Ateneo de Manila Sesquicentennial Anniversary

Sesquicentennial means a 150th anniversary or its celebration. The term comes from a combination of the Latin-Greek derivative “sésqui,” meaning, one-and-a half, and the American-Latin derivative “centennial,” which pertains to 100 years.

The three-year run-up to the Ateneo de Manila’s Sesquicentennial, anchored on the overarching theme “150 Years The Ateneo Way,” kicked off on 5 August 2007 at the Church of the Gesù on the Loyola Heights campus. The three-year celebration culminates on 10 December 2009, exactly 150 years since the Jesuits returned to the Philippines after almost a hundred years away from the country.

Almost 150 years ago, the Jesuits arrived in Manila with the intention of starting missions in Mindanao. But because they were requested by the people of Manila, on 10 December 1859, they began a school called the Escuela Municipal de Manila. Located right across the San Ignacio Church in Intramuros, it was the very first Ateneo campus.

The following themes for the three-year Sesquicentennial Festivities evoke in all Ateneans fond memories and as well as new meanings in their connection with the school they have chosen and which has, in a big way, also chosen them.

CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE
Commemorating a passion for excellence and challenging students to develop their gifts and to be the best that they can be.


DEEPENING SPIRITUALITY
Nurturing Ignatian spirituality: Discovering and responding to Christ’s call and finding God in all things.


BUILDING THE NATION
To be men and women and professionals for others in the building up of our nation


Retrieved: 1 Dec 2008 from http://www.ateneo.edu/150