Blessing of Ateneo de Davao’s University Chapel of Our Lady of the Assumption The Community Center of the First Companions The Martin Hall

W ѻ e are grateful to you for gracing this happy event with your

presence. We are especially grateful to His Grace Archbishop

Romulo Valles, D.D., Archbishop of Davao, who will preside over

this morning’s Eucharist Celebration and the subsequent blessings, assisted

by the Very Rev. Fr. Antonio Moreno, S.J. Provincial Superior of the Philippine

Province of the Society of Jesus, other members of the Jesuit community, the

religious, and the local clergy. We welcome all our guests from near and far.

The University Chapel of Our Lady of the AssumptionOur intention was to provide the Ateneo de Davao University

community with a place of worship and prayer that would support both its

catholicity in the multi-ethnic context of Mindanao and its culture of Ignatian

spirituality.

Fr. Gabriel Gonzalez, S.J. and Archt. Vincent

Martin “Veepee” Pinpin gave the original

shell provided by Arch. Christopher Ong a

thorough work over. They assembled the

artists, artisans and technical people who

collaborated admirably – recently under

Engr. Allan Medina – to create this sacred

space. In the design, the faith in Mindanao

is celebrated. In indigenized sacred art, the

transcendent mysteries of the Word-made-

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The visual centerpiece is the gift of the Lizada

and Aarts families: the JUHDW�FUXFLÀ[ carved by Paloy

Cagayat of Paete. The massive 9-foot batikuling corpus

on a narra cross re-presents Jesus with great sensitivity as one among us

LQ�0LQGDQDR��FI��-RKQ���������&DJD\DW�SUHVHQWV�WKH�FUXFLÀHG�-HVXV�ZLWK�H\HV�open, peering into the soul of the beholder. His mien is of compassion,

forgiveness and peace. The masterpiece supports the Ignatian spirituality

nurtured in the Ateneo de Davao. In a central meditation of the First Week of

the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, linking it crucially to the Second Week,

,JQDWLXV�LQYLWHV�WKH�H[HUFLWDQW�WR�HQWHU�LQWR�D�FRQYHUVDWLRQ�ZLWK�WKH�&UXFLÀHG�Lord. Moved by what Jesus on the Cross has done for him or her in love, the

exercitant responds with three questions: “What have I done for you? What

am I doing for you? What ought I do for you?” That is a conversation of

love and deeds of love that shall continue in the silence of this chapel.

&RPSOHPHQWLQJ�WKH�FUXFLÀ[��&DJD\DW�SURYLGHV�WZR�VWDWXHV��St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, and Our Lady of the Assumption,

patroness of Ateneo de Davao University and particularly of the University

Chapel. Mary is re-presented as one among us in Maranaw-inspired attire.

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Brass is central in Mindanao’s celebration and music. The chapel’s

liturgical centerpiece crafted masterfully by Juan Sagit Imao is the altar of

EUDVV�RQ�VWDLQOHVV�VWHHO�IRU�WKH�/LWXUJ\�RI�WKH�6DFULÀFH��FRPSOHPHQWHG�E\�WKH�ambo�IRU�WKH�/LWXUJ\�RI�WKH�:RUG���7KH�FXUYHV�DQG�ÁRXULVKHV�RI�H[TXLVLWH�0XVOLP�LQÁXHQFHG�okir adorn the altar, the ambo, the presider’s chair, the

tabernacle, the lectern, the sanctuary lamp, the monstrance, the thurible, the

boat, the paschal candle stand and the

processional candles and cross, all of

which are the gifts of Joe Mari and

Mary Ann Chan.

Distinctive of Sagit

Imau’s okir for this chapel

is the subtle celebration

of the Davao eagle.

The altar treasures

D�ÀUVW�FODVV�relic of St. Ignatius of Loyola provided by Fr. Jose

Quilongquilong, S.J., rector of Loyola

House of Studies and president of Loyola

School of Theology. Priests’ vestments done

with Tboli tinalak.

The six heavy doors of the chapel

are also provided by Sagit Imau in cured

brass on stainless steel. The thematic

okir beautifully decorating the doors also

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Coming through the front door, one is welcomed by the delicate re-

presentation of the Mother Mary painted in oil by the gifted Davao artist,

Mark Tolentino. Muslim believers deeply revere Mary with us as Sitti Maryam. It is Mary that leads all to her son.

Mark Tolentino also provides two massive murals of indigenized art.

