Rekindling hope in grad school: Q&A with ASoG MPM medalist Renzo Blanco

As part of this school year’s Ateneo School of Government (ASoG) Master in Public Management (MPM) roster of medalists, Renzo Enrico Blanco shares how his grad school journey became the best place to nurture his leadership skills and hope again for the nation.

How does it feel to be a medalist in this batch?

I feel relieved and honored! Relieved because, admittedly, there were certain expectations that exerted some level of pressure. Honored because I was able to represent the Standard Track of our batch, including my Cohort 2023A, which made grad school fun and bearable. I probably would not have made it past the finish line if it weren’t for them. This is a shared achievement with my cohort.

Why did you decide to apply to Ateneo, and why MPM specifically? 

Having spent my undergrad years in Ateneo de Naga, I was privileged to belong to a community that puts a premium on character- and nation-building. Competence is almost a given and can be learned elsewhere. But, in the Ateneo, you get to take subjects like philosophy and ethics, challenge societal norms and the status quo, have psychological and spiritual counsel, and serve the underserved. Ateneo has also been a safe and soul-nourishing space for the queer. I didn’t want to stray from all these, so I didn’t go far and took MPM in Ateneo de Manila. [...] I am glad to tell you that I made the right decision.

How did you find your experience with your fellow students and with the faculty? Any stories and lessons you would like to share?

I remember thinking to myself then: what are profs like Heidi Mendoza and Sonny Trillanes doing in ASOG? With their stature, I thought they certainly did not need to be spending their Saturdays with doe-eyed students like us. They could have been anywhere else, doing anything but teach. But teach they did: with passion, with rigor, and with hope – hope for the country and the next generation of leaders who they trusted were in our classroom. I saw teaching (and learning) as a form of radical optimism that had inspired me to also pay it forward someday. 

What life lesson/s will you take away from your MPM experience? 

I honestly think the lessons to be learned in life can be gained wherever one is meant to be. It may not be easy to confine particular learning to a singular setting. [I saw that] there is reason to hope for the country and mankind. 

Given the chance to talk to a future MPM student, what words of wisdom would you give?

Just finish it! It can be tempting to stop, especially with the professional and personal responsibilities of working students. So, if you do decide to take the course, have a gameplan as to how you will balance and navigate the many different but equally important aspects of your life. Mahirap, pero kaya mo yan (It’s difficult, but you can do it.) 

The Ateneo School of Government congratulates the Master in Public Management Class of 2024. It continues to create leaders that will hopefully one day lead the reforms that will transform the country for the better.

This article is part of a series of features about this year’s MPM medalists. You may read more about our other medalists and valedictorian here.