News on Campus

De La Salle Canlubang (DLSC) kicked off the celebrations leading to the centennial of the De La Salle Brothers in the Philippines in 2011. DLSC, together with 16 other La Salle schools across the country, commenced the countdown on June 16, 2010.

The festivities started at 8AM, with the DLSC Pep Squad opening the program with cheers and yells as the DLSC community gathered at the Main Steps of the Milagros Del Rosario Building fronting the One Mission Park. A short prayer service was held, ending with the community singing of the One La Salle Prayer. After which, members of the community gathered to plant seedlings in what will soon be a landscape formation of the Lasallian Star. The Star is beside The Majestic St. La Salle statue, which was used as one of the primary elements of the Centennial Logo.

Ten-year Manifesto

A major part of the program is the reading of DLSC’s 10-year Manifesto. The Manifesto, which was founded on DLSC’s four Pillars of Strength, is a declaration of the school’s direction for the Centennial and the future.

To further its commitment to the Lasallian Educational Mission, DLSC aims to have 20% of its student population as full scholars in ten years’ time. A pledge to revitalize the organic herbal garden and make it a major school attraction was made to further the school’s Care for the Environment. A stronger thrust in Science and Technology will be evident as DLSC commits itself to be the seat of novel products, services and technologies. For Partnership with Industry, the school committed to strengthen its ties with the Laguna Chamber of Commerce and Industry and LINK-IT and expand its industry collaborations to bring more learning opportunities for its students.

The Manifesto was read by Integrated School student and LINGAP scholar Vina Morales; Mr. Ben Eusebio, executive director of LIFE, represented by Mr. Marlon Pareja, LIFE Technical Director; Mr. Filemon Berba, member of the Board of Trustees and President of Philippine Science and Technology, represented by Ms. Lissa Magpantay, College Dean; and Mr. Raymund Ganotice, executive director of Laguna Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

One hundred years ago

It was in 1911 when nine La Salle Brothers were chosen from different posts to pioneer a school in Manila. Five French, three Irish and one American brother founded the first La Salle community in the Philippines on May 1911. Their first school, De La Salle College, was established on June 16, 1911 at Calle Nozaleda (now General Luna) in Paco, Malate. 

The Brothers were fluent in English, and since English would soon be made the official language of the archipelago, families sought to have their sons tutored by the Brothers in writing, reading, arithmetic and catechism. The school population immediately grew in its first few years that plans had to be made to move to a bigger site. Thus, a property with overgrown cogon grass along Taft Avenue, was purchased by the Brothers on September 15, 1915.