the Ateneo people. 

Taking the 3-hour drive back to Naga, Ambassador Chin was then treated to a “thank you and von-voyage” dinner by the University President at the Café Federico of the historic Crown Hotel.

Ambassador Curtis S. Chin’s visit may be short, but it has given the university an opportunity to show him just how vast the possibilities for meaningful response to the call of the poor are and is hoped to pave a clear way for further ADB engagement.