A community of hope and genuine service in the midst of challenges and crisis

Last month, a delegation from Ateneo De Manila University visited Ateneo de Zamboanga University for an Ateneo formators' colloquium.  This exposure of the formation delegation in Zamboanga led to the desire to spread this advocacy:

It has been two years since rebels attacked the City of Zamboanga, disturbing the peace and stability in the area. The September 2013 siege had devastating effects on the area and its people. The crisis left people homeless, families wanting to migrate to ‘safer’ places, and businesses and schools struggling to survive because of an on going diaspora. The government enforced a nightly curfew and conducted checkpoints in its effort to maintain peace and order in the city.

In the midst of the entire crisis, Ateneo de Zamboanga rose to give a helping hand to people in need in their community. Through this crisis, we were able to see the ADZU community’s effort and dedication to help the suffering, homeless, and displaced.  

Two years have passed but our brothers and sisters who lost their homes are still living in improvised houses inside the city’s sports arena. Cooked food is still distributed daily to the evacuees and the living conditions inside the evacuation centers are still far from ideal. These issues are only symptoms of bigger problems still yet to be solved by our country and in Mindanao. 

At present, Zamboanga still strives for healing in order to have a community where Lumads, Christians, and Muslims are living together peacefully. Let us continue to pray and give any support we can. The news about Zamboanga have subsided and most of us have moved on with our live. However, our brothers and sisters there are still facing the same problems until today.  
 
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As we have relaunched the Ateneo is Home website in its new home (www.ateneo.edu/ateneoishome), we believe it is inspiring to see how, like Ateneo de Manila, our sister universities have their own challenges to face which they, like us, deal with with much compassion and fervor for service.  Let us find hope in knowing that spread throughout the Philippines are people and institutions with whom we share the same Ignatian formation as well as hard work towards contributing to a better nation for us all.  

Also, we desire to spread this advocacy about Zamboanga and its struggles to everyone. As part of a larger community of Jesuit schools in the country, it would be meaningful to immerse ourselves in their issues and perhaps, even be involved and take part in making things better for them in whatever capacity we may have while being here in Manila.  

Thank you very much!

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Acknowledgment

Video produced  by Ateneo de Zamboanga
Directed by Kiko Miranda
Posted with permission from Fr Wilfredo Samson, SJ, Assistant to the President for Formation of Ateneo de Zamboanga