How can you help AdZU recover from the fire?

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – The Ateneo de Zamboanga (AdZU) remains hopeful after the fire that hit the campus on July 7 left an estimated P100 million worth of damages.  

The structures that were completely burned down include the 66-year-old AdZU Brebeuf Gym and the AdZU University Band office inside the gym. The entire structure was “razed to the ground”. Even the instruments in the band office were burned, said Marietta Lucas, director of the University Communications office.

The university’s computer and IT laboratory which housed more than 100 computer units  was completely burned, according to university president Fr Karel San Juan, SJ. This was a major loss for Ateneo de Zamboanga, he added.

The Senior High School, which included the faculty room, college student activity center, college student government, office of the student services, and a part of the Social Awareness and Community Service Involvement office, was partially razed. 

The Ateneo de Zamboanga College of Law located behind the gym was destroyed, along with some classrooms and an estimated P2 million worth of books.

Fortunately, the College Building beside the gym, which houses the faculty workrooms and offices was only partially damaged. The documents in the Registrar’s Office were mostly spared.

Coming on the heels of the unfortunate incident, the whole Ateneo community gathered to support the Zamboanga campus. The school received donations first from Ateneo de Naga University, AdZU’s sister Jesuit school.

Lucas said the public can help the AdZU community recover from the losses by donating through their bank account:

• Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) – Zamboanga main

Account name: Ateneo de Zamboanga University 
Account numbers: 
BPI – Climaco branch: 2125-0433-24
Metrobank – Galleria branch: 429-342980232-7
Dollar account – BPI: 2114-0103-51

Love and support for Ateneo de Zamboanga did not only come in the form of donations.

Online support

Students from sister school Ateneo de Davao University used Twitter and the hashtags, #BangonAdZU, #StayStrongAdZU, and #OneAteneo to spread the word, call for donors, and tweet encouraging messages to their fellow Ateneans in Zamboanga.

Some of the colleges such as the School of Education and School of Management and Accountancy, are currently cleaning up and will stay in their same building, minus air conditioning units which were burned.

The Learning Resource Center in the main university library will temporarily serve as the Center of Information Technology Services Computer Laboratories (Advanced and Basic Laboratories), said Lucas.

After the investigation by the Bureau of Fire Protection is completed; power, telephone lines, and Internet connection are restored; structural integrity established by engineers; and clean-up completed, the University will resume classes on Tuesday, July 12.

“We remain positive and ‘we will rise again’ is our mantra,” said Lucas.

The Ateneo de Zamboanga community gathered in a solidarity Mass on Friday, July 8, at the University Church. – Annika Herico/Rappler.com

Annika Herico is a student of the Ateneo de Manila University. She is currently a Rappler intern.