[Address to the ADDU General Faculty Assembly, Martin Hall, June 1, 2019.]
Welcome back to our new School Year, 2019-20!
The Context
Yesterday the earth quaked in preparation for this day! Today, MyLai Santos reminds us that today is World Environment Day!
Otherwise, we return to this new academic year with the Midterm Elections just concluded. They served as a confirmation of the electorate’s satisfaction with the performance of Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte. In some quarters, these elections have been controversial. But the electorate has its own wisdom and message. Even from our perspective as academicians, we must continue to discern what that is.
As the 17th Congress of the Philippines winds down to its closure, there is still much legislative activity. It already passed the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (RA 10931), the Magna Carta for the Poor (RA 11291), and the Expanded Maternity Law (11210). The Space Agency Act has meanwhile passed both Houses of Congress and is now on the table of the President for his signature. That is the law that will catapult the Philippines into space; we are happy that we can contribute to this effort through our Aerospace Engineering Program. Meanwhile, there is much legislative activity to pass the End of Contractualization law and even Mandatory ROTC in Senior High School before the end of the 17th Congress. Hopefully, concerning the latter, it will be considered that lasting peace in the Philippines depends not only on preparedness for war but more so on preparedness for knowledgeable international negotiations and a matured culture of peace. Last February 5th in Abu Dhabi, Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al Azahar, Ahmad Al Tayyeb, jointly declared, “the adoption of a culture of dialogue as the path; mutual cooperation as the code of conduct; reciprocal understanding as the method and standard.”[1]
The new legislature, the 18th Congress of the Philippines, will probably be heavily influenced by the current Administration. The newly elected senators have vowed not to be rubber stamps of Malacañang, yet the influence of the Palace on legislation will be inevitable. There will be fresh legislative support for the Build! Build! Build! Program and the hefty taxes that entails. There will be fresh discussion of a new Constitution. Hopefully, concerning the latter, self-serving version passed by the House under Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo might yield to a version that better represents the common good. Both in the discussions evaluating our economy and of the new Constitution, academe is challenged to play a significant role.
As academic must play in contributing to the success of the political entity, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). ADDU has worked hard in the past to support the Bangsamoro in its commitment to contribute to righting historical injustices. In this context, it supported the passage of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, and it wishes to do what it can by way of instruction, research and outreach to make the BARMM work.
Meanwhile, we must continue to work against the problems that bedevil Mindanao. Poverty is still severe with some 40% of Mindanaoans and over 60% of the Bangsamoro still under the poverty line. It can be expected that the government and the private sector will be moving more aggressively to combat poverty and underdevelopment, but this may exacerbate the gap between the haves and the have-nots. Despite the BARRM, peace has not been achieved in Mindanao. There are still encounters between the military and ISIS-oriented groups like the Abu Sayyaf, and efforts to achieve peace through negotiation with the CPP-NPA-NDFP groups have failed. Some continue to push that talks between the government and the communist-oriented rebels be resumed, even as the successful whole-of-nation approach[2] to peacebuilding in Davao led by Mrs. Irene Santiago with the full backing of Mayor Inday Sara be expanded.
Reformulation of the Jesuit Mission and Universal Apostolic Preferences.
Ateneo de Davao is a Jesuit school because it appropriates in academic freedom the Jesuit mission.
In founding the Society of Jesus, Ignatius of Loyola formulated the Jesuit mission in terms of the Service and the Propagation of the Faith. This mission has remained constant in the Society of Jesus, but in the past 60 or so years its formulation has evolved to reflect the Society’s insight into its apostolic implications in the contemporary world. With Father Pedro Arrupe, the service of the faith was essentially linked with the promotion of the faith. In General Congregation 34, the service of the faith and promotion of justice was dynamically interlocked with sensitivity to cultures and inter-religious dialogue. In General Congregation 35 and 36 the inseparability of the Jesuit mission from the protection and promotion of the environment in today’s world, underscored by Pope Francis’ Laudato Si, was articulated.
In the context, based on the pivotal Meditation on the Incarnation in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, the mission of the Society of Jesus has been reformulated in terms of participation in the Father’s work of reconciliation of humanity with himself, of human beings with other human beings, and of humanity with Creation.
