Interaction with Chinese culture is a part of the history of the Society of Jesus. From St. Francis Xavier to Matteo Ricci up to the present day Jesuits, they and their lay collaborators have been taking great interest in the evangelization of and dialogue with the Chinese.   This brief history…

When friends and colleagues learn that I’m taking China Studies, I’m often asked, “Are you Huaren (华人)? Lannang (咱人)?” When I say no, the question usually follows: “You’re Filipino, so why China? Why study it?” It’s also a question I ask myself. I can offer several reasons: China’s relevance today,…

My uncle is Monsignor Gerardo Santos, DD, and for many years, he wanted me to become a priest. When he would introduce me to the seminarians he was mentoring and teaching, he would say, “This is my nephew, Juano, sana Diocesan pero kinuha siya ni San Ignacio!” Though he was…

Mending what was Once Broken by John Philip W. Jancilan The disasters that we face today are more than just forces of nature, but a painful reminder of the broken bond between humanity and the environment that we depend on. They remind us that when we continue to neglect the pleas…

In 2025, the Manila Observatory marks its 160th anniversary as a Jesuit scientific institution devoted to faith, science, and service. For one hundred and sixty years it has stood as one of Asia’s earliest and most enduring centers of research and public engagement, born of pastoral concern, animated by disciplined…

Looking back, I never thought how deeply rooted I would be in serving the Church. Sta. Cruz Chapel in Payatas, Quezon City was where it all began. It is one of the apostolate areas of the Jesuits since 2006. A small yet lively community that gave me my first taste…

I did not come from a perfect family. Like many young people I now work with, my own story began with uncertainty, longing, and an earnest search for belonging. But it was within the walls of a school that I first found a sacred haven—a place that welcomed me wholly,…

Not many people know that nestled on the beautiful island of Culion in the north of Palawan is a small Jesuit school that has quietly stood for 90 years: The Loyola College of Culion (LCC). I am an alumnus of LCC, back when it still offered college courses. Older generations…

Even though I’m not always seen as the “student leader” or “youth leader” now, it took a while to accept that label. Throughout high school, I wasn’t the type to run for student council. I simply enjoyed leading class projects or rallying our section to victory during school fairs and…

Emmaus Center for Psycho-spiritual Formation and Accompaniment is a Jesuit ministry founded by the late Fr. Venancio “Benny” Calpotura, SJ, and two lay female psychologists, the late Ma. Teresa Nietes and Eva Galvey, in November 1981. Father Benny envisioned a center that would equip formators in their work of formation…