Events: Countdown for La Salle at 60 Starts
As the University of St. La Salle-Bacolod kicks off the 52-day countdown for its 60 years of La Sallian education in the province, it has lined up flagship projects for the community as well.
During the media launch and press conference for the Diamond Jubilee celebration of the university and in time for the feast day of St. John Baptist de La Salle (May 15), the universal patron saint for all teachers, university officials and board of trustee members revealed the various projects of the La Sallians for the community.
Director for External Relations Rhoderick Samonte disclosed that aside from the lined up events leading to the Foundation Week celebration on July 2 to 7, 2012, the university is launching a campaign which targets to raise P60-million on La Salle’s 60th year.
The fund will be used to spend P10-million each for scholarships/students development; teachers, faculty and staff development; community development and outreach; campus facilities development; sports and cultural development; and Medical Aid La Salle where the fund is intended to provide a safety net for faculty, staff and even alumni faced with different medical emergency circumstances.
Samonte added that on July 6, USLS is launching the Restoration of Cabacauan Creek (a creek beside USLS), a Jubilee flagship project that involves five to six barangays where the creek starts from Barangay Estefania down to Barangay Mandalagan and Barangay Banago.
"This is an ambitious project that we are committed to undertake, not just a statement but a commitment to the environment by starting in our own backyard," Samonte said. Although yet to be launched in July, this flagship project of the university was welcomed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources 6 and the concept will be presented again during the First River Summit in Iloilo City next month.
USLS has built partnerships not just with the government agencies but with other organizations like the Provincial Government, Diocese of Bacolod, and the Jollibee Foundation, among others.
Chancellor and President Br. Raymundo Suplido, FSC, explained to members of the media the relevance of St. John Baptist de La Salle to the La Sallian education in Negros where La Salle is identified to quality education. Suplido said that 80 percent of the La Sallian graduates get hired within six months after graduation and 85 to 90 percent are hired after a year.
"La Salle has expanded outside of its campus," Suplido added, citing the various outreach programs of the university like the Busog, Lusog, Talino - a feeding program of grade one and two students of public schools where children are fed and monitored as well as teachers are taught to prepare nutritious food.
The Business Resource Center of the university has also micro-lending and small livelihood opportunities to its more than 1000 partners. USLS also gives life skills program like commercial cooking and massage therapy to out of school youths for livelihood.
Meanwhile, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Marie Therese Jochico underscored the university’s aim to produce graduates who are socially responsible Christians, effective communicators and critical thinkers.* (JCM/EAD-PIA6 Negros Occidental)
