To the AJCU-EAO Principals and Members:

I am sure you are as delighted as I am with the good news of Fr. Adolfo Nicolas being elected as the new Superior General of the Society of Jesus.   It is especially overwhelming to know that the new Father General has been part of our efforts and endeavors in the AJCU-EAO. May this inspire us all the more to promote the Jesuit Higher Educational Apostolate in the East Asia and Oceania!

On another note, let me also share with you some developments in the AJCU-EAO, particularly on the Campus Ministers as possible new members and the meeting of the International Program Directors of our respective institutions:

Campus Ministers
In our General Assembly last August 2007, part of the planned agenda was to introduce the Campus Ministers as new sectoral member of the AJCU-EAO.  But due to lack of representation on their part, it did not push through.  Last November 7 however, a Consultation Meeting among the Campus Ministers was convened by no less than Adolfo Nicolas himself.   Fr. Roberto Buenconsejo, S.J. from the Campus Ministry Office of ADMU was appointed by Fr. Nicolas to form a group of campus ministers and organize a meeting sometime on August 2008 before the AJCU-EAO General Assembly.  He will be sending a letter to the AJCU-EAO member schools and other Campus Ministers regarding this.  Hopefully, all these will be set so that finally we might welcome them as a new member come our August meeting in Indonesia.

International Program Directors Meeting
Also in our Assembly last August, we agreed on a meeting of our International Program Directors to promote our international exchange.  I am pleased that this meeting pushed through last December 6-8, 2007 at the Ateneo de Manila University, through the efforts of ADMU’s Dr. Antonette Palma-Angeles and Sogang’s Dr. Michael Cheong. I would like therefore to call your attention on this matter as this will be part of our agenda in the August 2008 General Assembly.  Details of this meeting have been uploaded in the AJCU-EAO website (www.ajcueao.org ).  Resolutions have been made on the issues which surfaced during the meeting.  However, some important areas in the resolutions are already underway. A student learning tour as part of the Student Learning Program is being organized for August 2008 at the Xavier University, Philippines.  Dr. Michael Cheong, Director of the Office of International and Public Affairs of Sogang University will facilitate the activity and Dr. Dulce Dawang, Director of the Office of International Cooperation and Networking of Xavier University will be the point person.  I strongly encourage you to refer to our website on this matter.

(SGD) Fr. Joel E. Tabora, S.J.
Chair, AJCU-EAO
President, Ateneo de Naga University