The substance of the previous mission formulations is preserved, but the attitude less activistic and more humble: the initiative belongs to the Father who responds to humanity’s dehumanization through the Incarnation of his Son; he re-affirms the value of humanity in his becoming part of it, and in history restores humanity to His Father through the Pascal Mystery, the formation of the Church in the Spirit, and in the establishment of the Kingdom of His Father. Walking with Jesus entails belief in him as the sole way to the Father, service with him of the Kingdom in pursuit of “life, life to the full.” That is a fullness that is incompatible with dehumanization, lack of faith, idolatry, ignorance, moral decay, child abuse, and the destruction of our common home, Missioned, the Jesuits and their partners and friends in the Spirit, but participate in the Father’s work of reconciliation.
Recently, after an elaborate process of global discernment led by Fr. General Arturo Sosa the Society of Jesus articulate four universal apostolic preferences. The mission is preserved. But former “priorities” such as China, Africa and the Roman Houses have been replaced by four “preferences”: (1) prayer and discernment through the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius; (2) walking with the excluded; (3) journeying with the youth and (4) care for the environment.
The Universal Apostolic Preferences do not prevent ADDU, in responding to the urgent challenges of Mindanao, to prefer, or even to prioritize, inter-cultural and inter-religious dialogue. Dialogue belongs to the mission of the Society of Jesus.
Strategic Planning: Towards “One Ateneo, One Plan”
It was in this context that some seventy representatives of all the units of the Ateneo de Davao University, including its students, its alumni/ae, and the Board of Trustees, met last May 15-17 for a workshop in the Calungsod-San Vitores Center for Jesuit-Lay Dialogue (the “upper room”) to initiate a strategic planning process that would articulate where the University would be going in the next ten to fifteen years. It was led by the Vice President for Planning and Quality Assurance, Mrs. Suzette Aliño, and a God-sent, homegrown, facilitation team lead by Dr. Melba Manapol and Fr. Ulysses “Ogie” Cabayao. The experience was extraordinary because it incorporated not only serious experience-based thinking and reasoning, but also periods of silence and recollection in order to discern not just our off-the-cuff, will but God’s. There was deep appreciation of this from among the participants.
Today, I would like to introduce our strategic planning process to you and get you involved.
In broad strokes, this involves understanding: where we are now; who we are; where we want to go; how we intend to get there, and how we are to make sure we have gotten there.
Where we are now
Before the strategic planning workshop, Suzette Aliño, assisted by a documents-verification team, listed the achievements of the University based on the last strategic plan. This was made available to the participants prior as a way of responding to the question, “Where we are now.” A large majority of the planned actions towards the goals of the Strategic Plan of 2015 had been documented as accomplished, even though the team noticed uneven metrics and ambiguous language used in the previous strategic plan.
Who We Are
At ADDU, who we are is expressed by our Vision Statement. The Upper Room (for brevity, I will refer to the 70 gathered in the Calungso-San Vitores Center for our Strategic Planning Workshop as the ‘Upper Room’ parallel to the 70 gathered in the Upper Room after the Resurrection of the Lord!) decided for the most part to retain the Vision Statement. We are a university. But as a university, we are inextricably
Catholic, Jesuit and Filipino. However, with reference to the urgent challenges that face the University from Mindanao, and in the context of the Philippine Province’s “Roadmap to Mindanao,” the Upper Room decided to stress the importance of Mindanao in the Vision Statement by altering its last sentence.
| OLD VISION | NEW VISION |
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The Ateneo de Davao University is a Catholic, Jesuit and Filipino University.
As a university it is a community engaged in excellent instruction and formation, robust research, and vibrant community service. As Catholic, it proceeds ex corde ecclesiae, from the heart of the Church. As Jesuit, it appropriates the mission of the Society of Jesus and the spirituality of St. Ignatius of Loyola. As Filipino, it prepares students to benefit from, contribute to and engage the global world.
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The Ateneo de Davao University is a Catholic, Jesuit and Filipino University.
As a university it is a community engaged in excellent instruction and formation, robust research, and vibrant community service. As Catholic, it proceeds ex corde ecclesiae, from the heart of the Church. As Jesuit, it appropriates the mission of the Society of Jesus and the spirituality of St. Ignatius of Loyola. As Filipino, it contributes to and serves Mindanao.
