Fr. Jett Villarin's Memo

The drama is now over, (I think). 

Over the past few days, Mr Manuel V Pangilinan (MVP) and I have been meeting in an effort to move forward and create a more open and constructive partnership. Our dialogue touched upon various matters (both immediate and long-term) that involve the Ateneo de Manila.

On the specific issue of the Head Coach of our Men’s Varsity Basketball Team, MVP offered to arrange for me to meet with Coach Bo Perasol, so that we could reconsider our mutual termination of an earlier agreement. In view of this development, I reconvened the Search Committee, which had earlier recommended Coach Bo as their candidate for the said post. The Committee met last Friday, 24 November, and confirmed their recommendation in respect of Coach Bo. With the affirmation and support of the Search Committee, I am pleased to announce that Coach Bo shall be the Head Coach of the Ateneo Blue Eagles beginning 1 December 2012. We are grateful to MVP for his gesture of goodwill.

At the same time, I would like to encourage the Ateneo community to continue supporting what will now be a Sports Endowment Fund (SEF). I have decided to expand the scope and mission of this Fund to include all athletic programs beyond basketball, as we believe in the wisdom of the SEF being the umbrella capital fund which will sustain our athletes and sports programs for the long term. Thus, contributions to basketball and all other athletic programs shall henceforth be channeled through the SEF. The Ateneo de Manila will supervise this Fund with the appropriate governance and management systems to ensure the smooth running of all our athletic programs. Under Fr Nemesio Que SJ, the team tasked with oversight of the SEF has begun their work.

I am hopeful that everyone in the Ateneo community will give their wholehearted support to this enlarged SEF. In fact, I am heartened by the response we have received thus far in the form of pledges and donations, and I know I can count on all of you to remain committed to building this Fund, and supporting our beloved alma mater. MVP and the MVP Sports Foundation have agreed to infuse this Fund with a significant donation.

We undertake all these efforts to strengthen the formative and Ignatian values that are drawn from our engagement in athletics in the Ateneo family. In this and in many other endeavors, we are also given a glimpse of our mission and identity.

Mens sana in corpore sano.

Jose Ramon T Villarin SJ
President

And with that, the quest from ANIMo Ateneo is now in full swing.