The Jesuit priests have inspired a lot of people to truly become men and women for others—whether it is through the Ateneo de Manila University’s Philosophy and Theology teachings or the community’s culture of belongingness and kindness.
Manuel V. Pangilinan, one of Ateneo’s illustrious alumni and chairman of the PLDT group, credits his Jesuit education for all the milestones in his life. With Fr. Roque Ferriols SJ as his Philosophy professor, Pangilinan shared that many of Ferriols’s teachings remain with him to this day.
As his way of honoring his esteemed mentor, Pangilinan gives back to the Ateneo community by helping build the Fr. Roque Ferriols SJ Suscipe Fund, which aims to help shoulder the expenses of the healthcare needs of senior and infirm Jesuits, more fondly known as the “Lolo Jesuits.” The fund was established in honor of Fr. Ferriols’s 80 years of serving as a Jesuit in May this year, by the Philippine Province of the Society of Jesuits.
With an increasing number of the “Lolo Jesuits” needing special and individual attention, the Philippine Province is taking the needed steps to ensure support for their care.
“The Ateneo has instilled in me many life-changing lessons. It would take a truly hardened heart to turn deaf to this request. It is a privilege to be able to give back to the community with a heart that is inspired to do more and be more—what we, who are Jesuit-educated, known as magis,” said Pangilinan. With a grateful heart, Fr. Provincial Primitivo Viray Jr. SJ was extremely gratified by Pangilinan’s response.
“MVP’s continued generosity will greatly help in defraying one of the Society’s biggest expense items and ensuring that our beloved Lolo Jesuits like Fr. Ferriols and Fr. Catalino Arevalo [also celebrating 80 years in the Society] continue to receive the best care,” Fr. Viray said.
The Suscipe Fund is named after the famous prayer, “Take and Receive, O Lord” of St. Ignatius of Loyola at the end of the Spiritual Exercises.
Pangilinan’s donation serves as the Suscipe Fund’s seed contribution. With Pangilinan’s generosity, the Ateneo community hopes to inspire other friends and benefactors to, likewise, contribute in prayerful gratitude for the lives and missions of the Lolo Jesuits.