Ateneo renames school building after Ninoy, Cory

The late Sen. Ninoy Aquino. Photo courtesy of Choose Philippines.

MANILA — Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) said that they will rename one of its graduate schools after the late Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. and his wife, the late President Corazon Aquino, in memory of their death anniversaries this month.

President Aquino succumbed to colon cancer on August 1, 2009, whereas Senator Aquino was shot on August 21, 1983.

ADMU President Fr. Jose Villarin recently announced that the Ateneo School of Government will now be called as the Ateneo de Manila University Benigno Aquino Jr. and Corazon C. Aquino School of Government, or in short the Ateneo Aquino School of Government.

“The rationale for this decision is the record of public service and the example of heroic leadership that Ninoy and Cory Aquino provide for all Filipinos,” Villarin said.

Villarin also added that renaming the school after the Aquino couple will serve as a reminder of the hardships that the country faced during the martial law period under the late President Ferdinand Marcos. Senator Aquino’s assassination sparked the Edsa People Power Revolution in February 1986 to oust Marcos. President Aquino rose to power after the protests against the leadership then.

“For the university, renaming the school to honor the Aquinos includes a commitment to remember the martial law period of oppression and injustice,” Villarin said. “We have not forgotten the darkness of those years of dictatorship and we will not compromise on our principles in forming those who would lead this nation,” he added.

Villarin also mentioned that the renaming the school was an initiative of the university. Current President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and his family have nothing to do with their decision.

The actual renaming of the school would take place in August 2015, in time with the commencement exercises under the new academic calendar of ADMU, Villarin added.