THE SCHOOL SEAL

At the center is the escutcheon of the family of St. Ignatius de Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus. The right panel of the shield shows two wolves on either side of a cauldron. symbolizing the generosity of the Loyola family. On the left panel are the seven red bars on a field of gold, honoring the seven heroes of the family who distinguished themselves in a battle in 1301. This shield is part of the seal of most Jesuit schools in the world, with which the Ateneo shares a four hundred year old tradition of Jesuit education. Above the escutcheon. against a blue sky, is the golden crown of Mary, Mother of God, patroness of Bikol under the title of Peñafrancia. Arranged in a semi-circle under the shield are six golden stars representing the six provinces of Bikol. Over Mary's crown shines the sun, symbol of Jesus Christ. On its face is the seal of the Society of Jesus in calligraphic form: the first three letters in Greek (IHS) of the holy name of Jesus with the cross on top and the nails of the cross underneath. The sun's rays shine over Mary's crown, the Loyola shield, and the six stars, indicating that for Mary, the Ateneo and Bikol, Christ is the Light and the Life. The school motto inscribed on the upper rim, PRIMUM REGNUM DEI, "First the Kingdom of God" (Mt 6:23), expresses the single-mindedness with which the Ateneo de Naga must pursue the goals of Jesuit education.

THE SCHOOL MOTTO

The School motto is the Latin phrase PRIMUM REGNUM DEI, which means First the Kingdom of God. This is taken from Matthew 6:33, "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His justice and all things shall be added unto you."

Jesuit education is not intended simply to provide students with good employment opportunity or to give them an assurance of a good career future. It goes beyond the development of talents, the acquisition of skills and knowledge, the training for citizenship, the awakening of social, political, economic consciousness, and the socialization into the traditions and culture of one's native land. It goes beyond national development.

Jesuit education is intended to aid students to attain the purpose for which they were created. And for St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits, "the goal of life is to live with God forever. God gave us life because He loves us. Our own response of love allows God's life to flow into us without limit."

The consequence of all this is that "our only desire and our one choice should be this: I want and I choose what better leads to God's deepening His life in me."

This is the guideline the Ateneans strive to follow at the Ateneo: "Higit sa lahat, ang Kaharian ng Dios," with Christ, our Lord, and Mary, our Mother, as models.

THE GOLDEN KNIGHT