Ateneo Global

19/05/2026

💙✨ Through our Ateneo Global Student Ambassador (Inbound) series, we share the unique perspectives of our international exchange students as they experience life at Ateneo and in the Philippines 🇵🇭

Meet Clémence from France! 🇫🇷

For this feature, we invited Clémence to share a photo from a school event that celebrates Filipino culture and reflect on why it stood out to her.

“One of the Ateneo events I attended that represents Filipino culture the most for me is the EDSA Mass celebration. This event reflects the Catholic values deeply rooted in Filipino society and in Ateneo’s teachings.

It also commemorates an important moment in Philippine history, showing the pride, unity, and importance of remembering the country’s past.”

Through celebrations like these, students are able to experience how culture, history, and faith come together within the Ateneo community 💙

18/05/2026

💙✨ Through our Ateneo Global Student Ambassador (Inbound) series, we share the unique perspectives of our international exchange students as they experience life at Ateneo and in the Philippines 🇵🇭

Meet Cecilia from the United States of America! 🇺🇸

To Cecilia, something uniquely “Ateneo” that reflects Filipino values is the Church of the Gesù.

She says “At the heart of the Ateneo campus stands the Church of the Gesù. It’s a beautiful building where the architecture itself tells a story. Its soaring and open design reflects the local ability to find light and peace even in the middle of life’s heat.

The Philippines is a country where faith and Catholic values are deeply internalized, and the Gesù illustrates how these values have been localized into a beautiful culture of pagmamalasakit (deep concern/compassion). To me, it represents the Filipino spirit: modern and grand, yet as welcoming and humble as a traditional home.”

Sometimes, a place can say so much about the people and values that shape it 💙⛪

11/05/2026

💙✨ Through our Ateneo Global Student Ambassador (Inbound) series, we share the unique perspectives of our international exchange students as they experience life at Ateneo and in the Philippines 🇵🇭

Meet Saleh from the United States of America! 🇺🇸

For this feature, we invited Saleh to share a photo that captures what the Philippines means to him and reflect on how his time at Ateneo has helped him experience and understand the country in a deeper way.

“To me, the jeepney is what I think of when I hear the word ‘Philippines.’ It’s part of Filipino culture, with millions of people riding it every day to commute across the country. People of all ages and backgrounds share a few moments together, enduring the heat and cramped spaces just to get to their next destination. I also love how people work together without even speaking — passing money to the driver and getting the change back seamlessly. Even as a foreigner, my first few jeepney rides couldn’t have been easier.

Studying at Ateneo gave me the chance to experience traveling around the city through jeepneys, and through these small adventures, I found memorable stories I’ll always carry with me. Without Ateneo, I wouldn’t have met people who taught me how to navigate the initially confusing routes or helped me gain the confidence to ride on my own.”

Sometimes, understanding a country begins with the everyday journeys that bring people together 💙

06/05/2026

💙✨ Through our Ateneo Global Student Ambassador (Inbound) series, we highlight the unique perspectives of our international exchange students as they experience life at Ateneo and in the Philippines 🇵🇭

Meet Melanie from the Netherlands! 🇳🇱

For this post, Melanie was asked to share something that surprised her about life in the Philippines.

“One of the things that really surprised me about life in the Philippines is their mall culture. There is never one too far away from you, housing a wide variety of stores—from food chains like Mesa and Jollibee’s to H&M and pharmacies, you will find it there. This was especially convenient after first arriving in the Philippines, as I could do all my initial shopping in one place.

However, Filipinos do not merely view it as a retail area, but also as an extension of their homes and neighbourhoods. You will frequently see students hanging out at the mall with their friends after class, or families strolling around during the weekends as a day out. They are also tailored to this, with arcades, huge statues, and an abundance of snacking opportunities. There is even a mall inspired by Venice, complete with a canal and boats.

This is very different from how it works in the Netherlands, where stores are scattered across streets and only certain places are visited for leisure. Despite that, I can definitely see the appeal of having a place away from home to hang out with friends—and to escape the tropical heat in an air-conditioned mall.”

What surprised you most about life in the Philippines? Let us know in the comments! 👇

06/05/2026

On 29 April 2026, Ateneo de Manila University formalized its entry into the Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies (GCUS), an international initiative designed to support efforts of universities and research institutions from around the world to develop Ukrainian studies 🇺🇦. This event was marked by a visit from Deputy Foreign Minister Olexandr Mischenko, Ambassador of Ukraine to the Philippines Yuliia Fediv, and First Secretary Oleksandr Lysak.

Welcoming the Ukrainian delegation were Fr Roberto C Yap SJ, University President; Dr Maria Luz C Vilches, Vice President for Higher Education; Dr Czarina Saloma-Akpedonu, Dean of the Dr Rosita G Leong School of Social Sciences; Ms Ma Cristina M Alikpala, Assistant Vice President for University Partnerships and Internationalization; and Dr Manuel R Enverga III, Director of the European Studies Program.

