De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) had humble beginnings —it started off as De La Salle University-Manila’s (DLSU-M) night school for working students. Since then, it has made a name for itself, proving to be one of the most competent and prestigious colleges here in Metro Manila.
Photo by Jose Angelo Santos
According to Theology Professor Mr. Beni Estepa, based on his former colleagues’ experiences, the administration back then realized that the College was too big for the two-roomed hall in DLSU-M. The population escalated to hundreds until La Salle finally agreed that the college would move. Benilde said goodbye to the old hall and set up a new building right across DLSU-M—and that marked the inception of the College, finally.
“We did not break away. The administration, the operational, and the management of the schools broke away, but the vision of La Salle remained the same,” said Center for External Linkages, Alumni and Development-Linkages Head,” Mr. Hector Gloria.
“Even when it started [in 1998], [Benilde] already had a different nature. DLSU had the day schools and the regular courses. Benilde, as a former college of DLSU-M, was established to cater other needs. From there, it introduced more innovative courses in response to emerging needs at that time.”
Sometime in 2005 to 2006, the discussion of the independence of the Lasallian schools from each other started. During that time, DLSU-M was what they called a “university system”. All the Lasallian schools were under one president, Br. Edmundo Fernandez FSC. Hence, the making of the slogan, “One La Salle”, a salute to the many Lasallian schools all around the Philippines.
“I think at one point, we began to see that it was not a very good situation where you have one head for all the schools, and I guess the idea would be better if each school would be independent and managed independently,” shared outgoing President Br. Victor Franco FSC.
“It was getting bigger. It was about time they split the management so both schools [DLSU-M and Benilde] could flourish,” said Mr. Gloria. “Hindi tayo [ang] prodigal son.”
The College was never truly part of DLSU-M since it had its own mission-vision and its own culture from the start. Benilde did what it does best—catering to the immediate needs of the people. Ever since, Benilde never conformed to society’s notion of classical education, and it never will.
