MANILA, Philippines – The De la Salle University marked its 100th year with an opening celebration at the Chapel of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Saint La Salle Hall at the DLSU grounds Thursday.
Guest of honor President Benigno Noynoy Aquino III thanked the DLSU for its service and contributions in molding Filipino minds.
A graduate of Ateneo de Manila University, DLSU’s main rival school, Aquino also thanked Education Secretary Armin Luistro for accepting a post in his Cabinet. He said that it was not only a chance for the DLSU to serve its own school, but to be of service to the country.
Luistro was a former president of the DLSU System.
The DLSU kicked off its celebration with Proudly Green, a musical in “lyrical theater” format shown at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City on June 10. The three-act musical directed by Fritz Ynfante was a song-and-dance story from the time the La Salle brothers set foot in Manila in 1911 to the hopes and dreams of the next generation of La Sallians. It featured Broadway, pop, rock and gospel hits “tweaked” by La Salle alumnus Adie Peña.
The DLSU is celebrating its 100 years with other 17 La Salle chain of district schools throughout the country. At present, there are over 350,000 alumni from La Salle Schools in the Philippines.