Gonzaga is the latest in a line of Ateneo law deans with ties to Romulo Buenaventura, one of the country’s most established corporate law firms, and the pattern is hard to miss.
The late Eduardo “Dindo” de los Angeles, who led the law school from 1984 to 1990, came from the same firm. So did Cynthia Roxas del Castillo, who steered the institution through the 1990s. Now comes Gonzaga, a valedictorian who went straight from Ateneo to Romulo Buenaventura, where she built her grounding in corporate law.
Insiders say that early exposure continues to define her approach—disciplined, pragmatic, and closely aligned with the demands of top-tier legal practice.
Her career path broadened quickly. After her stint at the firm, she pursued further studies at Oxford University, then joined the Presidential Commission on Good Government. But Ateneo remained a constant. She returned to teach and eventually became a long-serving associate dean, positioning herself as a steady hand within the school’s leadership.
Her elevation follows the untimely demise of Dean Jose Ma. Hofileña, whose tenure was cut short. Gonzaga’s appointment signals continuity, but also a subtle shift back toward a familiar network.
Romulo Buenaventura, chaired by Jose F. Buenaventura, is approaching its 125th anniversary next year. The firm’s imprint on Ateneo Law leadership adds another layer to its influence, extending beyond boardrooms and into the training ground of future lawyers.
Whether this is coincidence or quiet strategy is open to interpretation. But within legal circles, the connection is clear: Ateneo’s top post has repeatedly found its way back to lawyers shaped by Romulo Buenaventura.
That pipeline, it seems, remains intact.
Senior Reporter
