New president of Ateneo de Zamboanga named

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The board of trustees of Ateneo de Zamboanga University has named Fr. Antonio Moreno, S.J., as its new president.

Moreno is the vice president for social development and dean of the School of Arts and Sciences of Xavier University (Ateneo de Cagayan).

Moreno is a true blue Atenean, having studied at Xavier University from grade school to college. In 1981, he went to Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) for his AB Pre-Divinity, novitiate and juniorate, and MA in Sociology.

In 1987, he taught at the Ateneo de Zamboanga High School. Two years later, he finished his Bachelor in Sacred Theology and MA in Theology at the Loyola School of Theology at ADMU.

Later, Moreno went to the United Kingdom where he earned a Master in Philosophy of Development Studies. He proceeded to get a doctorate degree in the same field at the University of Sussex, Brighton.

This young and distinguished member of the Society of Jesus has animated the civic involvement of students by initiating lectures, discussions and fora on socio-political issues, including a recent one on the impending power crisis in Mindanao.

He chairs the One Voice Movement in Cagayan de Oro.

In October last year, Fr. Jet Villarin, S.J., Xavier University president, appointed Moreno as vice president for social development, tasked to design and implement a blueprint for the university’s social development agenda for Mindanao in general and Region 10 in particular, in consultation with various socially oriented organizations and offices in the university.

As social development vice president, he was also tasked to streamline, coordinate, consolidate and strengthen school-based social formation programs, and work with civil society organizations and development NGOs, the private sector, government agencies, local governments, faith-based organizations and the Jesuit social apostolate network in addressing issues on development, governance, poverty reduction, and sustainable development in the region and the whole of Mindanao.

On top of all this, Moreno’s office was also responsible for school units involved in local communities, such as the Xavier Science Foundation, SEARSOLIN, KKP, XU Center for Legal Assistance, and college-based extension or outreach programs.

As the new Ateneo de Zamboanga president, Moreno will replace Fr. William Kreutz, S.J., who will step down in March next year.

Kreutz is scheduled to visit Cagayan de Oro on Nov. 12 for a thanksgiving dinner with local Ateneo de Zamboanga alumni, said Carmencita Balatbat-Macasinag, director for alumni relations.

During a Mass he officiated at the Xavier University’s Loyola House Chapel for the members of Circulo Zamboangueño recently, Moreno acknowledged the enormity of the task facing him.

But he said he remains confident that God will give him the strength to do a good job.

As long-time Circulo member Joe Nebrao put it, "Cagayan de Oro’s loss is Zamboanga’s gain." — Mike Baños