7KH�ÀUVW�LV�RI�Jesus in the Synagogue of Nazareth (Lk 4:16-30) re-presented

as a teacher in a Tausug langal (native chapel). Note the beautiful baluy talang

(mat). Jesus presents his mission: he has been sent “to proclaim liberty to

captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to

proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” But Jesus is rejected by his own; “no

prophet is welcome in his own town“ (Lk 4:24). Because of their lack of faith,

he cannot work his miracles among them. They seek to murder him.

This mural is complemented by the second, “Jesus and the Samaritan Woman” (Jn 4:4-26), re-presented by Mark Tolentino in Tausug attire. She

is carrying water in a dagtung (bamboo water container), and Jesus is

receiving it in a ba’ung (coconut shell). The triple parasol depicts nobility.

As a Jew, Jesus was not supposed to talk to a Samaritan because of religious

GLͿHUHQFHV��%XW�KH�LQLWLDWHV�D�GLDORJXH�EDVHG�RQ�VKDUHG�KXPDQLW\���+H�is thirsty. He asks for water. Despite the cultural barrier, she responds

humanely. She gives him water. In their unlikely dialogue, Jesus discloses

who his is: “If you only knew the gift of God and who is saying to you, ‘Give

me a drink’… I am he, [the Messiah whom you await]” (Jn

4:25-26). Because he knew her intimately, she believed

him. She told people about her experience of

him and led them to believe him. In the

ÀUVW�PXUDO�� Jesus proclamation of his

mission to his own townspeople leads

to rejection. In the second mural,

Jesus dialogue with a

Samaritan

woman leads to

faith. In Mindanao,

evangelization is

accomplished in

dialogue.

On the

ponderous 18 x

1.2 meter beam

facing the altar is

the extraordinary

painting of the same

size by Davao’s

veteran painter, Bong Espinosa, depicting the Salubong. The piece depicts

the encounter between the Risen Lord and the Sorrowing Mother, also a

heartwarming meditation of the Fourth Week of the Spiritual Exercises. Jesus

leads a procession composed of joyful representatives of major indigenous

peoples of Mindanao. Mary’s procession is of the unredeemed world of sin,

violence and death despairing in the death of their redeemer. Through the

encounter of death and death-defeating Life, the veil of sadness is removed

from Mary. The painting depicts hope in the Resurrection in Mindanao.

Against the cold glass and steel of the work and sports spaces of

the other buildings, the sacred space of the Assumption Chapel is clad in Marbyletic limestone, but more commonly known Cebu yellow sandstone,

rare in its varied and rich tones; it was specially quarried with love and

prayers from a reserved area reopened for this chapel honoring Ignatius of

Loyola through the group of Mr. Bryan Manubag whose mother’s maiden

name is Loyola. The sandstone cladding is then complemented by four rich

mosaic panels of Yakan fabric provided by Charles Belleza of Belleza Casa

Designs of Cebu.

The stations of the cross etched in sandstone are donated by Mr. Bryan

Manubag.

Yakan fabric was woven specially by the family of Krishnan Kin Nasser

Ilul of Zamboanga. Its colorful patterns provide the theme not only for the

chapel’s mosaics but for all its stained glass windows rendered and installed by

Mr. Roland Kraut and his local Davao associates, Orient Glass. It also accents

the pews fabricated in Davao by Timburana, headed by Mr. Milton Cua.

For the proclamation and explanation of the Word of God from the

Jesuit ambo in Davao, for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, for shared

public prayer and the singing of God’s praises, but also for individual prayer

LQ�GHHS�VLOHQFH��JUHDW�HͿRUW�ZDV�H[HUWHG�WR�DFKLHYH�DFRXVWLF�H[FHOOHQFH�DQG�to create a technically silent chapel under the direction of acoustics expert,

Mr. Raymundo Sison of ROS Acoustics Solutions. He is responsible for the

silent air-conditioning, the acoustic panels, and the excellent sound system

provided by alumnus Dennis Roy Aballe of Premier AV Automation Davao,

Inc. Mr. Joe Mari Chan donated the high-end Yamaha Clavinova.

Engr. Arman Duron of

Techno Engineering Konstaktors

installed the air conditioning.

But it was he and his crew who

were responsible memorably

for the installation of the heavy

tabernacle, the oversized

Tolentino paintings, the Imao

statues and the H[DOWDWLRQ�RI�WKH�cross.

