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The Ateneo de Manila University traces
its roots to 1859 when at the request of the
City of Manila and endorsed by Governor
Norzagaray the Jesuits took over the "Escuela
Municipal" in Intramuros (the Walled City of
Manila).A primary school originally intended
for the sons of Spaniards, it was opened by
the Jesuits to native filipinos asz well.
In 1865 the Jesuits received government
approval to add a five-year program to
the degree of Bachelor of Arts. In
keeping with its new academic status the
school was renamed "Ateneo Municipal de
Manila." Courses in music and arts were
also taught, and subsequently technical
courses we added, leading to certificates
in Agriculture, Surveying and business.
One of the graduates in these early decades
was Jose Rizal, A.B. 1877.
At the turn of the century the new American
regime brought about changes in the Ateneo.
In 1901, with the withdrawal of the city
subsidy, the Ateneo became a private insti-
tution and dropped the word "Municipal" from
its official title. In 1921 the American
Jesuits of the Maryland-New York Province
replaced the SpanishJesuits as teachers and
administrators of the Ateneo.
The Intramuros fire of 1932 completely
destroyed the Ateneo buildings, forcing the
school to move to a new location in Padre
Faura, Ermita. During the battle for the
Liberation of Manila, the Padre Faura complex
of buildings was razed to the ground.
Temporary structures were quickly built. With
the help of funds solicited both here and
abroad, the Ateneo moved in 1952 to its
present sprawling campus in Loyola Heights,
Quezon City. In 1958, the Jesuits in the
Philippines were constituted as a new pro-
vince independent of the Jesuit New York
Province. Thus, administration of Ateneo
passed on the the Philippine Province of
the Society of Jesus and shortly after,
its first Filipino president and rector
was named. The growth of the Ateneo demanded
a new status and in 1959 the school obtained
its University charter. The Ateneo de Manila
University today comprises the following
academic units: the School of Arts and
Sciences, the Graduate School of Business,
the College of Law and the Bureau of Small
Business. In addition, like most Philippine
universities, it runs a high school and grade
school, noted for their high educational
standards. Competent research is being under-
taken in the Institute of Philippine Culture,
Central Guidance Bureau, the Philippine Insti-
tute of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Center for
Social Policy and Public Affairs, and Human
Resources Center. Also located on the Loyola
Heightscampus are the Manila Observatory, the
Loyola School of Theology, San Jose Major
Seminary, Sonolux Asia, and the East Asian
Pastoral Institute.
As a University, the Ateneo de Manila
seeks to preserve, to extend and to commu-
nicate truth, and to apply it to the deve-
lopment of man and preservation of his
environment.
As a Filipino University, the Ateneo
de Manila seeks to identify and enrich
Philippine culture and to make it its own.
Through the education of the whole person
and through the formation of needed profes-
sionals and technologists and through various
corporate activities, the University aims to
contribute to the development goals of the
nation.
As a Catholic University, the Ateneo de
Manila seeks to form persons who, following
the teachings of Christ, will devote their
lives to the service of their fellowmen, and
through the promotion of justice, serves
especially those who are in most need of
help, the poor and the powerless. Loyal
to the teachings of the Catholic Church,
the University seeks to interpret its
teachings to modern Filipino society.
As a Jesuit Univeristy, the Ateneo de
Manila seeks the goals of modern Jesuit libe-
ral education through the harmonious develop-
ment of moral and intellectual virutes.
Imbued with the Ignatian spirit, the
University aims to lead its students to see
God in all things had to strive for the
greater glory of God and the greater
service of mankind.
The University seeks all these
purposes and aims, as an academic community,
through the exercise ofthe functions proper
to a university, that is, through teaching,
research, and community service.
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