Ateneo Alumni Scholars Association

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐄𝐬𝐬𝐢 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐨 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦
Stephanie “Essi” Cale believed hard work alone was not enough to achieve her dreams; she needed a door of opportunity to swing wide open. Coming all the way from Bohol, Essi’s formative years were shaped by her fisherfolk grandparents, her OFW aunt, and her mother, whose employer was an Atenean lawyer. Fascinated by the lawyer’s success, she dreamed of an Ateneo education, believing it would help her family build a successful life. Years later, after applying to various college universities, a door finally opened up to her. She was accepted into Ateneo’s BS Psychology program, an honors course, but was denied a scholarship.

Essi describes herself as stubborn. Upon receiving her scholarship rejection email, she refused to accept the door of opportunity had closed on her. Instead, she wrote appeal after appeal to the Office of Admission and Aid (OAA), determined to show how deeply she wanted the opportunity. Every time, the office would send her the same apologetic letter stating how the decision was final. However, Essi remained unfazed and hopeful. On her third appeal, she finally found a silver lining: the OAA did not flat-out reject her, but instead sent her a link to formally appeal the decision. She vividly recalls June 28, 2022, the day she opened what she expected to be a fourth rejection email, only to find a scholarship acceptance letter waiting for her. She jokingly noted, “Nakulitan ata sila sa akin kaya binigyan na ako [ng scholarship].”

Her life in Ateneo stood in stark contrast to the realities faced by the children in her province. While they shared the same dreams and aspirations, she pursued her degree in air-conditioned classrooms under the guidance of top-notch educators, while many of those children had limited access to quality education and even basic facilities. Realizing the disparity between their circumstances, Essi came to see her Ateneo education as more than a personal achievement—it was also a chance to open doors of opportunity for others.

According to Essi, Ateneo’s formation gave clarity and structure to her long-held personal values, helping her determine how these could be actualized in her everyday life. She helps underprivileged students navigate the rigorous university application process, guiding them through scholarship requirements and answering any questions they have along the way. Furthermore, she also champions accessible science education, striving to make complex topics understandable and relevant to all. In doing so, she lives out the values her family ingrained in her, intertwined with her Atenean formation: to become a person for and with others, to look beyond oneself, and to recognize the lives interconnected with one’s own.

This June, Essi will march across the Blue Eagle Gym stage, having earned her degree with magna cm laude distinction. Following graduation, she plans to take a gap year to work and save before pursuing Law either at the University of the Philippines College of Law or at the Ateneo de Manila University School of Law. By pursuing this profession, she hopes to use her voice to advocate for communities whose stories often go unheard.

Throughout her journey, Essi has constantly challenged limitations and pursued excellence. Moving forward as a proud Ateneo scholar, she hopes to keep opening doors of opportunity—not only for herself, but also for the communities she is bound and committed to serve.

Maligayang Araw ng Kalayaan!

Ngayong araw, ipinagdiriwang natin ang ika-128 anibersaryo ng Kalayaan ng Pilipinas. Ang selebrasyong ito ay tanda ng ating tagumpay na bunga ng tapang, pagkakaisa, at pagmamahal sa bayan.

Nawa’y magsilbing paalala ang araw na ito upang patuloy tayong tumindig para sa katotohanan at sa ating bayan.

Built Into Her Being: Proud Daughter of a Construction Worker Graduates from Ateneo

Corinne “Cors” Ignacio is the youngest of four children residing in Pasig City. Her mother is a public attendant, while her father used to be a construction worker—who, coincidentally, helped build the Ateneo Church of the Gesù in 2003. That is why, even before receiving her admission and scholarship acceptance letters, she knew that Ateneo was already engraved in her being.

Cors’ first encounter with her dream school was far from what she initially imagined. As a freshman beginning her Ateneo college studies in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic, she had to brave online classes that constantly got disconnected, creating all kinds of difficulties. Alongside these academic struggles, her family's financial hardships were magnified when her older sister fell gravely ill, deeply testing their resilience and faith. Amidst ballooning hospital bills, this crisis forced Cors to temporarily push aside her Atenean dream and file for a Leave of Absence (LOA) to prioritize and attend to the needs of her family.

After a challenging year, Cors came back stronger carrying a deep sense of gratitude for the compassion shown by the Office of Admission and Aid (OAA) and the Ateneo Alumni Scholars Association (AASA). She retained her AASA - Fr. Jett T. Villarin, SJ, Endowment for Science Majors Scholarship and her DOST-SEI Scholarship for her dual-major BS Chemistry and BS Materials Science and Engineering (BS CH-MSE) Program.

She channeled this gratitude into campus life by making a difference as an active member of the Ateneo Chemistry Society and HEIGHTS, and extending her reach to underserved communities. It was during her engagement with the San Jose Free Farmers’ Association of Antipolo (SJFFAA) that she sensed her true purpose.

While conducting water analysis for their farmlands, she saw firsthand how her education could directly uplift others. This defining moment inspired her to become a “scientist for the people,” a promise to use her skills to help empower marginalized communities.

