We, members of the Ateneo community, address this statement to our Jesuit mentors, faculty members, fellow alumni/ae and, most especially, our countrymen, to express our resolve to live up to the ideals of our beloved alma mater in serving country and people.

Formed to become men and women for others, alas, some of our brothers and sisters who have held and/or are still holding positions of influence in government and private business have allowed themselves to become tools of oppression and exploitation by those who only choose to serve themselves. Indeed, some of these fellow alumni/ae are themselves the initiators and perpetrators of these iniquities.

Where fraternal conscientization and correction in true Ignatian-Jesuit tradition should have “washed away—not moderated—the spirit of greed” in the hearts of these “vulture-ized” members of the “eagles’ nest,” we, their brothers and sisters, can no longer observe at the sidelines. It is time for us to take action.

The nation suffers; institutions of democracy are as carcasses savaged by such vulture greed.

Today we can only look back to Ateneo’s storied, nearly 150-year past where a Dr. Jose Rizal once attended its classrooms, imbibed valued lessons in the humanities and thence epitomized genuine humanity by living the life of a “man for others,” and by it and for it, dying a martyr for country and people. And we feel proud and blessed by his heroism. Whereas today, too, looking at present events, we, Ateneans, are associated with an aberration of humanity called “Jose Pidal!” And we are shamed by that name’s ignominy!

Lux in Domino: Light in the Lord. This is our school’s motto. We grant that some of our fellow Ateneans holding office in government, according to their best lights, continue to serve in the belief that the light they hold might help mitigate the darkness cast by the incorrigibly greedy few. Alas, wittingly or unwittingly, their illumination merely acts as sporadic blinding glare for others not yet aware of the darkness that has swallowed the body politic. Theirs is the glint of fool’s gold.

To these we quote from Matthew 6:23: “If your eyes are diseased, your whole body will be in darkness. Then, if your light has become darkness, how dark will be the darkest part of you!”

To these fellow Ateneans in government, particularly in the Executive branch which holds the helm of governance, we implore you: Hark back to your roots: Lux in Domino. Be one with us in humbly asking for the forgiveness of our countrymen for letting them down during their time of need—in these trying times when many of you—and us—could have been instruments of the Light, inspiring hope and serving our fellowmen. . . Ad maiorem Dei gloriam! Therefore, by way of fraternal correction and restitution for our collective acts of omission and commission, we humbly ask you, fellow Ateneans who continue to help prop up this administration that is collapsing by the sheer weight of its iniquities, to resign your posts and join the ranks of the majority of our countrymen who are seeking truth, accountability, justice and decency in government.

Resign now and be in the light of the Lord!

Initial Signatories:

Mike Alba, AB 78; Fernando Aldaba, BS 80; Al Alegre, HS 79, AB 83; Benjie Alimurung, AB 66; Lito Anzures, HS 66, Col 70; Nolo Avancena, HS 72; Germelino M. Bautista, HS 67, AB 72; Felipe Buencamino, HS 66; Lisandro Claudio, HS 03, AB 07; Eddie Dorotan, HS, 73; Billy Esposo, HS 66; Art Hilado, AB 66; Ricky Jalbuena, HS 73, BS 77; Bertie Lim, AB 70; Miguel Limjap, HS 72, AB 77; Ward Luarca, HS, 73; Jim Paredes, HS 69, AB 73; Rafael Paredes, HS 70; Leo Rialp, AB 68; Tony Romualdez, HS 72; Carlos Siguion Reyna: AB 79; Men Sta. Ana, HS 73; Skip Syling, HS 72, BS 76; Luis Unson, HS 72

THE apparent faux pas involving the revelation at this week’s hearing by Sen. Jamby Madrigal of a supposed marginal note indicating First Gentleman Mike Arroyo is being given copies of official correspondences involving ODA-funded projects should have given the beleaguered National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) a reason to hit back at reckless detractors. As we shall explain later, it hasn’t.

One month ago, as the credit squeeze persisted, ratings agencies were forced to downgrade thousands of securities after failing to foresee the recent wave of defaults, particularly in subprime loans.

The two major competitors of La Suerte Cigarette Factory Inc.—Fortune Tobacco and Phillip Morris—must be gloating with extreme satisfaction these days.

Sway: Time to change the chair, not just the person on it

The Catholic Church hierarchy, although divided, doesn’t want President Arroyo to resign. But the bishops, in a statement, asked her to make the necessary changes in her administration to effectively deal with corruption. In short: Do what you can to fix things while you still have time.

Servant Leader: ‘Spe Salvi’–Part VIII

The community-oriented vision of the “blessed life” is certainly directed beyond the present world, but it also has to do with the building up of this world.

Philip M. Lustre Jr.: A hard Church and an opportunistic military

The nation’s two major institutions—the Church and the military establishment—are highly politicized. The Church, by virtue of its pervasive moral influence, and the military, by its monopoly of arms, are most effective in effecting political changes, particularly at crucial historical junctures. But they are also the nation’s most misunderstood institutions.

Ateneans Act! (Ateneans for Accountability and Truth)

We, members of the Ateneo community, address this statement to our Jesuit mentors, faculty members, fellow alumni/ae and, most especially, our countrymen, to express our resolve to live up to the ideals of our beloved alma mater in serving country and people.