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[av_heading heading=’Ateneo de Iloilo-SMCS honors Dr. Henry O. Chusuey’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”][/av_heading]
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Sunday, December 10, 2017
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RESPECTED Ilonggo business magnate Dr. Henry O. Chusuey was honored by his alma mater – Ateneo de Iloilo-Santa Maria Catholic School – on Dec. 8, Friday as the Jesuit institution inaugurated its new Grade School Building and the Administration Building bearing his name.
In front of the members of the Ateneo community, alumni and businessmen, Dr. Chusuey shared his Santa Marian pedigree and declared “this Jesuit school has a special place in my heart” during the blessing at the Ateneo de Iloilo campus inside Atria Park District in Barangay San Rafael, Mandurriao, Iloilo City.
“This is where I started my formal education. This is where I learned the fundamentals of knowledge, as well as the values of loving one’s neighbors and service the community,” Dr. Chusuey of GS Batch ’68 said, adding, “That is why I am very honored and glad to support the Jesuit’s mission in education through our Alma Mater.”
Dr. Chusuey, a business mogul who owns a string of local and international hotels and restaurants, is the major donor of the school’s Administration Building that was named after him. Scores of other benefactors were also in attendance, including representatives from sister Jesuit institutions who donated a significant amount that helped in the completion of the buildings.
Those who also graced the much-anticipated blessing rites included Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo DD, Jesuit Provincial Fr. Primitivo Viray SJ, school BOT chief Fr. Bienvenido Nebres SJ, City Mayor Jose Espinosa III, school president Fr. Joseph Haw SJ, former school presidents Fr. Salustiano dela Rama SJ and Fr. Manuel Uy SJ. Also in attendance were scores of other Jesuit and diocesan priests, administrators, faculty, staff, and officers and members of the school’s Student Councils, Parent-Teacher Association and Ateneo Alumni Association.
“It is my wish to see more young people being given the opportunity to pass through this Administration Building and obtain their basic education from the halls of Ateneo de Iloilo. I hope that through this humble donation, I have done my share in the molding of our youth in Ateneo’s seven core values of Competence, Conscience, Character, Compassion, Community, Culture, and Christ-centeredness.”
“I honestly think that if only many of our people imbibe these Atenean values, we can rest assured that our streets will be safer, our environment will be cleaner, our neighbors will be kinder, our public service will be greater, and our economy will be better,” Chusuey further said.
For his part, school president Fr. Haw said: “The buildings aim to deliver [their] promise of providing our stakeholders in particular, and Iloilo City in general, a premier basic education institution that is responsive to the demands of the 21st century learning skills. We continue to upgrade our facilities to allow collaboration, critical thinking, communication, and creativity.”
Grade school principal Cecilia Japitana considered the occasion “a fulfillment of all those who came before us and all those who are with us – those who believe in the Jesuit education that we offer here in the region.”
The ceremony kicked off in the Central Administration building at 4 p.m. Celebrative activities, highlighted by the display of Atenean talents, were showcased in the whole duration of the event that culminated with a dinner party in the Chusuey gymnasium at 6 p.m.
Both four-storey structures are adjacent to the High School Building and the Chusuey gymnasium inside the 7.5-hectare compound of the school. The Administration Building houses the main school lobby, offices of the president and other school administrators, accounting and registrar’s offices, and fully air-conditioned institutional library and auditorium, which are all on finishing stage.
The Grade School Building is currently operational and shelters all the preschool and grade school classrooms, guidance offices, learning resource centers, playground, multipurpose hall, faculty room, and consultation stations. In its fourth floor, it also holds the Senior High School Grade 12 classrooms, faculty room, science laboratories, and computer laboratories.
Currently, the school is preparing for the construction of the Jesuit residence near the Chusuey gymnasium. Also in its pipeline, according to the school’s comprehensive development plan, are a school chapel, a football field, the SHS building, a swimming pool, and a track and field complex, among others./PN
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