USC Commerce library named after Fr. Bonk

THE library for the College of Commerce (now School of Business and Economics) will be officially named after its first dean and founder, Fr. Bernard Bonk.

The blessing will be held today at 10 a.m. at the Central Library.

Fr. Bonk, SVD, was the founder and the first dean of the college of the then San Carlos College, now the University of San Carlos.

The library of the university has preserved copies of The Carolinian of the early 1940s, which contained information about the priest.

Fr. Bonk was in charge of the financial affairs of the Society of the Divine Word in the United States Province before he was transferred to the Philippine Province. As a young priest, he was singled out for post-graduate studies in business by the Society to prepare him for his important role.

He went to De Paul University in Chicago for his commerce degree and finished his master of arts degree at Harvard University. He was in charge of the financial affairs of the Society for 15 years.

The SVD fathers took over the administration of San Carlos College in 1935. They immediately realized the need for competent administrators for the growing departments of the College. When the need for a College of Commerce became imperative, the local superiors could only think of Fr. Bonk to be dean and founder of the new College of Commerce. Fr. Bonk also took the post of vice rector and treasurer of San Carlos College.

During his Sacerdotal silver jubilee celebration in Sept. 30, 1940, Fr. Bernard Bonk, SVD, was described as an educator, a missionary and a priest.