De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) President Br. Dennis “Broden” Magbanua FSC provided updates on the College’s strategic plans including the New Benilde Campus, Dormitory and Sports Complex, and more in the Town Hall Assembly for students yesterday, March 27, at the The Generator.
Broden started the talk by introducing some of the members of the President’s Council, consisting of Chancellor Robert Tang, Vice Chancellor for Academics Geronio Ulayao, Vice President for Lasallian Mission and Student Life Neil Pariñas, Vice President for Advancement Robin Serrano, and Vice President for Finance Nilo Pacheco.
He then updated the students on the College’s strategic plans starting with the Revised Breakthrough Goals for the academic years 2018 to 2023. Among these changes were the target student population of Benilde that comprises of more scholars, students with special needs, Persons with Disabilities, and the rest of the inclusive community.
Broden also discussed big projects that Benilde is working on. According to him, the new campus located on Arellano Street is ten-percent finished, and is expected to be completed by January 2020. It will be an avenue for the School of Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management (SHRIM) to showcase new kitchen laboratories and house masteral programs. A chapel on its ground floor will be made accessible to the local community, and other academic facilities.
Furthermore, the Peter D. Garrucho Innovation (PDGI) Institute was said to be 57 percent complete. The building will cater innovation spaces and provide a platform for collaborative innovation and mentoring innovators.
Lastly, the Dormitory and Sports Complex will be open to students by mid-August 2019. The Dormitory will house scholars as it opens in August.
Vice President for Advancement Mr. Robin Serrano mentioned Benildeans who were recognized by the media for their achievements such as Mak Tumang, the designer behind Miss Universe Catriona Gray’s pageant gowns and the famous “Lava Gown”; Kirk Moaje who topped the Interior Design Licensure Examination; and Valery Anthony who represented the country, and place fifth in the International Young Chef Olympiad.
Serrano also talked about the naming rights for Benilde alumni, student organizations, and associates who were donors of “Project 88” in the Dormitory and Sports Complex.
The President’s Council proceeded to an open forum with the students concerning academics, school security, and more.
According to Vice President for Lasallian Mission and Student Life Mr. Neil Pariñas, the Center for Service Learning is “our way to institutionalize the social action component and community development into your curriculum.” Benilde Boracay, a training centre for technical-vocation training modules on SHRIM tracks, is set to be open for the public ten years from now.
The Town Hall Assembly ended on the words of Broden saying “This wouldn’t be possible without you, Benildeans. […] You are examples of what we can produce. So that’s why we are proud of you when we say this: because #BenildeYan.”
