Technical Advisory Council-COMSTE, Co-chair
Tel No. : (63-2) 426-6001 loc. 4000 - 4006; Fax No. : (63-2) 426-6079
Father Bienvenido F. Nebres, S.J., did his early studies in Classics and Philosophy, completing his A.B. in 1962 and his M.A. in 1963, both in Philosophy, at the Jesuit Scholasticate, Berchmans College in Cebu City, Philippines. He did his M.S. and Ph.D. in Mathematics at Stanford University in California from 1965-1970. Since his return to the Philippines in 1970, his work has been divided into three areas: teaching and development of mathematics and science in the Philippines and in Southeast Asia; administration in the university and in the Jesuit Order; and leadership in the socio-political concerns of the Philippines during the years of martial law and in the early years of democratic restoration. In the 1990s, he also became more involved in the business world, particularly in the relationships between universities and business and technology.
Mathematics and Science
In Mathematics and Science, he was founding president of the Mathematical Society of the Philippines in 1972 and one of the founding officers of the Southeast Asian Mathematical Society (SEAMS) also in 1972. The SEAMS has continued activities among the Southeast Asian nations to support graduate programs, research and mathematics education. Father Nebres was President of the SEAMS from 1977-1978 during its period of consolidating its network.
Father Nebres was also one of the founders of the consortium of the leading universities in Manila to develop Ph.D. programs in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. The consortium has succeeded in developing a critical mass of scientists in these areas, has developed extensive links with scientists abroad (particularly in Australia and Japan), and is now the core of a large network of schools in the Philippines (110 high schools, 30 colleges and universities) which are supported by the Philippines’ Department of Science and Technology as the leadership group for improving science and engineering education in the country.
From 1992 to 1998, he was Chairman of the Project Advisory Group for a World Bank- and OECF-financed Engineering and Science Education Project of the Philippine Department of Science and Technology. From 1994 to 1998, he directed a team for the Philippine Department of Education on the development of education plans to strengthen elementary and secondary education in the poorest provinces of the country. He has served as Chair of the Technical Panel on Science and Mathematics of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) since its inception and also chairs the CHED Technical Working Group for faculty development.
Social and political
In the social and political world, he worked to establish the Center for Community Services and the first conscientization and politicalization programs of the Ateneo de Manila in the 1970s. The students from these programs have become major contributors to social development in the Philippines. He also helped in the political programs of various parties and groups during the years of forming alternatives to the Marcos martial law regime. He was Provincial Superior of the Jesuits in the Philippines from 1983 to 1989 and during this period much of his work was to support and coordinate efforts on the part of the Church in the years prior to and immediately after the 1986 revolution which restored democracy.
Administrative
In the administrative area, he was Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences of the Ateneo de Manila 1973 to 1980, Rector of the Loyola House of Studies 1980 to 1982, Provincial Superior of the Jesuits in the Philippines 1983 to 1989, President of Xavier University in Mindanao 1990 to 1993, and at present the President of the Ateneo de Manila University.
In the world of business and technology, he was on the Board of Directors of Metro Pacific Corporation from 1991 to 1998 and joined the Board of Directors of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company in 1998.
He serves on the Board of Trustees of several universities and schools in the Philippines and two Jesuit universities in the U.S., Georgetown University and Regis University. He is also the current president of the Association of Christian Universities and Colleges in Asia (ACUCA), which has 53 member-institutions from 7 Asian countries.
His main concerns apart from the normal duties of a University President are the strengthening of basic education and of science and technology in the Philippines.
In 1992, he received an Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of the Philippines for his work in promoting science and technology in the country. In October 2004, he received an Honorary Doctor of Science from De La Salle University for his work in science and science education. In 1999, he was inducted into the Alumni Hall of Fame of the Asian Activities Center of Stanford University “for his distinguished accomplishments and outstanding contributions to our community and society.”