Ateneo BS ME Batch '77 donates bicycle racks to the Loyola Schools

On 17 February, Ateneo de Manila University’s BS Management Engineering Class of 1977 turned over 4 four-loop inverted-u bicycle racks to the Loyola Schools. Batch '77, represented by Dr Robert Siy, turned over the racks in a small blessing ceremony in front of the MVP Center for Student Leadership.

Fr Kit Bautista SJ, director of the Office of University Development and Alumni Affairs, officiated the blessing. In attendance were students, faculty, and administrators of the Loyola Schools. Among those present at the blessing were Dr Marlu Vilches, Vice President for the Loyola Schools; Rene San Andres, Associate Dean for Student Affairs; Dr Manny Dy, faculty representative; Abby Favis, Program Manager for Campus Sustainability, Ateneo Institute of Sustainability; TJ Alcantara, Sanggunian President; Benel Lagua and Dr Jun Aguilar, BS ME Batch '77; as well as other students, faculty, administrators and guests.

Batch '77 had previously donated bicycle racks to the Ateneo Senior High School on 13 February. 

"This is a small step," stated Dr Diy on Batch '77's donation of the bike racks. "But we hope it will encourage to think about what we would call sustainable mobility modes and solutions."

"When we try to change mindsets, it's not easy to do that just through lecture and classes," explained Dr Vilches. "You've got to act on it, and one way of doing that is through infrastructure," she added, in reference to the donated bike racks.

"I was thinking of this, that having infrastructure like that will change mindsets, will change behavior in a quiet way," Dr Vilches continued. "And I think that's what we need to do."

"In general, I think a lot of students are mobility advocates," said Sanggunian President TJ Alcantara. "I think this project, this initiative is really a step towards the right direction, for us to pursue sustainable, inclusive, and people-centric mobility."