Dr Alfredo Bengzon honored at Stop and Salute Flag Raising Ceremony in Luneta

On 4 August 2025, the National Stop and Salute Flag Raising Ceremony was held at Rizal Park, where Dr Alfredo Rafael Antonio “Alran” Bengzon was honored as the 52nd recipient of the ceremonial folded flag. This distinction is bestowed upon individuals who exemplify public service marked by humility, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to the common good.

This meaningful gathering was organized in cooperation with the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) and the Salute to a Clean Flag (STACF) Movement. It served not only as a tribute to the nation’s history and defenders but also as a citizen-led expression of civic gratitude to this month’s honoree, Dr Alran Bengzon—a modern-day hero whose life’s work continues to inspire institutions and individuals alike.

Dr Bengzon holds a special place in the Ateneo community. A graduate of Ateneo de Manila University who took special pride in having spent time as a student in every campus in the history of Ateneo, he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1956 and later completed his MBA at the Ateneo Graduate School of Business in 1972. After serving as Secretary of Health in the post-EDSA revolution government of President Corazon Aquino, he returned to the university in a leadership capacity in the early 1990s, serving as Dean of the Ateneo Graduate School of Business beginning in 1993 and subsequently as Vice President for the Professional Schools of Ateneo de Manila University. In 1997, he persuaded the Board of Trustees to approve the establishment of a medical school, and in 2007 he founded the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health (ASMPH), becoming its first dean and serving in that role from 2007 to 2012. His vision of forming doctor leaders of the future—outstanding clinicians who are also public health and management professionals—continues to animate the ASMPH community to this day.

Representing Ateneo at the ceremony was Fr Roberto C Yap SJ, current president of Ateneo de Manila University; joined by Dr Manuel M Dayrit, former ASMPH Dean; and Dr Maria Eufemia C Yap, Founding Associate Dean of ASMPH. The honor of bearing the Philippine flag was given to Dr Cenon R. Alfonso, Dean of the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health; Jowett Cecilio F Magsaysay, Dean of the Ateneo Graduate School of Business; and Fr Bienvenido F Niebres, former president of Ateneo de Manila University and current chair of the Philippine Foundation for Equity in Health. A number of members of the faculty of ASMPH were also present to witness this momentous event for their friend and mentor, Dr Alran Bengzon.

The ceremony was held at the Independence Flagpole and Rizal Monument area in Rizal Park, a location long considered hallowed ground. Once the execution site of Filipino heroes during the Spanish colonial period, it is where the blood of patriots was spilled and where independence was fiercely fought. Behind the Rizal Monument lies the final resting place of Dr Jose P Rizal, our national hero and a fellow physician—making the tribute to Dr Bengzon especially resonant. Overlooking this sacred space is the tallest flagpole in the Philippines, standing at 45.72 meters and flying the nation’s largest flag—an enduring symbol of unity, sacrifice, and national pride.

The Salute to a Clean Flag Movement was born from the heroism of the Armed Forces of the Philippines during the 2017 Marawi Siege. The movement honors the soldiers who defended the nation and the medical professionals who cared for the more than 1,700 wounded at AFP hospitals. The 4th of August is thus a significant day not only for STACF but for the broader community of defenders and healers. In this context, honoring Dr Bengzon—whose profession and leadership have long embodied service to others—was both fitting and profound.

Being the 52nd recipient of the folded flag is a rare and significant honor, symbolizing not just a lifetime of leadership but the kind of servant-leadership that continues to inspire future generations. For ASMPH, this tribute is especially meaningful, as Dr Bengzon’s foundational work continues to shape the formation of doctors who serve not just in clinics, but also in corporations, government, non-government organizations, and communities. His example remains deeply embedded in the values and vision of the school he built—and in the lives of the many he inspired.