By Ry Dolor

By Alexia Bangayan

On Wednesday, March 4, the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) honored 466 of its employees at the 48th University Service Awards (USA) at the Blue Eagle Gym (BEG), recognizing milestones from five to forty years in service of fulfilling the Ignatian mission in education.

The program was hosted by Mr. Aeron Lester N. Syliongtay and Ms. Jerenz Lyne G. Diokno, and opened with an invocation by Fr. Raymund Benedict Q. Hizon, SJ.

In his opening remarks, Sir Bernadine T. Siy, chair of the Board of Trustees, expressed, “Each of you has become a significant and irreplaceable part of what Ateneo is.”

The first half of the ceremony presented the service awards for those in service for five, 10, 15, and 20 years, was presented by University President Fr. Roberto ‘‘Bobby’’ C. Yap, SJ,  Siy, and Vice President for Basic Education Fr. Joaquin Jose Mari “Jonjee” C. Sumpaico III, SJ.

The honorees also included faculty and staff from the Ateneo Senior High School (ASHS):

5 Years

• Sir Odilio P. Raymundo
• Ma’am Ivana Marie A. Sanje
• Fr. Jonjee Sumpaico III, SJ

10 Years

• Sir Alvin D. Macaranas
• Sir Alexander C. Manuel

15 Years

• Sir Ivan John Leopoldo N. Guanzon III
• Ma’am Mara Cecilia Dela Cruz-Lacson

20 Years

• Sir Joselito-Antonio H. Hidalgo
• Sir Cyrus D. Lim
• Ma’am Mary Grade Angela E. Tamayo

Following this was an intermission performance by the Ateneo High School (AHS) Band featuring the song “Mangarap Ka” by After Image.

The second half of the program commenced awarding non-faculty clusters, with a special video for those in service for more than 25 years.

Several ASHS faculty and staff were also recognized among those awardees:

25 Years

• Ma’am Arienne Monique Beatrice R. Lambo
• Ma’am Gerlita O. Sianda

30 Years

• Sir Ferdinand Francis V. Verayo I

40 Years

• Fr. Alberto V. Ampil, SJ

Dr. Raphael A. Guerrero, Dean of the School of Science and Engineering (SOSE), delivered his speech, followed by the closing remarks from Fr. Bobby Yap, SJ.

In observance of the event, the ASHS shifted to half-day online classes for Grade 11 students, while Grade 12 students continued their regular face-to-face classes.