The Ateneo Blue Eagle

The Ateneo is often identified with a most powerful symbol -- the Blue Eagle.

During the time of Ancient Rome, the Roman Empire was identified with a great Eagle as part of its official standard. Being the bird of Jupiter himself, the Eagle was a bird associated with the power and might of the mightiest Roman god, the only bird believed to be capable of staring at the sun, which mythology held to be the light of God. As its armies and leaders marched around wherever they went, be it to a battlefield for war or in triumphant return to the great city, the symbol of that great Empire was raised, a proud testament to the glory that it was. The most powerful men in the world, the Roman Emperors, had the Eagle mark their tents and vessels when invading a foreign territory, or had the Eagle with its outspread wings mark his palace. Thus the Eagle was more than just a mighty bird -- it was also the symbol of victory, of the greatest, the mightiest empire that has ever existed on Earth.

Such is the heritage of the great Eagle as a symbol of greatness, royalty, and power.

This is the symbol of a school that "soars to the highest realms of truth... and knows no fear." It is the symbol of a passion, the Atenean passion, and this the Eagle is seen high above, the symbol of the Ateneo's great, soaring, spirit.

The Eagle -- fiery, majestic, whose kingdom is the virgin sky, is swift in pursuit, terrible in battle. He is a king -- a fighting king...

And thus he was chosen -- to soar with scholar's thought and word high into the regions of truth and excellence, to flap his glorious wings and cast his ominous shadow below, even as the student crusader would instill fear in those who would battle against the Cross.

And so he was chosen -- to fly with the fleet limbs of the cinder pacer, to swoop down with the Blue gladiator into the arena of sporting combat and with him to fight -- and keep on fighting till brilliant victory, or honorable defeat.

And so he was chosen -- to perch on the Shield of Loyola, to be the symbol of all things honorable, even as the Great Eagle is perched on the American escutcheon, to be the guardian of liberty.

And so he was chosen -- an he lives, not only in body to soar over his campus aerie, but in spirit, in the Ateneo Spirit... For he flies high, and he is a fighter, and he is King!

Blue Eagle The King

Fly high!
Blue Eagle fly
And carry our cry
Across the sky!
Cast your shadow below
Swoop down on the foe,
Then sweep up the field away!

Fly high!
Over the trees
Make known to the breeze
Our victories!
Spread wide each wing
For you are the King
Blue Eagle the King!

Oh the Eagle's the King of them all
And his blue feathers never will fall
For the Blue and the White
And the Eagle in Flight
Ateneo will fight today!

Fly high!
Over the trees
Make known to the breeze
Our victories!
Spread wide each wing
For you are the King
Blue Eagle the King!

(music and lyrics by Raul S. Manglapus)