Through the AASA and the OAA, she received not only the gift of an Atenean education—but also the gift of love, trust, and family. The special bond she has with Alumni Scholars, Dr. William and Ma'am Anna Theresa Yu, her beloved benefactors, transcends beyond gratitude; it is familial—warm and endearing. To this day, she constantly finds herself reflecting on what they saw in her that made her worthy of being an Ateneo scholar, especially during moments when she struggled with her coursework. Yet, despite her self-doubt, they embraced and walked alongside her until she finally finished her undergraduate degree in BS Chemistry.

After numerous setbacks and tests of faith, Cors is all set to brave another year in Ateneo for her second degree in Materials Science and Engineering. When she completes her fifth year, it will not only be the name Ateneo that is indelibly engraved in her being, but also all the experiences, learnings, kindness and love that have been wonderfully impressed upon her.

The Ateneo Alumni Scholars Association (AASA) warmly congratulates our three newly-ordained Jesuit priests, Fr. Bien Cruz, SJ, Fr. Dom Bulan, SJ and Fr. James Santos, SJ.

Fr. Dom was an Ateneo Freshman Merit Scholarship recipient (BS AMF '13).

The three were ordained to the Presbyterate on May 30, 2026 at the Church of the Gesù, Ateneo de Manila University with His Eminence Pablo Virgilio S. Cardinal David, Bishop of Kalookan, as the Ordaining Prelate. Cardinal David reminded them that "through the gift of the Holy Spirit, their lives become signs and instruments through which Christ continues His mission." He also noted in his homily that "the vocation to represent Christ is not a monopoly of the ordained," reminding the congregation that representing Christ is shared by all the faithful through their baptism.

As these Jesuit priests begin this new chapter of service, we offer our continual prayers and support. May the Holy Spirit guide and strengthen them in their vocation.

Congratulations, dear Fathers! May your priesthood draw many to Jesus and be a source of grace and inspiration to many.

𝑴𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑨𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒐 𝒂 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒆𝒙𝒕𝒓𝒂 𝒕𝒐𝒅𝒂𝒚?

Alumni Scholars, let’s take a quick trip down memory lane! Which era do you belong to?

👍 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲 - 1960-1979
❤️ 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 - 1980-1999
😂 𝗛𝗮𝗵𝗮 - 2000-2010
🥰 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲 - 2011-2025
😯 𝗪𝗼𝘄 - Current Scholar

💭 React with your answer and tag someone you’d go back to Ateneo with! Feel free to share your favorite stories in the comments section below. 👇 Let’s see which scholar era cheers the loudest!

No matter how long you’ve been down the hill, we hope you remember that you will always have a home in Ateneo. Let’s reconnect and reminisce about our college life with AASA! 💙💛

Congratulations to Alexandra Janine “AJ” Tiambeng, BS Health Sciences Summa Cum Laude, Director’s List Scholar, and Class of 2026 Valedictorian! 🥳🏅

At first, AJ was hesitant about embracing the distinction. But after a heartfelt conversation with her mother, she came to a beautiful realization: accepting this recognition was also a way of honoring everyone who believed in her and placed their confidence in her journey.

Up next, AJ is set to pursue medicine to become a pediatrician—a calling that became even clearer through her experiences with children battling serious illnesses during her time with Kythe-Ateneo. 🩺🧑‍🧒‍🧒

Congratulations again AJ! Your AASA family is proud of you! 💙💛

Photo courtesy of Ateneo de Manila University page

𝑬𝒊𝒅 𝑴𝒖𝒃𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒌!

Let us join our Muslim brothers and sisters in celebrating Eid al-Adha, the Feast of Sacrifice. This sacred occasion honors the devotion and obedience of Prophet Ibrahim, and reminds us of the values of faith, generosity, and selflessness.

May the spirit of sacrifice inspire us to strengthen our unity, extend compassion to those in need, and give wholeheartedly for the good of others.

Our warmest congratulations to Alumni Scholars Ken Abante (BS ME ‘12) and Reycel Hyacenth Nacario Bendaña (AB MEC ‘19) for bagging the grand prize of the 2025–2026 World Resources Institute (WRI) Ross Center Prize for Cities on April 20 at the Morgan Library & Museum in New York City, USA.

Abante and Bendaña played key roles in the Move As One Coalition. Abante led the group as an advisor and coordinator from 2020–2023, while Bendaña currently serves as the national coordinator. Together, they champion safer, more inclusive, and more reliable transport systems in the Philippines. The duo rose above 334 submissions representing 230 cities across 77 countries.

Your Ateneo Alumni Scholars Association (AASA) Family is very proud of you!

Yipee! Finally finally finally tapos na ang school year! 🎉

See you next semester, Scholars! 💛💙

How are you, Ateneo Alumni Scholars?

As the school year comes to a close this end of May, we continue to reach out to YOU to help meet our donation target. Our AASA Student Assistants are reconnecting with you through Viber using the following numbers: +63 9171495049 and +63 9989992624

If you’re unable to respond via Viber, please email us at [email protected]

Thank you so much for your time and for supporting our 75 AASA Scholars!