How do we promote reconciliation with creation to our fellow Jesuits in Asia Pacific? With imaginative and powerful images as the members of the Scholastics and Brothers Circle showed in the innovative campaign materials they developed during a workshop on Effective Communications held from December 19 to 30, 2011.
Xavier University has started to help resettle survivors of Tropical Storm Washi. Thousands were rendered homeless by the flash floods that wiped out parts of Cagayan de Oro City in Southern Philippines on December 16 and 17, 2011.
Xavier University is appealing for funds to help the victims of Typhoon Sendong (International Name: Tropical Storm Washi), which struck the southern Philippines on December 17, causing flash floods and landslides.
Typhoon Washi slammed ashore on Mindanao island in the dead of night, sending torrents of water and mud through riverside villages, drowning scores of people as they slept, and sweeping houses out to sea. Tens of thousands of people have been rendered homeless and many are now in evacuation centres. As of December 20, the official death toll was close to 1,000.
The Philippines island of Mindanao will soon launch a major island-wide undertaking that shall focus on ensuring integration of Mindanao’s economy and environment to achieve sustainable development. Jesuit research institute Environmental Science for Social Change (ESSC) is a partner agency and one of only two non-governmental groups working with the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) on this flagship programme.
Abaca, coffee and rubber are three very different crops that can make a difference to the indigenous communities in Mindanao – both economically and socially.
In October, 30 youth from Upper Pulangi, Bukidnon in northern Mindanao spent 10 days learning about these crops, how to produce them and how to do so with a sense of environmental stewardship. Jesuit research institute Environmental Science for Social Change (ESSC) conducted the training, in partnership with the Malaybalay City Agriculture Office and the Fibre Industry Development Authority.
Philippine President Benigno Aquino III has conferred the rank and title of National Scientist on Fr Bienvenido Nebres SJ, for his outstanding contributions to science and mathematics education and social reform. The title of national scientist is considered the highest honour given to a scientist in the country.
President Aquino paid tribute to Fr Nebres, who was president of Ateneo de Manila University from April 1993 to May 2011, in a ceremony in Malacañang, citing his achievements as “educator, mathematician, mentor and administrator.”
Fr Pedro Walpole SJ and Fr James Reuter SJ provide the narration for a mini-documentary that provides a quick 14-minute tour of the universe. They describe in simple terms how the Big Bang really occurred and the discovery of neutrinos, galactic super-clusters, cosmic voids, and dark galaxies. Dramatic Hubble space photos are also featured.
The new President of President of Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan, Fr Roberto “Bobby” Yap SJ began his term with a strong message regarding man’s need to reconcile with recreation.
In his Inaugural Address on August 15, Fr Bobby declared that “care for the environment is certainly one of the most crucial and most challenging” frontiers a university can strive to reach, and announced two environmental stewardship projects he will focus on – making the campus green and adapting to climate change.
A forum entitled Theological Views on Religions and Cultures by jointly held by Ateneo de Manila University’s Loyola School of Theology and Heythrop College’s Centre for Christianity and Interreligious Dialogue in Manila from July 21 to 23, 2011. Br. Bernard Falzon mssp provides an account of the three-day event.
Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU) has approved the establishment of the ADDU Al Qalam Institute: An Institute for Islamic Identities and Dialogue.