Learn more: https://go.ateneo.edu/Ateneo-GCUS

05/05/2026

💙✨ Through our Ateneo Global Student Ambassador (Inbound) series, we share the unique perspectives of our international exchange students as they experience life at Ateneo and in the Philippines 🇵🇭

Meet Cecilia from the United States of America! 🇺🇸

Cecilia was asked to share a photo with her friends on campus and what makes the Ateneo community special to her. She said:

“One thing that makes the Ateneo community special is the student organization culture. Being part of the Ateneo Student Exchange Council (ASEC) has helped me feel truly connected to the university and to the people around me. Everyone is so warm and welcoming, and being in ASEC made it much easier for me to adjust to Ateneo. It’s made my time here so much more fun and enjoyable.”

Here’s to the friendships that make the Ateneo experience even more meaningful 💙

02/05/2026

Ateneo de Manila University soars to the top, securing its place as the leading Philippine institution in the latest Times Higher Education Asia University Rankings. AMDG!

ATENEO NAMED TOP PH UNIVERSITY IN THE RANKINGS

The Ateneo de Manila University emerged as the top-ranked Philippine school in the latest edition of the Times Higher Education Asia University Rankings, out of six local schools ranked by the body.

Meanwhile, 42 other Philippine schools received a "reporter" status, which meant that they provided data but did not meet the THE's criteria to receive a rank.

28/04/2026

💙✨ Through our Ateneo Global Student Ambassador (Inbound) series, we highlight the unique perspectives of our international exchange students as they experience life at Ateneo and in the Philippines 🇵🇭

Meet Clémence from France! 🇫🇷

When asked to post something that shows her typical day as an Atenean, Clémence shared:

“On a typical day in Ateneo, I start by going to class. I walk through the red brick road and SEC field, and it’s always a surprise to discover what activities and what stands have taken place.

During lunch time, I eat in one of the numerous places on campus. When I have time, I try a new cafeteria with my friends.

Of course, most of the time I go to class, walking through the different buildings of Ateneo to find the right rooms. Some classes have up to 60 students while others have no more than 15 persons.

Sometimes, I have the opportunity to assist at some events organized by the different organizations of Ateneo or the school itself. The topics are very broad, which allows me to learn a lot.
There are also some events in which I take part after class. Some are weekly while others take place only once in the semester. It’s the perfect opportunity to meet new people and discover new activities.

Finally, we also organize some events, notably birthdays and celebrations within the campus. These are opportunities to gather and have good times with friends.”

From attending classes and exploring campus dining spots to joining events and celebrating with friends, Clémence’s experience reflects the vibrant and welcoming community that makes student life at Ateneo so memorable 💙

What does a typical day at Ateneo look like for you? Let us know in the comments! 👇

27/04/2026

💙✨ Through our Ateneo Global Student Ambassador (Inbound) series, we highlight the unique perspectives of our international exchange students as they experience life at Ateneo and in the Philippines 🇵🇭

Meet Melanie from the Netherlands! 🇳🇱

When asked to share a photo from one of her classes and something interesting she has learned at Ateneo, Melanie shared that one of the biggest differences she noticed was the classroom experience.

She said, “During my time at Ateneo, I have learned to pay more attention in class. In my home university, courses often include weekly lectures in big lecture halls where you mainly listen to your professor, but at Ateneo they offer smaller classes. This allows for a lot more interaction during class, which makes it easier to get to know your professor and classmates, as well as more fun to actually attend classes 😅.”

Beyond academics, Melanie also reflected on how studying abroad helped her grow personally.

She shared, “Living in a new environment has made me more independent and confident in my ability to handle unfamiliar situations. While it was a bit scary at first to go to an entirely new continent on my own, Ateneo made sure to connect me with other exchange students as well as Filipino students before I even entered the Philippines. This made it easier for me to adapt to this new environment and improve my confidence in my ability to travel on my own.”

From engaging classroom discussions to personal growth through cultural exchange, Melanie’s journey shows how studying abroad at Ateneo can be both academically enriching and personally transformative 💙

What’s something valuable you’ve learned from studying in a new environment? Let us know in the comments! 👇

24/04/2026

💙✨ Through our Ateneo Global Student Ambassador (Inbound) series, we highlight the unique perspectives of our international exchange students as they experience life at Ateneo and in the Philippines 🇵🇭

Meet Saleh from the United States of America! 🇺🇸

When asked to share his favorite spot on campus and what makes it special to him, Saleh says he "loves the LST area because it has the best view on campus and a really calm vibe. As someone who’s recently gotten into reading, it feels so comfortable to sit back, read a few chapters, and enjoy the cool breeze. Occasionally seeing bats flying around is the cherry on top!”

What’s your favorite spot on campus? Let us know in the comments! 👇

20/04/2026

We are proud to introduce the second cohort of Ateneo Global Student Ambassadors (inbound)—our international exchange students (IXS) from around the world! 💙

Say hello to our Student Ambassadors for the second semester of SY 2025-2026: Melanie, Saleh, Clémence, and Cecilia! 👋

As Ateneo Global Student Ambassadors, they will share their stories and experiences of life at Ateneo and in the Philippines, helping build bridges of understanding across cultures.

Get to know them and follow their journeys in this post!