Project FREE: Tarlac

Last 22 June, some 680 teachers from various public schools in the province of Tarlac received their doctorates and masters degrees in the field of education through the Project Flagships to Reach Educational Excellence (Project FREE). The project is an initiative of the Eduardo Cojuangco Foundation and is under the auspices of the University of St. La Salle in cooperation with the Tarlac State University and the local government of the province of Tarlac. Aimed at improving the quality of education through improvements in the education of teachers, the project previously graduated a batch of 780 public school teachers also from Tarlac in June 2013. Faculty from Tarlac State University (TSU) and the University of St. La Salle (USLS) collaborated in mentoring the public school teachers of Tarlac who graduated from this program. 

On hand to witness the graduation rites were project sponsors, Ambassador Eduardo and Mrs. Gretchen Cojuangco; members of the local government of Tarlac led by Gov. Victor Yap and Congressman Henry Cojuangco; USLS officials led by Br. Raymundo Suplido FSC, Dr. Therese Jochico, Vice-Chancellor for Academics and Dr. Elsie Coscolluela, Project FREE Director; and key officials of the Department of Education led by graduation guest speaker, DepEd Secretary, Br. Armin Luistro FSC. 

Tarlac is the second province to have benefitted from Project FREE. The fourth district of Negros Occidental was the first to have benefitted from Project FREE in 2002. The Eduardo Cojuanco Foundation, in cooperation with Br. Gus Boquer, then president of University of St. La Salle in Bacolod, launched the project in Negros Occidental where 1,340 public school teachers were able to earn doctoral and masters degrees in education. Follow-up studies have shown marked improvements in the performance of students in public schools in national exams after their teachers underwent further studies.

 

DLSU-D Grants Honoris Causa to Cardinal Tagle

De La Salle University-Dasmariñas (DLSU-D) conferred an honorary degree, Doctor of Humanities (Honoris Causa), to His Eminence Luis Antonio Gokim Cardinal Tagle, D.D. The solemn ceremony was held on 19 June at Ugnayang La Salle of DLSU-D. 

The conferment of the honorary degree is in recognition of his achievements and meaningful contributions to the DLSU-D community. Cardinal Tagle generously and selflessly served as one of the members of the Board of Trustees of the University from 2005 to 2012. Even after serving as Bishop of the Diocese of Imus, Cardinal Tagle continues to inspire and motivate the academic community through the excellence he constantly exhibits and the simplicity and humility that he consistently exudes. The Medal of St. John Baptist de La Salle was also awarded to Cardinal Tagle during the same academic convocation. The Medal is given as a gesture of esteem and appreciation for His Eminence’s valuable contribution as Pastoral leader, in his capacity as former Bishop of the Diocese of Imus, and as now Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Manila. It is also in appreciation for his commitment and support in advancing the Lasallian mission towards making a difference in the lives of countless persons. 


New faces at DLSP-CHA

Welcome the new team members of the Central House Administration

This school year, we welcome new members of De La Salle Philippines (DLSP) Central House Administration team.

Ms. Pam Roldan (1) joined the Central Procurement Unit (CPU) as its Head. Ms. Claudeth Cantoria (2) will be working as Advancement Assistant in the Advancement Unit (AdU). Mr. Louie Montemar (3) joined the Lasallian Mission Services (LMS) department as Coordinator of the Lasallian Education Commission with Mr. Gladstone Cuarteros (4) as Coordinator of the Lasallian Justice and Peace Commission. Mr. Migs Ortega (5) will be joining the Communications & Resource Services (CoRe) department as Communications Associate, along with Mr. Demy Cruz Jr. (6) as Multimedia Artist.

 

LSGH Recognized for LCLE

 The Grade School Department of La Salle Green Hills was featured in the 21 May edition of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. LSGH was cited during the Second Excellence in Educational Transformation Awards (EETA). A portion of the article is quoted below:

The LSGH Grade School Department was recognised particularly for its Learner-Centered Learning Environment (LCLE) and Technology Management Center (TMC), spearheading the use of technology and Internet in improving students’ capabilities as learners.”

Other schools given the same award are: Singapore School Manila, Statefields School Inc., Don Bosco Technology Center-Cebu, Southville International School and Colleges and Diocesan Schools of Pagadian.

They were recognised for exceptional innovations in their school systems, including curriculum design, learning materials, learning methodologies, administrative systems and processes and learning spaces and places. Each received 300,000.

This is organised by Bayan Academy, Rex Bookstore and Knowledge Channel Foundation.

You may read the full article here. 

Remembering Elmer Mariquit

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfNcSRV6l4U?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&enablejsapi=1&w=854&h=480]

 Kuya Elmer, an alumnus of La Salle University, was a former Lasallian Volunteer and, recently, a teacher in the La Salle Academy (LSA) Night High School. He died [in the morning of 28 May 2013] at Mercy Hospital, Iligan. I met him when he joined the Lasallian Volunteer Program (LSVP) in 2002. He was assigned for two years in Mt. Agad-Agad, Langilanon, Iligan teaching nursery to the children of the farming communities. After two years he was transferred to the mountains of Canumay, San Jose, Antipolo teaching the Alternative Learning System. In his last year in LSVP in 2005, his kidneys were diagnosed both dysfunctional and needs to undergo dialysis three times a week in order to survive and prolong his life. He transferred to Iligan to be with his family. LSA invited him to teach in the Night High School. The De La Salle Brothers supported him since his condition was first diagnosed in 2005. I had an opportunity to visit him at the Mercy Hospital, Iligan during my LSA Lasallian CARES visit last March. In our conversation, he would always express how deeply grateful he was to the De La Salle Brothers for being a “real brother” to him, especially Brs. Edmundo Ferndandez, JJ Jimenez and Raffy Reyes FSC. 

After all the physical suffering you had in life, Elmer, I am sure God will reward you with eternal life in heaven!

Text by Vangie de Peralta
Video by Br. Mikey Cua FSC

Announcing the Arrival of the Scholastics

HABEMUS! On the 8th of May, Brs. Butch Alcudia, Joseph Azrael Daluz, Toby dela Cruz and Dan Sanding FSC, arrived in Bacolod City fresh from their 30-day silent retreat in Cebu. They will be in Bacolod for one school year teaching in St. Joseph School-La Salle (SJS-LS) and study at the University of St. La Salle. Of the four brothers, Br. Toby is no longer a stranger to Bacolod having been here during the first quarter of the year during his school exposure, also at SJS-LS. 

Accompanying them were Br. Rey Mejias FSC, their director at the House of Studies in DLSU, and Br. Timothy FSC of Myanmar. Br. Rey or Br. Cocoy, for some who know him, ensured the safe delivery of the “precious package” to Bacolod. The following day was devoted to their presentation of their synthesis of what they have learned throughout their formation as Post-Novices. On their free days, they went to the Balay Negrense and the San Diego Pro-Cathedral in the city of Silay, tried out famous local delicacies at El Ideal and visited the recently opened mall, The District North Point.

Joining them in the Brothers Community is its new Director, Br. Bong Servando FSC. Which means Bacolod City will now have eight Brothers! Finally, after a long period of lacking young Brothers, the Bacolod Lasallian community will get not just one, but four. Their presence will also mean a lot of exciting things to hope for, especially on vocation promotion and formation. 

Brothers, mabubusog kayo sa pagmamahal ng mga tao dito at ng kulturang puno ng pagkain ng Bacolod.

READY. SET. GO. Live Jesus in our Hearts — FOREVER!

By Raphael Miguel Crisostomo (Edited by Br. Butch Alcudia FSC)