A member of the Society of Divine Word was one of the seven recipients of the 2024 Traditional University Awards on November 6, 2024, in Manila, Philippines.
During this year's Academic Convocation, Jesuit-run Ateneo de Manila University presented the distinguished Bukas Palad Award to Father Flaviano L. Villanueva, SVD, a social and human rights activist.
The Bukas Palad Award celebrates the Ignatian spirit of generosity, honoring individuals who have shown selfless and devoted service to the Church and God’s people, especially those who are poor, oppressed, marginalized, sick, and suffering.
Villanueva, a former drug user, understood that there was still hope. He established the Arnold Janssen Kalinga Center in Manila, a holistic center for people experiencing homelessness.
In 2015, Father Villanueva founded the Center, providing support and assistance to street dwellers and the homeless.
He also co-founded the “PAGHILOM” program, a church-based support initiative that serves families of victims of extrajudicial killings from the so-called war on drugs, offering them a safe space for grief and the opportunity to connect with others who share similar experiences.
The PAGHILOM” program is an integrated, holistic center that helps widows and orphans of drug-related killings rebuild their lives.
The Arnold Janssen Kalinga Center is named after St. Arnold Janssen, S.V.D. (1837–1909), the founder of three religious congregations, namely the Society of the Divine Word, Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit, and Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters.
Villanueva is known as a friend and lover of people experiencing poverty. He was one of the few who courageously spoke out against the extrajudicial killings that accompanied the government’s campaign.
In the award ceremony, Fr. Villanueva received a replica of the statue of the Sacred Heart carved by Jose Rizal during his student years at Ateneo.
The Traditional University Awards of Ateneo de Manila recognize the lives and works of men and women in society who exemplify the values of the university.
The Board of Trustees selected the remaining six individuals for 2024. They include the late Ricardo G. Abad for his theatrical contributions, Leila M. de Lima for advocating for the rule of law and human rights, Raissa H. Jajurie for her service to marginalized communities, Fatima Garcia Lorenzo for her psychological interventions for children, adolescents, and their families, Alberto M. Malvar for his reforestation efforts, and the late Florencio Antonio Quintos II for his promotion of indigenous arts.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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