The Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) and De La Salle University (DLSU) have decided to set aside their rivalry to unite against the proposed hero’s burial for the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos and the rise of extrajudicial killings in the country.
Instead of wearing blue or white shirts, Ateneo President Fr. Jose Ramon Villarin urged members of the university community to wear black outfits or accessories at the upcoming ADMU-DLSU game on Oct. 2 at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The gesture, Villarin said, is a way of expressing Ateneo’s solidarity with victims of human rights violations and others struggling to uphold human rights in the country.
“This is particularly in light of the considerable amount of sentiments and convictions already expressed by various sectors of both the Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle University communities in opposition to the possible Marcos burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, and the growing number of extrajudicial killings/summary executions in the country,” he said in a statement issued Friday (Sept. 30).
The Lasallian, DLSU’s official student publication, said the university has reciprocated Ateneo’s invitation for members of the community to forego wearing its school colors of green and white for once.
“The University invites attendees of the DLSU-ADMU UAAP basketball match on Sunday, October 2, to wear black to show solidarity,” The Lasallian tweeted.
The ADMU-DLSU game is one of the most awaited basketball matches in the UAAP by members of both the Ateneo and La Salle communities each season because of the long-standing rivalry between the two schools.
JUST IN: The University invites attendees of the DLSU-ADMU UAAP basketball match on Sunday, October 2, to wear black to show solidarity.
— The LaSallian (@TheLaSallian) September 30, 2016
The invite comes in light of sentiments by DLSU and ADMU opposing the Marcos burial at LNMB and concerning the rise of EJKs in the country.
— The LaSallian (@TheLaSallian) September 30, 2016
