CEAP confers Pro Deo et Patria Award on Fr Bienvenido Nebres SJ

In August, former University President Fr Bienvenido F Nebres SJ was conferred the 2023 Pro Deo et Patria Award by the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP).

A professor from the Department of Mathematics, a National Scientist, and former Provincial Superior of the Society of Jesus in the Philippines, Fr Ben, as he known to the Ateneo community, has devoted his life’s work to education and nation-building in the country—both within the university setting and outside, through various outreach programs. 

His contributions extend beyond the classroom: upon his return from Stanford University in the 1970s, he formed the UP Diliman–Ateneo de Manila–De La Salle PhD consortium in mathematics, physics, and chemistry, which produced “more highly trained scientists, mathematicians, and engineers than any other in the country.” 

Just this past July, Fr Ben was conferred the title of Professor Emeritus by Ateneo de Manila for his distinguished academic record and service to the University. Fr Ben has long been an advocate of poverty alleviation in the Philippines—his work with the Ateneo Center for Education Development (ACED), the Synergeia Foundation, and Gawad Kalinga has empowered local communities in over 400 public schools, in over 300 municipalities. 

For all these reasons and more, Fr Ben received the Pro Deo et Patria (“for God and country”) award, which, according to the CEAP, is the “highest award the Association gives to deserving individual/s who manifest an exemplary attitude of love for God and country and [their] faithfulness to Catholic teachings as part of service to God. The awardee must be seen as a model of Christ the Teacher.”

The live conferment of the Pro Deo et Patria Award will take place during the 2023 CEAP National Convention on 17–20 October 2023 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel - Lahug. To register, visit convention.ceap.org.ph.