Mayor John Dalipe warmly welcomes Fr. Guillrey Anthony “Ernald” Andal, SJ, the newly-designated president of the Ateneo de Zamboanga University (ADZU), as the latter pays a courtesy visit to City Hall Wednesday afternoon.

Fr. Andal was formally installed as the 5th ADZU president in ceremonies held at the ADZU Campus last Saturday, June 17. He replaced Fr. Karel San Juan, SJ., who has served ADZU as President since 2013.

During the brief meeting, Mayor Dalipe and Fr. Andal exchanged pleasantries and shared insights on their plans for the city and ADZU, respectively, as they vowed to support each other on programs and projects for the betterment of the city of Zamboanga.

Fr. Andal began his term as university president March 15, 2023 upon completion of his Jesuit Tertianship Program, the final formation period for Jesuits.

In its August 2022 social media post, the Ateneo Communicators said Fr. Andal was welcomed into the ADZU Community as Basic Education Chaplain in July 2022. “Prior to this assignment, he was Assistant to the Vice President for Basic Education of the Ateneo de Davao University. He also served as the Director of the St Isidore High School and Assistant Parish Priest of the Our Lady of Mary Mediatrix of All Grace, both in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon. He was a television program host for the Jesuit Communications Foundation from 2007 to 2017, and was Executive Director of the Jesuit Music Ministry from 2011 to 2013.”

Fr Ernald earned his bachelor’s degree in Management Economics (1998, Cum Laude), as well as his degree in Sacred Theology (2014, Summa Cum Laude) and Master’s in Pastoral Ministry (2015) from the Ateneo de Manila University. He earned his doctorate degree in Educational Leadership for Social Justice from the Loyola Marymount University in California in 2020, according to the Ateneo Communicators.

Joining the ADZU president during the courtesy visit to the mayor was City Secretary Kenneth Beldua. (Sheila Covarrubias)