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The Upper Room decided to stress that the ADDU as Filipino is not in its responsiveness to global challenges but emphatically in its responsiveness to the challenges of Mindanao. It does not deny that it is responsive to global challenges, but it seeks even in being responsive to global challenges to respond to Mindanao.
The Values of Jesuit Universities in the Philippines and our Core Values.
With the discussion of our Identity, we considered the values of the Jesuit University in the Philippines in an attempt to articulate our institutional core values.
I discussed the following values and counter-values in the world:
| Values of Jesuit Universities in the Philippines | Counter-values in the world. |
| *1. Strong in the faith – Fortes in Fide, the motto of the Ateneo de Davao University.
Essential for navigating religious diversity. Cf. I Peter 5:9ds |
Weak in the faith No real relationship with God No knowledge of the real faith No religious convictions, no convictions. “Faith,” but no practice of it. Wishy-washiness in dealing with religious diversity. Faith is irrelevant to peace. |
| 2. Love for God. And therefore: Ad majorem Dei Gloriam – all unto the greater glory of God. This is the Jesuit motto: Out of love for God, you do all unto the greater glory of God. And Primum Regnum Dei – First the Kingdom of God – the motto of the Ateneo de Naga.
Cf: Mt. 6:33 |
God is irrelevant, doesn’t matter. No love of God No communication with God, prayer. No prayer life. God is dead. Nothing for the glory of God. Glory. AMDG not even considered. First the Kingdom of Money, Honor, Glory First my will First the will of my mommy. God is irrelevant to making peace. |
| 3, Intimacy with the person of Jesus Christ. This is a great grace we pray for in Ignatian Spirituality: to know Jesus, the Lord, intimately, to know how he thinks and how he feels, and in life to be able to walk with him as a friend.
Cf. Mk 8: 27-29; Lk 10: 40-41 |
Jesus as a distant historical figure Jesus whom I’ve never met, encountered. Jesus as a concept Jesus as a distant, exacting Lord Jesus as Jesus as opaque |
| 4. Moved by the Spirit and therefore devoted to doing God’s will. This means, habitually discerning God’s will. Seeking God’s light: Lux in Domino – Light in the Lord. This is the motto of the Ateneo de Manila.
Cf. Eph 5:8-9 |
Spirituality: what makes you tick? Self glory Money Comfort Reason Power from the barrel of a gun. Love. Lux (light) in science, reason, ideology, philosophy. |
| *5. Magis. “More!” This is not a quantitative “more”. But it is a commitment to ever more union with the will of God, even more, union with the Cross of Jesus Christ, in the Love of the Spirit.
Cf: Mt 12:46-48; Mt. 16:24 |
Quantitative more… Get by. Palusot. More of my will More, but in my way, on my conditions. More, just not of the Cross More, without love . |
| *6. Devoted to the pursuit of and transmission of truth. Why? “Veritas liberavit vos” – “the Truth will make you free.” – this is the motto of Xavier University.
Cf: John 8:32, Jn 14:6 |
Fake news Untruth Self-deceit Imprisoned in non-truths: money makes you happy, power is in force, the most important thing is honor. |
| *7. Insight into and love for humanity created in the image of God (Gen 1:26). Convinced of the dignity of the human person. Therefore, given to the care for the individual, cura personalis. But convinced also of the dignity of humanity. Therefore, committed to care for the common good. | Humans as ciphers, statistics.
Lack of insight into the dignity of the person as intelligent, loving, free, relating to God. No insight into the person as sacred source and center of free activity. No insight into the dignity of human society (family, communities, ethnicities, nations, humanity) |
| *8. Therefore, being women and men for others. Service. | Women and men for themselves. |
| 9. Therefore, committed to justice, esp. social justice.
Cf. John 10:10; Mt 25:31-46 |
Private good. Social inequity. |
| 10. Therefore, sensitive to cultures | Cultural supremacist |
| 11. Therefore, committed to inter-religious dialogue.
Respects and promotes religious freedom. |
Intolerant of other religions Condemns participants in other religions as heretics |
| 12. Therefore, committed to the protection and promotion of the environment. | The environment can’t be destroyed. Destruction of the environment ok, as long as I or we benefit. Words, words, words. Consumption above all. What I can do for the environment doesn’t matter. |
| *13 Generosity. Gives in freedom and love. This comes from St. Ignatius’ Prayer for Generosity. And the offering at the highpoint of the Spiritual Exercises, Suscipe: Take and Receive… | Nothing without pay!
