Where Memories Sit: The Stories Behind Every Named Seat

Through the Name-A-Seat Campaign, the alumni and community have the opportunity to be part of the preservation and enhancement of Ateneo’s iconic Blue Eagle Gym. Names are affixed to a chosen seat — a lasting tribute in the heart of the University’s home court.

However, Name-A-Seat is more than a renovation effort.

Each gift helps rebuild the nest for future Blue Eagles. With every seat secured, a story finds its place — stories of friendship, gratitude, perseverance, family, and faith. Behind every engraved name is a chapter of Ateneo life that continues to inspire long after the final buzzer sounds.

For many alumni, naming a seat is a way to honor memories formed within those walls.

“It’s an honor to be part of the renovation of our Blue Eagle Gym. We all had fond memories of the place,” shared Angelica Delos Santos (BS ME ’86).

For alumna Kat Gomez-Limchoc, the gym holds memories of humble beginnings. In the early days of CADs (Company of Ateneo Dancers), rehearsals happened wherever space was available — often under the gym bleachers. Dark, hot, and filled with mosquitoes, those makeshift practices became the foundation of something greater. From that unlikely rehearsal space, they went on to win the first two competitions they joined. Today, her named seat stands as a quiet tribute to those early victories and the resilience behind them.

Parents, too, have found deep meaning in the campaign. For some, naming a seat is an expression of gratitude — a way of thanking the University for the values-centered education that continues to shape their children’s lives.

Others choose to honor loved ones. Fr. Boom Martinez, SJ, secured a seat in memory of his father, whose class was among the first to move from Padre Faura to Loyola Heights — preserving a family milestone within Ateneo’s evolving story.

For Ms. Sheh Piñero, the Blue Eagle Gym has been part of her son Mateo’s journey since Grade 1. Now in Grade 10, he proudly represents the Blue Eagles on the very court where his love for the game began. Naming a seat became a celebration of growth, dedication, and dreams realized.

Then there are Blue Eagle families like Michael, Mina, and Miguel Meresen. Both father and son once wore the Ateneo jersey as members of the basketball varsity team and remain active in the Ateneo Basketball League’s parent and alumni division. Their bond with the gym is symbolized by three named seats — a tribute to a family whose story is woven into Ateneo’s home court across generations.

Name-A-Seat is more than a campaign. It is a collective celebration of memory, community, and legacy. It affirms that the Blue Eagle Gym is not merely a venue for games, but a space where friendships are forged, milestones are marked, and identities are shaped.

Where memories sit, stories endure.

Now, it’s your turn to take your place in Ateneo’s living history. Honor your journey. Celebrate your gratitude. Name your seat today.

Contact us at development@ateneo.edu to know how!