From the New President of Ateneo- Nation Building; s.,t, s..t, s..t, more s..t

The new and very young President of Ateneo, Fr. Jose Ramon "Jett" Villarin visited the faculty conference in Canyon Cove, delivered the key note speech, and said mass for the staff and faculty of AGSB. Pres. Jett came from Xavier U in Cagayan de Oro as its past president and brings with him impressive credential:  course in Physics, Magna Cum Laude, studies at Georgia Tech in USA.  But above all, he is candid, simple, approachable, very focussd and systematic.

While very deeply Ignatian, I would foresee his approach to be very pragmatic, as exemplified with his Lexus joke on the novena being said for a person to get his coveted Lexus.  While the others focused on the prayer, the Jesuit who was approached  to say the novena, asked "what is a novena?"

He hinted at having initiatives on energy, global warming, innovation and internationalization and the university undergoing an od program (reorganization)

With regards to its nation building, he realized the power that can be leveraged by the University in nation building.  Cabinet Secretaries visit him and even the President answer this phone calls.

In his powerpoint, his comment on nation building is "shit, shit, shit shit" Through the years, we (AdeMu?) has failed in this job because RP is wat behind its Asian neighbors in growth and wealth. We lack the unity and coherence to get the job done.  And that may be the challenge.(The latter part is my take)I can not precisely decipher his comment on nation building as shit shit.

I can foresee that many great things will happen to Ateneo under his leadership, and maybe to the country.  He and Peter Drucker said that University has a lot of impact to the society at large and that must be harnessed.

                                          Fr. Jett entertaining questions at the Q and A portion

                                                 Fr Jett Celebrated Mass for the AGSB staff