A kinder State University

I spent five years teaching in the Ateneo de Manila University’s English Department. And while the stint ended on a sad note, there were many lessons learned under then Chairperson Dr. Marlu Vilches (now Dean of the School of Humanities).

More than the pedagogy, Dr. Vilches taught me kindness. English Core Courses were taken by all freshmen of Ateneo, and we were a welcoming committee so to speak. We needed to start with compassion. Dr. Vilches called it Cura Personalis—care for the entire person—or just personal care, which is fundamental to Ignatian Spirituality.