Aquino in ‘purgatory’ like new Ateneo head

PRESIDENTS ALL. President Aquino looks on outgoing president of Ateneo de Manila University Fr. Bienvenido S. Nebres, S.J. (left), congratulating his successor Fr. Jose Ramon T. Villarin, S.J., as the 30th president of the Jesuit university during Thursday’s investiture rites held at the Henry Lee Irwin Theater. Aquino is an Ateneo alumnus. PHOTO BY AUGUST DE LA CRUZ

President Aquino last night graced the investiture of the new president of Ateneo de Manila University, Fr. Jose Ramon Villarin, lavishing praise on the “jolly” Jesuit priest who, he said, once compared the rigors of the presidency to time spent in purgatory—and therefore a sure ticket to heaven.

The bachelor President, himself an Atenean, also gave what amounted to a tough challenge to Villarin, asking the top executive of one of the country’s leading schools to still be around when Aquino’s future children enroll in Ateneo.

“It is my wish that Father Jett will wait for my children, who are yet to be born, to make sure that they will grow under the guidance and education of the Ateneo and instill in their hearts and minds what it is to be a Man for Others,” he said in a speech.

Villarin has been a friend of Aquino since the two were still students at Ateneo, where the President graduated in 1981 with a degree in economics. Before entering the priesthood, Villarin graduated with a degree in physics in 1980, magna cum laude.

“That is how I got to know Father Jett: jolly, caring and he doesn’t lack energy in helping (others),” Aquino added.

Aquino said Villarin once assured him that he would go straight to heaven because the stressful life in Malacañang was already comparable to doing time in purgatory.

“And now that he’s also already a ‘president’ and would tackle the issues of Ateneans on a daily basis, I would no longer be alone in purgatory. We’d already be together here,” President Aquino said.

“The only difference perhaps… (is that) my term would only be until 2016 while Father Jett, if one would infer from the length of service of the past Ateneo presidents, would have a longer stay in the purgatory of being president,” Aquino added.

“As Fr. Jett Villarin becomes the president of our university, it is certain that the Atenean will be more active in helping build our country,” President Aquino said.

Both President Aquino and Villarin saluted the latter’s predecessor, Fr. Bienvenido Nebres.

During his time at the Ateneo, Aquino recalled, he and his classmates looked up to Nebres. But he wondered whether today’s students also looked up to his generation in the same way they stood in awe of Nebres.

Villarin said Nebres was the reason many Ateneans had emerged to become leaders in the country.

Before he became Ateneo’s 30th president, Villarin was best known for his work as a priest, scientist and musician.—With a report from Inquirer Research; Source: Ateneo de Manila University