The De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde marked a major milestone for the highly anticipated Delfin J. Wenceslao Jr. campus with its groundbreaking ceremony and lowering of the time capsule on Nov. 28 at ASEANA City, Parañaque.
The event, hosted by television host RJ Ledesma, kickstarted with a welcoming message to Benilde from Hon. Mayor Edwin Olivares of Parañaque. He emphasized that Benilde’s new building in ASEANA is a fulfillment of the city’s commitment to progress and growth through quality education, adding that the local government is looking forward to opening more scholarship programs.
The special attendance of the Chairman of the Ayala Corporation and the Benilde Board of Trustees (BOT), Mr. Cezar Consing, was also one of the highlights as he delivered the opening remarks for the groundbreaking, affirming the board’s vision and investment in Benilde’s future in ASEANA.
Moreover, the Wendel Holdings Co. Inc. Director and D.M. Wenceslao & Associates Inc. (DMWAI) CEO, Delfin Angelo “Buds” C. Wenceslao, shared that this building is a continuation of the late chairman and father, Delfin J. Wenceslao Jr.’s legacy and belief in education as a strong foundation for development.
Benilde Brother President Br. Edmundo “Dodo” Fernandez FSC concluded with a remark extending gratitude for the College’s partners for the successful planning and consequent construction of Benilde’s new building. He also used the moment to underscore the institution’s principle stating that, “Community is at the heart of the Lasallian ethos. We emphasize the building of community in our schools in all its many dimensions.”
The ceremony culminated with the official groundbreaking and time capsule lowering along with the 14 VIPs consisting of Benilde executives, administrators, Parañaque government officials, and the prominent figures of the D.M. Wenceslao Group of Companies.
The Delfin J. Wenceslao Jr. campus is set to be ready for use in the Academic Year 2027-2028.
Behind the partnership
In an interview with The Benildean, CEO Buds Wenceslao shared that the partnership was “very fast,” noting that the Benilde BOT wanted to expand and the timely construction of the LRT ASEANA Station. “People [from Benilde] said they wanted to do something from the ground up. [They] wanted to [have] a much bigger presence here [in ASEANA].”
“We’re building a next generation city […] the Benildean community can expect to be an integrated part of the entire estate. We look forward to them showing us what they can contribute in terms of new ideas, in terms of design,” Wenceslao added.
Meanwhile, the Vice President of Administration, Mr. Michael “Butch” Tecson added his perspective saying that they were originally looking for a space to transfer the senior high school. However, he said “When we met here with Buds, ‘doon na, everything went well. He toured us around ASEANA. It was a mutual understanding.”
He also explained that Benilde got a 30% discount for the land, “So, it’s owned. We’re buying it at a very, very discounted price.”
Features of the building
This new campus will host mainly programs under the School of Environment and Design (SED), which includes: Architecture, Interior Design, Industrial Design, Fashion Design and Merchandising; and the School of Management and Information Technology (SMIT), which includes: Game Design and Development, Cybersecurity, Business Solutions and Applications, Business Analytics, and Information Systems. The campus will also house the School of Multidisciplinary Studies (SMS) for freshmen and elective courses.
Benilde envisions this new building as a Certified Green Building with solar panels and other environment-friendly features to get it Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified. This new building features shared spaces for students with spacious outdoor workspaces, lecture halls, creative studios, and drafting rooms.
The building is estimated to stand at 15 floors or less because of limitations dictated by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) as a building near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). It covers the space near PARQAL, with an area of 3,845 sqm.
Transportation concerns
This new campus is approximately 150 meters away from the LRT Redemptorist Station, ensuring accessibility for students.
According to VP Tecson, they are still looking into the utilization of the College’s e-jeeps, “We’re not saying na wala. I’m not saying now na meron. So, we’ll see.”
He also emphasized that SMS being in the new building makes it a one-stop-shop for the students to minimize travel time between classes.
