Ateneo honors Amb. Rodolfo C. Severino
As the fund champion, on behalf of DFA colleagues, this columnist and Ateneo de Manila University have launched an endowment honoring the legacy of Ateneo alumnus Ambassador Rodolfo C. Severino, Jr. (AB Humanities ’56), one of the country’s most respected diplomats who served as the 10th secretary-general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) from 1998-2002.
Since large gatherings are prohibited, a virtual turnover ceremony was held on Aug. 17.
At the virtual meeting I said: “(I) hope that this modest contribution of a professorial chair will be the first step in establishing the school of foreign service during the multiple-year tenure of Fr. Yap, inculcating this appreciation as a component of Jesuit education course that will shape the mindset of not only future diplomats, but also future leaders in government and business in the best Ateneo tradition”.
Fr. Roberto C. Yap SJ, Ateneo de Manila University president remarked, “This is the first endowment fund in Ateneo specifically directed for academic research activities about diplomacy and foreign affairs, strengthening Ateneo’s commitment to studying and understanding ideas and issues beyond our borders. The endowment’s timing could not have been better—our already globalized world is becoming more complex and the current pandemic is complicating things further. The endowment also strengthens Ateneo’s ongoing commitment to international studies and our thrust to become a more global institution.”
Mrs. Rowena Severino responded: “We are honored and humbled. My family will always be grateful to you all. The Ateneo Library will also house a collection of Rod’s works and papers. I am most grateful to the Ateneo for agreeing to preserve his knowledge for others to benefit from.”
For his part, Howie Severino said that his father would have loved the idea of a professorial chair even if it was not named after him. “To me, my father was the quintessential product of an Ateneo education—a man of faith, but at the same time, of intellectual rigor. He was a gentle and cultured man who always reminded me not to force anything and to solve problems with words and wit.”
There were four who paid tribute to Severino: Ambassador Ong Keng Yong of Singapore, who was the successor of Severino as ASEAN secretary-general; Romualdo Ong, former ambassador to Australia, Malaysia, Russia and China; Luis Cruz, former ambassador to Malaysia and South Korea, and Carlos Sorreta, current ambassador to Russia.
More than 60 DFA colleagues, past and present, contributed to the fund, which is a manifestation of their high regard for him. The endowment was substantially assisted by Carlos Chan of Oishi and David Zuellig of the Zuellig Group.
The endowment is primarily for a professorial chair award for full-time faculty members of the Department of Political Science of the School of Social Sciences, intended to support research, lectures, workshops, and other projects in diplomacy and international relations. As it is an endowment, only the fund’s earnings will be used. Up to a maximum of 90 percent of the earnings will be used to fund the professorial chair award for one or more faculty members. Aside from funding a chair, the endowment will also fund an annual lecture to be held on or around Aug. 8 of each year to commemorate the signing of the ASEAN Declaration on Aug. 8, 1967.