Selfishness, stinginess |
| 14. Committed to the service of God and the Filipino People. “Pro Deo et Patria”– This is the motto of the Ateneo de Zamboanga. | I am God’s greatest gift to humanity. The world serves me. God needs no service. My ambition is to get to the US. The Philippines is a rathole. |
| 15. Therefore, eloquentia et sapientia. | Words, words, words. Superficial , internet knowledge. |
| 16. Excellence – amdg! | Get by. Palusot. Survive Optimum performance — All for my glory, or the glory of my company. |
The discussion of these values and flowing from our identity but also contributing from this identity was appreciated. Some of these values, marked by (*), can be said to imply others. This may lead us to an articulation of our core values:
- Faith
- Magis
- Humanity
- Men and Women for Others
- Generosity
In Mindanao, however, but also in the light of the University Apostolic Preferences, we may wish to specially stress:
Dialogue
Where Are We Going?
Where we are going is answered by the Mission statement.
In the past five years we have been guided fruitfully by this Mission statement.
OLD MISSION STATEMENT
The Ateneo de Davao excels in the formation of leaders for the Philippine Church and society, especially for Mindanao.
It excels further in the promotion of the faith that does justice, in cultural sensitivity and transformation, and in inter-religious dialogue, particularly with the Muslim and Lumad communities of Mindanao.
It promotes communities touched and transformed by the faith, communities of peace and human well-being, culturally resilient yet able to adapt to the modern world.
It promotes social justice, gender equality, good governance, the creation of wealth and its equitable distribution.
It engages vigorously in environmental protection, the preservation of bio-diversity, and the promotion of renewable energy.
It leads in Philippine educational reform, especially for the peoples of Southern Philippines.
But in aligning itself with the new mission formulation of the Society of Jesus and in response to urgent challenges facing the university especially from Mindanao, the Upper Room was moved to unanimously approve the following mission statement:
NEW MISSION STATEMENT
It participates in the reconciliation by the Father of humanity with Himself,
of human beings with one another, and of humanity with the environment.
It strengthens faith. It promotes humane humanity.
It engages in inter-cultural, inter-religious and inter-ideological dialogue especially in Mindanao.
It responds to the needs of the Bangsamoro, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, as well as the needs of lumad communities.
It promotes the creation of wealth and its equitable distribution.
It strengthens its science and technology instruction, research, and technopreneurship in Mindanao.
It promotes cultural understanding and friendship with its Asian neighbours.
It promotes lifelong learning and the dialogue
between academe and the world of work.
It protects and promotes of the environment as “our common home.”
It develops ADDU sui generis leaders who appropriate this mission for life.
It treasures and works with its alumni/ae.
I will just comment briefly on each of the statements one by one:
It participates in the reconciliation by the Father of humanity with Himself, of human beings with one another, and of humanity with the environment.
As a Jesuit University, ADDU in academic freedom appropriates the Jesuit Mission as its own mission. As explained above, it preserves the previous Mission statements of the Society of Jesus, but it stresses the initiative of the Father in this three fold reconciliation and undertakes through Jesus and in the Spirit to participate in this reconciliation.
It strengthens the faith.
Fortes in fide. It recognizes that all begins and ends in faith, and in being strong in faith. In a Catholic university this is emphatically through the Catholic faith and in strengthening Catholic believers in this faith through appropriate instruction and formation. But in today’s world, it is through strength in the Catholic faith that one accepts the diversity of faiths and enters into dialogue with different faiths, hoping that through this dialogue the faith of the participants in this dialogue is strengthened. It is in strength of faith, that one can hope to be strengthened by the witness of persons and peoples of other faiths.
It promotes humane humanity.
It recognizes that the value of humanity in the initiative of the Father to reconcile it to himself, i.e., to draw it away from sin, corruption, violence, and alienation of humanity from the Father and from humanity itself. It undertakes to labor for the humanization of humanity in grace.
It engages in inter-cultural and inter-religious dialogue and inter-ideological dialogue especially in Mindanao.
