In celebration of Benilde Mission Week 2026, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) shone a spotlight on Benildean associates for their dedicated years of work through the Service Awards 2026 event on Oct. 29, at the 5/F Theater, Design & Arts (D+A) Campus.
This year’s Service Awards recognized 162 recipients, with a Permanency Award for newly regularized faculty members, Sunriser Award for retiring staff, and merited timed milestones across five years, 10 years, 15 years, 20 years, 25 years, and 30 years of service.
The event, carrying the theme of “Honoring Years of Extraordinary Service” alongside emblems inspired by Panay Island’s “Hablon” weave design, envisions a fabric of community that is intricately bound together in continuity, formation, care, and interconnectivity.
Preceding the event, a Thanksgiving Mass for the Service Awardees was held by the Center for Lasallian Ministry (CLM), in observance of the 59th anniversary of the Canonization of Saint Benilde Romançon.
The program commenced with the College’s resident choral group Coro San Benildo’s opening performance of “Padayon” (“to carry on”), composed by Grace Nono and arranged by Rodolfo “Boy” Delarmente, a song about hope and resilience.
A fabric of community
Ms. Chona Rodulfa, Director of People and Organization Development Office (PODO), formally began the ceremony with a welcome address, commending the associates not just for their years of service, but also for their dedication, loyalty, and contributions to Benilde.
Br. Edmundo “Dodo” Fernandez FSC, Benilde Brother President, followed with a speech correlating the traditions and processes of “Hablon” to the community-building and stewardship of the people that shaped Benilde.
“Much like a ‘Hablon’ weave, every contribution matters. Some threads may form the most visible parts of a pattern, while others work quietly in the background, holding everything together,” he said.
He also emphasized that every Benildean is similar to a thread, carrying a role in the large tapestry that is Benilde, “Because the strength and beauty of the finished fabric depend on how all the threads come and work together.”
Tailored traditions
Music and dance performances from the Music Production Ensemble and the Saint Benilde Romançon Dance Company–Contemporary were also presented to enliven the ceremony.
After the first set of awardees from the Permanency and 5-Year categories were honored, the Music Production Vocal Ensemble performed “Usahay” (“sometimes”), a classic Visayan song on unrequited love by veteran singer and actress Pilita Corrales.
The Saint Benilde Romançon Dance Company–Contemporary followed with excerpts of dance theater productions “Kung Bulag Ako” and “Napaka-rupok,” featuring Visayan folk dances that narrated the joys and sorrows of courtship.
Meanwhile, the Music Production Electric Guitar Ensemble reworked “Cariñosa” with an electric guitar rendition, bringing fresh contemporary and soulful melodies into the folk song.
Before the awarding concluded, Music Production (ABMP) students Adrian Cristobal, Corinna Catalina Llorin, and Aea Laetitia Poblete dedicated their cover of the folk song “Ay Kalisud” (“oh, how difficult”) to Sunriser Awardees, expressing the sentimental feelings and woes that come with parting ways.
The needlework of endurance
Reflecting on three decades of experience, the sole 30-Year Awardee, Ms. Maria Carina Bonagua from the Center for Scholarships and Grants (CSAG), delivered her message, reminiscing Benilde’s growth over the years and extending gratitude for her career opportunities and her children’s educational opportunities.
Ms. Bonagua confidently exemplified that “Today—as counselors from schools note—Benilde is now regarded as one of the top five schools in the country. I have witnessed Benilde’s evolution in its facilities, programs, and policies that Benildeans can now proudly declare, ‘Benilde like no other.’”
To formally conclude the ceremony, DLS-CSB Chancellor Mr. Benhur Ong delivered the closing remarks.
Mr. Ong weighed in that the community tends to be preoccupied with their goals, responsibilities, deadlines, and the challenges that come with them to the point of not looking back on our progress and achievements. Through this event, it aimed to uplift the spirit of dedication and appreciation towards each others’ efforts.
“Let us be more intentional about appreciating our colleagues, acknowledging their efforts, and offering encouragement when somebody needs it. Recognition should not happen only during award ceremonies. It can happen in our everyday interactions through a simple expression of thank yous or gratitude, a helping hand, or a willingness to listen,” Mr. Ong said.
Entwining excellence with passion
In an interview with The Benildean, part-time lecturer for the School of Diplomacy and Governance and 5-Year Awardee Mr. Mitchel John Christopher Esperanza shared his sentiments on his achievements, contributions, and recognitions for the Benildean community.
With a nascent achievement, Mr. Esperanza highlighted his objective to teach, even if he “Cannot say that [I have] a major contribution that is above and beyond compared to [my] colleagues,” his passion for teaching “urged” him to stay in the College.
Amplifying Benilde’s support, he sees that “it [is] more conducive to expect excellence in an environment that accepts everyone for their differences [and] capabilities.” He underscored that “we should always strive for excellence” and that an inclusive environment fosters this value further.
Moreover, Mr. Esperanza’s aspiration for himself and for the College community is to be guided by the Lasallian prayer. “When we dedicate ourselves to the love of God and country, excellence and doing honorable work because of that love will follow,” he reflected.
