Ateneo de Zamboanga University - History

History

From its beginnings as a parochial school to its recognition as a Jesuit university, Ateneo de Zamboanga celebrates its Centennial in 2012.

Pre-war Ateneo

Soon after their return to Mindanao in 1862, the Spanish Jesuit missionaries took to the task of planting the very first seeds of educational work. The vision of a school that would help young boys become good Christians was realized a few decades after with the opening of Escuela Catolica in 1912 with Fr. Manuel Ma. Sauras, S.J., as its first school director. It served as a parochial school of the Immaculada Concepcion Parish headed by Fr. Miguel Saderra Mata, S.J. Classes were held on the ground floor of the rectory of the parish, which was adjacent to Plaza Pershing. While the curriculum was similar to that of the public elementary school, the Spanish Jesuits emphasized religious teaching alongside quality education. Catholic education later on became a factor in the decision of the Jesuits to open a school that was empowered to issue the titulo oficial upon completion of studies. And so it was that in 1916, the Escuela Catolica officially became Ateneo de Zamboanga (AdeZ).

AdeZ slowly became an influential force in the city. In its initial years, the school offered primary and intermediate courses for boys.

Its Grade School opened in 1916 and its High School in 1928. High school classes, during this time, were held on the top floor of a three-storey Knights of Columbus (K of C) building, while the elementary school continued at the convento. By 1930, the American Jesuits took over from the Spanish Jesuits with Fr. Thomas J. Murray, S.J. as its first American director.

The first batch of AdeZ high school students graduated in 1932. These ten young male graduates belonged to Zamboanga City’s crème de la crème, one of whom was Roseller T. Lim who would become the first Zamboangueño senator of the Philippines. Beginning with this group, students dabbled in the art of debating and elocution and produced well-reviewed issues of the “Ateneo de Zamboanga Page” that appeared in local newspapers, The Mindanao Herald and later, La Antorcha. They also participated in the Bugle and Drum Corps. In athletics, the school teams ranked with the best, especially in basketball. Character development came in the form of catechetical work and spiritual organizations which included the Sodality of Our Lady and the Sanctuary Section. In 1938, AdeZ opened night classes in commerce and pre-law, thus pioneering its expansion to college only to be later interrupted by World War II. A library was built on the first floor of the K of C building. Pre-war Ateneo expanded with an enrolment of 230 in the Grade School and 376 in the High School under Fr. Eusebio G. Salvador, S.J. A Zamboangueño and himself a product of Escuela Catolica, Fr. Salvador was the first Filipino director of AdeZ.

Post-war Ateneo

The years following the war saw a rapid physical, curricular and enrolment growth and expansion of AdeZ. Fr. Salvador, S.J. had previously bought adjoining lots in Jardin de Chino on Bailen Street (now La Purisima Street). Together with Frs. Kyran B. Egan and Cesar E. Maravilla, he reopened high school classes at the present site in 1946. The students had nipa roofs and sawali walls for classrooms housed in provisional buildings.

By 1949, AdeZ underwent a major make-over. A solid structure of fine wood replaced the nipa-and-sawali schoolrooms. Within the year, AdeZ was officially recognized as a Jesuit school separate from the Immaculate Conception Parish. Fr. Alfredo E. Paguia served as its first Rector. The gymnasium-auditorium (now Brebeuf Gymnasium) was constructed in 1950, making it the oldest existing structure on campus today.

In the years between 1946 and 1952, a total of 2,766 graduated from high school. The college opened in 1952 with a two-year collegiate program, which offered pre-law courses and a degree in Associate in Arts. Of co-educational character, the college gradually expanded to include four-year bachelor’s programs in the arts, commerce, education and nursing. AdeZ experienced a “building boom” in the period covering the late 1950s to the 60s. The year 1959 saw the completion of the Jesuit Residence, the Sacred Heart Chapel in 1961, Gonzaga Hall in 1964, and Canisius Hall in 1967.

In 1972, the two one-storey grade school buildings, Berchmans and Kostka Halls, were built. By mid-70s, basic education was well established with an unprecedented enrolment of 381 students in the Grade School. In 1976, higher education expanded to include Graduate School which opened an MBA course, the first graduate program in business administration in Region IX. Soon after, other master’s degrees followed: public administration, nursing, guidance and counselling, and education. These programs were offered under the guidance of Fr. Ernesto A. Carretero, S.J., the first President elected by the Board of Trustees of AdeZ.

In the years that followed, more changes and developments took place. The Campion Hall and the Bellarmine Hall were built in 1979 and 1980, respectively. The Jose Ma. Rosauro Center was finished in 1986. The Learning Resource Center was inaugurated in 1987 to accommodate the library, book center, audio-visual unit, and various offices. Fr. Carretero, S.J. pushed for the PAASCU accreditation of the high school in 1975, the liberal arts and commerce in 1981, and education, nursing and the grade school in 1982. AdeZ attained Level III in the accreditation of these colleges, the highest rank given to tertiary schools in the Philippines at that time.

Ateneo in the Recent Times

The 80s saw the school work itself toward acquiring university status, which started under the efforts of Fr. Carretero, S.J. Fr. William H. Kreutz, S.J., AdeZ’s second President elected in 1989, provided leadership in becoming a full-fledged university. By this time, and well into the mid-90s, the school had given birth to other academic undergraduate programs, including major degrees in accountancy, business management, arts and sciences, and computer science.

Because of the school’s strategic location in Mindanao, it saw the need to address some of the problems that continually plague the region. Civil unrest, environmental degradation, human rights abuse, poverty, conflict, lack of health services, and deterioration of peace and culture, among others, needed major attention. AdeZ began to move toward a new direction ˗ one that involved working on these specific areas of concern in the region: peace and culture, education, health, information technology, management and entrepreneurship, social sciences, environment, and human resource development.

On August 20, 2001, AdeZ was officially declared a university by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). Even more impressive was the granting of autonomous status by CHED, making Ateneo de Zamboanga University (ADZU) one of only thirty higher education institutions in the Philippines, and the only one in Western Mindanao, to be granted full deregulation and autonomy. The New College Building and the Multi-Purpose Covered Courts were inaugurated in 2001.

The Zamboanga Medical School Foundation (ZMSF) was established in 1994 under Fr. Kreutz’s presidency. ZMSF, in partnership with AdeZ, gave birth to the School of Medicine which was turned over to the University in 2004. With partnerships with the University of Calgary, Laos, Nepal and Cambodia, the School of Medicine utilizes the problem-based learning and community-based approach to medical practice with emphasis on serving communities in Western Mindanao.

The phase toward the end of Fr. Kreutz’s 18-year presidency saw the completion of the new campus in Tumaga which was later named Fr William H Kreutz SJ campus. The High School finally opened its first classes on this new site in 2006.

Ateneo Today and Beyond

In 2007, Fr. Antonio F. Moreno, S.J. was installed as the third President of ADZU.

Meanwhile, ADZU and Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan launched the Xavier University College of Law – Zamboanga on 25 June 2011. The College of Law is located in the newly completed four-storey building named in honor of Fr. Manuel Ma. Sauras S.J. Sauras Hall is also home to the new University cafeteria.