This inter-cultural, inter-religious and inter-ideological dialogue is an imperative of human fraternity and peace in living together in Mindanao.
Inter-cultural dialogue: Mindanao is rich in cultures. Yet the domineering global culture threatens to kill many of these cultures. The peoples of varying Mindanao cultures are caught between needing to preserve their cultures and values and needing to adapt to the ways and lifestyles of the global world.
The quest for the common good in the Philippines, or of Mindanao, or of the BARMM, is stymied by people who cannot think and act outside of their local cultures. The integration of the common good of peoples of diverse cultures requires dialogue.
Inter-religious dialogue. The religious claim that one’s faith/religion has exclusive access to all truth is belied by the religious extreme violence that has clouded human history. Dialogue among peoples of diverse faiths is necessary to prevent violent extremism. Dialogue among peoples of diverse faiths is necessary to purify and strengthen the faith of a people.
Inter-ideological dialogue. Despite the failure of peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the CPP-NPA-NDFP, peacemakers representing NGOs and religious organizations, believe that dialogue with these groups must be continued. Even in using a whole-of nation approach to attaining peace, dialogue with adversarial groups in necessary.
It responds to the needs of the Bangsamoro, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, as well as the needs of Lumad communities.
Out of its commitment to social justice, ADDU needs to continue responding to the need of the Bangsamoro for recognition as Filipino Muslims whose Islamic faith is legitimate in the Philippines and who have the right to live and protect their Islamic traditions and values in a plural Philippines. ADDU needs to explain this need to any and all parties who do not understand or accept it.
Out of its commitment to reconciliation and peace, ADDU needs to partner with the BARMM, as the political entity emerging from the peace talk and willed by the majority of Muslim Filipinos, to make sure that it functions properly and fruitfully towards peace and prosperity in the Bangsamoro and in Mindanao.
Out of its commitment to social justice, the ADDU must learn to partner more with Lumad communities to protect Lumad culture and values from onslaughts coming from the NPA, the Military, or from development aggression. It must mediate between the cultures of the Lumad and the cultures of the lowlands, including the global culture. It must learn to contribute to Lumad education so that their educated leaders are not alienated from their ethnic cultures. It must learn to contribute to the development of Lumad leaders for the common good.
It promotes the creation of wealth and its equitable distribution.
This is our response to widespread poverty in Mindanao: not teaching students to hand-out wealth in pity, but to create wealth in entrepreneurship and technopreneurship. Yet, not just to create wealth to amass personal wealth, but to create wealth and see that it is equitably distributed.
More than ever before, we know we must respond to pressing human needs in society in Mindanao in order to generate this wealth and insist on its equitable distribution.
It strengthens its science and technology instruction, research, and technopreneurship in Mindanao.
This is the development need in Mindanao. Other private schools in Mindanao are not focusing on this as we wish to, while public education has MSU-IIT and USTSP. Other Ateneos in the Philippines have not taken this position. We desire to excel here, but we must begin by strengthening our capabilities here. We have much promise in these areas, as in our School of Engineering and Architecture, but we still have many weaknesses. Our learning outcomes from various courses and units in science and technology is not where we want them to be. We must make significant investments in improving or creating laboratories and spaces for creative learning.
Technopreneurship at ADDU must combine technology and multi-disciplinarity and inter-disciplinarity to respond to real human problems in society. Though it will work with government, it will not be dependent on government to work out solutions. It must be directed not towards private profit, but must allow private profit to enable contribution to the common good.
It promotes cultural understanding and friendship with its Asian neighbors.
Originally I would have liked this to have simply stated China. China is the second largest economic power in the world; it is flexing its muscles, testing the waters, wanting to deal with us. We need to be prepared for this. We need to engage China, e.g. in its Belt and Road Initiative. With the help of Consul General Li Lin, we will be establishing a Confucius Institute. With the help of Ambassador Zhao Jianhua, ADDU may become a partner University of the Chinese embassy outside of MetroManila. This will give our faculty scholars access to any of the specialized Universities of China.
There was however a queasiness among some in the Upper Room to include China exclusively in our Mission statement. Such inclusion could lead to the impression that we approve of China’s behavior in the West Philippine Sea or its economic aggressiveness.
