First hurrah for Bedans!

By DR. RAMON RICARDO ROQUE

ON Sept. 21, the San Beda University (SBU) will ob­serve one of the oldest tra­ditions in the academia as it installs the first University Rec­tor-President, Rev. Fr. Aloysius Ma. A. Maranan, OSB, at the Abbey Church of Our Lady of Montserrat in Mendiola, Manila.

This investiture ceremony will be the first momentous event in the life of SBU following the grant of university status by the Commission on Higher Education in February of this year. Also momentous to the life of Rev. Fr. Maranan as his installation is celebrated simultaneously on his birthday.

Bedans have the reason to rejoice and honor the Benedic­tine school which is sincerely dedicated to the formation of a Christian Bedan community in faith, knowledge, and virtue in the service of the Church, the Philippine society and the whole world.

That transformation from college to university status was laboriously achieved through the collaborative efforts of the Bedan community on and off campus, led by Rev. Fr. Maranan. He may be the first university rector-president, but not a new­comer to the school as he has been its head since 2010.

Through the years, Rev. Fr. Maranan has proven his compe­tence as a leader and a steward of God called upon to serve the Bedan community. It is without a doubt that his capability to continue to push academic ex­cellence forward did put him in the highest office of the univer­sity. He is a hard worker with a strong emphasis on getting things done and an achiever who undoubtedly deserves the post.

A faithful steward, Rev. Fr. Maranan takes good care of the Bedan community, not to raise himself up but for the glory of God. He has the trust and con­fidence of the members of the Bedan community and empow­ers them to work with flexibility towards the attainment of its institutional objectives. Rev. Fr. Maranan ensures the honing of God-given talents and in mold­ing every Bedan to live as true Christians.

After all, what matters in an organization is promoting the welfare of its people for them to be able to continuously do their work and live with dignity and integrity, at the same time ensur­ing that processes are effective, strategies are sound, operations are aligned and stakeholders are happy. Rev. Fr. Maranan is one leader who wholeheartedly embraces great responsibility for the good of the Benedictine monks, administrators, faculty, non-academic personnel, and the students.

Congratulations to Rev. Fr. Aloysius Ma. A. Maranan, OSB and Happy Birthday!