Mr Bernie Jereza designed

and installed the monitor system

to enhance the participation of

people in liturgical worship or

in shared devotional prayer.

Mr. Edwin Urquia installed the

CCTVs for security.

For all of the buildings,

landscaping by Archt. J.

Immanuel “Jim”Palma, a work in

progress.

The Community Center of the First CompanionsOur intention was to provide the Ateneo de Davao University a facility

which would enhance communication and community between the Jesuits,

the tertiary-level faculty, and the students within the university and to

provide vibrant contact with the larger community which Ateneo de Davao

serves through research, community engagement and advocacy. Through

shared Ignatian spirituality the facility is to support friendship in shared

PLVVLRQ���,W�LV�QDPHG�DIWHU�WKH�WKUHH�ÀUVW�FRPSDQLRQV�RI�WKH�6RFLHW\�RI�-HVXV���Ignatius of Loyola, Francis Xavier and Peter Faber.

11th Floor: Calungsod-San Vitores Center

(Board of Trustees/Heritage/

Jesuit-Lay Collaboration)

10th Floor: Ignatius Hall. (Jesuit Residence)

9th Floor: Faber Hall. (Guest Tract)

8th Floor: Xavier Hall. (University Research Council/

University Community Engagement and

Advocacy Council)

7th Floor: Regis Hall. (Academic Vice President/

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6th Floor: De la Costa Hall. (Faculty/Departments)

5th Floor: Campion Hall. (Faculty Work Spaces)

4th Floor: Pignatelli Hall. (Faculty Work Spaces)

3rd Floor: Ricci Hall. (Dialogue Center)

2nd Floor: Miguel Pro Learning Commons

(Students’ Study Center)

Mezzanine: Sta. Maria della Strada Hall.

Lobby: Rodriguez Hall.

The Martin HallOur intention was

to provide Ateneo de

Davao University with a

facility that would better

meet the sports and

athletic requirements of

its 9,000-plus tertiary-

level community and to

provide the university an

assembly hall for large-scale

academic convocations,

liturgies, graduations and

encounters with the larger

community. The facility

would also promote easier

VWXGHQW�LQWHUDFWLRQ�DQG�KRXVH�WKH�VWXGHQW�JRYHUQPHQW�DQG�WKH�2FH�RI�6WXGHQW�$ͿDLUV���,W�LV�QDPHG�LQ�KRQRU�RI�)U��(GJDU�0DUWLQ��D�PHPRUDEOH�-HVXLW�exponent of Ateneo sports and athletics.

7th Floor: Reuter Hall. (Volleyball and Basketball Courts,

Jogging Track)

6th Floor: Faura Hall. (P.E. Area, Jogging Track)

5th Floor: Cawley Hall. (Fitness Center, Jogging Track)

�WK�)ORRU����� 8QLYHUVLW\�$WKOHWLFV�2FH�� Volleyball and Basketball Courts,

Assembly Hall, Multipurpose Stage

3rd Floor: Parking Area for Administrators and Employees

2nd Floor: Parking Area for Students

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Commercial Spaces

Lobby: Arrupe Hall (Student Plaza)

The construction of these buildings was approved in 2012 by the Ateneo

Board of Trustees under the chairmanship of Mr. Paul Dominguez on my

recommendation as University President. It was further approved by Fr.

General Adolfo Nicolas on recommendation of Fr. Jose Magadia as Provincial

Superior. It was possible under the leadership of Fr. Daniel McNamara, SJ,

rector of the Jesuit community that gave up its old residence for the apostolic

intentions that these buildings. It was also possible through the ongoing

consent of Mr. Sanjo Dacudao who agreed to grant the ADDU usufruct of his

property on which part of Martin Hall is constructed.

The architect was Christopher Ong. The lead contractor was HRCC

represented by Engr. Willie Ho, Engr. Allan Parrone and Archt. Hector

Alveztruz. Management was represented by Engr. Roberto Guyot, Engr.

Jason Ornopia and Mr. Jeremy Eliab, General Assistant to the President.

With Mr. Bobby Orig and Mr. Benjie Lizada, immediate past and present

chairs of the ADDU Board of Trustees, and all the members of the Board, we

praise the Lord for the gift of these three buildings, and the gift of thousands

who labored to build them. The buildings are blessed today in furtherance

of the vision and mission of the Ateneo de Davao University – ad majorem Dei gloriam – unto the greater glory of God!

Fr. Joel Tabora, S.J.