While it was clarified that studying and dealing with China would not mean acceptance of all its policies but the formation of future generations of graduates who could better deal with China, it was pointed out in the Upper Room that we have significant historical ties with Japan, which ought to be maintained. Japan is also a major player in the international peace initiatives in Mindanao.
Furthermore, for a University as our focused on Mindanao, it would be mandatory to increase our knowledge of and capability of dealing with our ASEAN neighbors, especially Indonesia. Partnering with Indonesia and Indonesian universities would help us in disciplines related to Islamic Studies, the Sharia, Islamic Finance and how to deal with religion-based violent extremism.
It promotes lifelong learning and the dialogue between academe and the world of work.
Learning does not stop with the acquisition of a tertiary-level degree.
Rapid changes in technology demand continuing retooling both for students and teachers.
As the permeability between the academe and the world of work increases, the pursuit of an academic degree may no longer be allowed to stand in the way of students contributing immediately to the world of work.
To enable this, ADDU must adapt its academic structures to be more responsive to this rapidly changing world of work.
This is beginning with the Ateneo de Davao-Academy of Lifelong Learning (ADD-ALL). They respond more to actual learning gaps in society and in developing qualifications to respond to these, rather than to the achievement of academic degrees – without diminishing the importance of academic degrees.
They are fun (at least initially), but they can lead to second academic degrees by stacking units and contribute to continuing professional development (CPD).
It protects and promotes the environment as “our common home.”
We have distinguished ourselves in this advocacy, esp. in our opposition of large-scale open-pit mining, or advocacy for green spaces in davao, for the protection of Shrine Hills, and our work in making our campus green (e.g. our extensive use of solar energy and ban on single-use plastics).
We must keep this up.
Especially in Davao.
But we must focus to further develop and consolidate our expertise here.
It develops ADDU sui generis leaders who appropriate this mission for life.
By ADDU sui generis leaders we understand leaders formed as a result of the ADDU vision and mission – with its stress on its values and mission commitments, especially to Mindanao and the common good.
We have done well here. But we have only just begun. Many still do not really understand what it means. They talk of “sui generis” without “ADDU”.
Many still do not commit themselves to it for life.
The ADDU sui generis leader commitment to the common good must be formed well before graduation. It must be the product of integrated instruction, formation and outreach.
It treasures and works with its alumni/ae.
If the ADDU sui generis leader is “for life”, ADDU must undertake to support those whom it has trained both through programs of lifelong learning and through formation programs that welcome and involve the alumni/ae.
The Ateneo Blue Knight Association (ABKA) through its Board has been trying to integrate the alumni/ae in the implementation of the ADDU Vision and Mission. We must welcome its collaboration in mission.
The reformulation of the Mission and Vision was the major contribution of the Strategic Planning Workshop from May 15-17 to the generation of the new strategic plan, “One Ateneo, One Plan” (1A1P).
Where we are going is answered by the Mission Statement, which I have explained above. But it is further answered in breaking it down into goals and sub-goals.
- If we ask the strategic question, where are we going, the goals state where. I took the liberty of breaking down the Vision Statement in to Goals and Sub-Goals. Six main goals are broken down into sub goals.
G1. The University has participated in reconciliation by the Father of humanity with Himself.
G1.1 The University has strengthened the faith within the university
G1.2 The University has strengthened faith beyond the university.
G1.3 In God’s name, the university has been administered well.
G2 The University has participated in reconciliation by the Father of human beings with one another, ie., humane humanity.
G2.1 The university has promoted social justice
G2.1.1 The university has responded to the social justice needs of the Bangsamoro
G2.1.2 The university has responded to the social justice needs of the Lumad
G2.1.3 The university has responded to the social justice needs of the farmers
G2.1.4 The university has responded to the social justice needs of the urban poor
Etc.
G2.2 The university has promoted inter-cultural dialogue
G2.2.1 The university has promoted inter-cultural dialogue with the Bangsamoro
G2.2.2 The university has promoted inter-cultural dialogue with the Lumad
G2.3 The university has promoted inter-religious dialogue
G2.3.1 The university has promoted inter-religious dialogue with the Bangsamoro
G2.3.2 The university has promoted inter-religious dialogue with the Lumad
G2.4 The university has promoted inter-ideological dialogue
G2.5 The University has promoted the creation of wealth and its equitable distribution.
