Pathways kicks off 20th year with thanksgiving celebration

Marking our 20th anniversary, Pathways to Higher Education began its year-long celebration with a thanksgiving gathering. We were joined by our pioneer Atenean supporters on November 26 at the JJ Atencio Lighthouse for New Learning, Areté.

The celebration began with a mass presided over by Fr. Bienvenido Nebres, SJ. During the mass, the former Ateneo president fondly recalled his time with Pathways. He shared his experience mentoring the founders as it grew from a student project to a multi-awarded organization.

After, we held a short program where members of the Pathways community looked back at the organization's last 20 years. Our director Solvie Nubla-Lee joined Pathways alum Eric Aninang as they recalled both the achievements and the challenges the organization experienced. They shared the lessons borne from beginning an organization as fresh graduates and navigating shifts in the Philippine educational system.

They were joined in their recollection by Pathways alumni McKenneth Baluyot, Arch. Rovalie Tamayao, and Jerome Valdez and Alay Ni Ignacio alum Christine Lacdao. They shared their personal stories–from the joys of volunteering and teaching to the help we offered them amid personal challenges and even the pandemic.

Fr. Johnny Go, SJ, Dean of the Gokongwei Brothers School of Education and Learning Design (GBSEALD), closed the program with his own experience with Pathways. As he realized in his first consultation with the Pathways director “This is exactly what Ateneo is all about. We’re all trying our best to form our students and faculty. I feel that that is what Pathways has been doing these past 20 years–exemplifying the mission of the Ateneo.”

Much like the stories shared by our alums, we find the journey of Pathways to be similar. With the guidance and support of our friends and family in Ateneo, Pathways is now in the company of 360 Trailblazers with more on the way.

We had our share of challenges in the past 20 years. Thanks to the lessons we have learned, we will continue to form ethical and discerning leaders committed to service and excellence. The path may still have bumps, but we are blessed to be in the company of others who believe in our vision as well.