The generous benefaction of the Ateneo de Manila alumni and close friends of Fr. Antonio "Ting" S. Samson S.J. from his postings at the Ateneo de Manila University, the Ateneo de Davao University, Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro City and Mary the Queen Parish in Greenhills, San Juan City (and as Trustee of Sacred Heart School - Ateneo de Cebu) has helped over-subscribe the PhP 5M goal as the principal amount of said Scholarship Fund.
On 4 June 2019, Ateneo alumni and close friends of Fr. Ting gathered at the Xavier Hall Boardroom for the MOA signing of the Fr. Antonio "Ting" A. Samson S.J. Scholarship Fund at the Ateneo de Manila University.
At the MOA signing on 4 June 2019, (from left to right) Dr. Cecilio K. Pedro, Chair, Ateneo Scholarship Foundation;
Fr. Jose Ramon T. Villarin S.J., President, Ateneo de Manila University; Fr. Antonio S. Samson S.J.;
and Mr. Oscar N. Ong, Fundraising Campaign Chair
Organized and headed by Mr. Oscar N. Ong, AB Eco 1975, the fundraising campaign started in November 2018. The goal amount of PhP 5 M was surpassed through the generous donations of 55 donors.
The Fund was established on the occasion of Fr. Ting's 80th birthday on 01 November 2018 and to honor him for his 60 years of faithful service to God and country as a Jesuit on 30 May 1958. Fr. Ting finished High School at the Ateneo de Manila in 1954 and College also at the Ateneo de Manila in 1958, AB Chemistry, cum laude, Class Valedictorian. He joined the Society of Jesus in Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, Quezon City on 30 May 1958.
Fr. Ting has worked in Jesuit schools for 43 years. The senior academic posts Fr. Ting held at Jesuit universities were Executive Vice President at the Ateneo de Manila University (1977 - 1986), President at the Ateneo de Davao University (1986 - 1993), President at Xavier University, Cagayan de Oro City (1993 - 2005) and again President at the Ateneo de Davao University (late 2004 - 2011). He has been Assistant Parish Priest at Mary the Queen Parish, San Juan City, since June 2011.
The Fund will be used to support the full tuition and fees of an undergraduate scholar enrolled in a four or five-year program of studies in the Ateneo Loyola Schools. This being an endowment Fund, up to 90% of the Fund earnings will be used for grants to scholars. The remaining ten percent or more of unused earnings will remain with the fund, enabling the Fund to grow in time and to be able to award scholarships in perpetuity.
Donors of the Fr. Antonio "Ting" S. Samson S.J. Scholarship Fund at the MOA signing at Xavier Hall Boardroom on 4 June 2019
Great men come and go, many Jesuits among them serving without fanfare and with great humility in keeping with their religious discipline, Fr Ting is assuredly one of them. The undertaking to establish a Scholarship Fund in Fr Ting’s name is meant to give testimony to his legacy of faithful service to God and Country for generations to come, not only scholars to benefit from it but also to emulate him and pay it forward, to be men and women for others.
- Oscar N. Ong