G2.6 The University has strengthened its science and technology
G2.6.1 The University has strengthened its science and technology instruction
G2.6.2 The University has strengthened its science and technology research
G2.7 The University has engaged in and promoted technopreneurship
G2.8 The University has promoted cultural understanding and friendship with its Asian neighbors.
G2.8.1 The University has grown in its appreciation of and celebration of its own Mindanao culture and arts.
G2.8.2 The University as grown in its appreciation of and cultivation of Mindanao languages, esp. “Davao Bisaya”
G2.8.3 The University as grown in its appreciation of and cultivation of the languages of its Asian neighbors
G2.9 The University has promoted a humane culture of learning.
G2.9.1. The University has promoted joy and pride in learning
G2.9.2. The University has promoted grit and resilience in learning
G2.10 The University has promoted a culture of safety of children and vulnerable adults
G3 The University has participated in reconciliation by the Father of humanity with the environment as “our common home”
G3.1 The university has become exemplary in its environmental responsibility
G.3.1.1 In the instruction of its students
G.3.1.2 In its practice
G3.2 The university has protected and promoted the environment in the City of Davao
G3.3. The university has protected and promoted the environment especially in Mindanao
G4 The University has promoted lifelong learning and the dialogue between academe and the world of work
G4.1 The University has promoted lifelong learning
G4.2 The University has promoted the dialogue between academe and the world of work
G5 Inspired by this mission, the University has developed sui generis leaders for life.
G6. In fulfilling this mission, the University has worked fruitfully with its alumni /ae.
- If Goals tell us where we are going, “Interventions” tell us how we are going to get there.
- On the last afternoon of the strategic planning activity, many suggested interventions already came from the participants, even though the goals had not been clarified.
- The Stratplanning Worship ended without having been able to properly process the interventions.
- To bring the strategic planning process forward, we defined thiese goals and sub-goals as presented above, and we clarified “”
- While interventions tell us how to achieve the goals, we needed to distinguish between
- Continuous Interventions. Their objective are never achieved, but only approached. g. “Promote Ignatian spirituality in all units.”
- Project interventions. They have clear objectives, time limits, and indicators of success. “Improve the teaching of caluculus in the Senior High School by SY 2021-22)
- We also needed an instrument which the participants could use to propose interventions in an orderly way. Bernie Jereza created the Google Form, “Bringing our Strategic Plan, “One Ateneo, One Plan”, Forward. The Form would ask participants to suggest interventions to achieve a particular goal, state whether it was continuous or project, internal or external, whether it involved primarily A of F or I or R or E.
- The participants were asked to submit more carefully thought-out interventions using this form. Deadline was in 4 days: May 22.
- Meanwhile, I appointed a processing team chaired by Vinci Bueza to process the interventions, ie, eliminate interventions and edit them to harmonize terminology
- Vinci Bueza, chair
- Melba Manapol
- Mae Fernandez
- Meong Cabarde
- San San Fernandez
- Jennae Jereza, Technical Assistant
- Close to 500 proposed interventions were received and processed.
- By May 28, I was sent a draft of the 1st
- 3 revisions made.
- By May 31, it was made accessible to the University Community
- Later, Vinci Bueza and Bernie Jereza will
- introduce you to the First Iteration.
- Show you how to contribute to it
- While interventions tell us how to achieve the goals, we needed to distinguish between
- I ask you all to contribute to IAIP, 2nd Iteration
- Study the 1st
- Ideally, in your working units.
- Discern and pray over:
- General approval or rejection
- Working from area of your passion(s)
- Propose modifications (add…, remove…, delete)
- Propose new interventions
- Input them to our One Ateneo, One Plan (2nd Iteration) by using the Google Form “Interventions for 1A1P, 2nd Iteration” that Bernie will present.
Closing Remarks
Thank you for your attention and patience! I have sought to introduce you to our shared strategic planning effort at evolving, “One Ateneo, One Plan.” In this process we asked:
- Where we are.
- Who we are
- Where we are going
- How we are going to get there
We have formulated the First Iteration of 1A1P. We ask you to contribute to the second –
Fortes in fide
AMDG
Fr. Joel E. Tabora, S.J. Blog 