Opinion

DLSAA celebrates 100th year

BREAKTHROUGH - Elfren S. Cruz - The Philippine Star

September 29, 2016 | 12:00am

The De La Salle Alumni Association (DLSAA), composed of alumni of La Salle-Manila and now De La Salle University, is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. On Saturday, October 1, the organization plans to commemorate this event by honoring past leaders and awardees.

The La Salle story begun in 1911 when nine Christian Brothers started a school, in Paco, Manila, for young boys. Today, the small school for 75 young boys has evolved into a full-fledged university for young men and women in search of the best Christian education in the nation.

The DLSAA may have had a difficult start but leadership of outstanding personalities has made it an extremely successful organization. There were actually three attempts to start the organization. On August 27, 1916 then Brother Director Michael sent out a message to former students of all schools run by the La Salle Brothers all over the world and who were then residing in the Philippines. The initial meeting had 35 attendees and immediately elected its officers. Subsequently the Association was incorporated and filed at the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Armando Da Silva was elected as the first Association president. He was an alumnus of St. Joseph’s College in Hongkong; and, was working for Warner Barnes in Manila. The other officers were J. Preysler, vice-president; D. Da Roza, vice-president; C. Franco, secretary; F. Da Silva, treasurer and board members J. Brimo, Manuel Javier, Manuel Vallejo, R.M. Siddon, M. Santibanez and Juan Atayde. Many of these pioneers would become prominent businessmen and would be the first of several generations of La Sallians.

The Association remained relatively inactive until December 1930 when the group was reorganized and a new set of officers elected at a meeting of 125 alumni. By this time, La Salle was emerging as the most prominent business school in the country and was beginning to produce the business leaders of the Philippines.

During the meeting the following officers were elected: Virgilio Lobregat, president; Eduardo Viaplana, vice-president; Alfonso de Lange, secretary; Guillermo Jose, treasurer. This was the birth of the Annual Homecoming of La Salle Alumnae.

Francisco Ortigas Jr. was elected president of DLSAA in 1932 and stayed as its head until 1939. “Paquito” Ortigas spent 16 years of student years in La Salle from kindergarten to taking an Associate in Arts degree in 1927. Before taking up law in the University of the Philippines. Their family owned the vast Mandaluyong Estate and became chairman and president of the company in 1936. This estate has been transformed into present day Greenhills, Ortigas Development and Capital Commons development projects.

During the Second World War, a number of prominent alumni kept the Association active even when the school was closed. These Association presidents Adolfo Roensch (1940-1942); Ramon del Rosario,Sr. (1942-1943); and, Carlos Ledesma (1943-1944) were even able to build a clubhouse.

During the post World War II era, the DLSAA was fortunate to continue with having strong and prominent leaders at the helm. Many of them were outstanding practitioners in their professions. This list includes Miguel Ortigas, Sebastian Ugarte, Ernesto Rufino, Francisco Aguinaldo Sr. Felipe Monserrat, Raoul Kahn, Antonio de las Alas Jr., Carlos J. Valdes, Augusto Syjuco, Rafael P. Toda, and Enrique Lagdameo.

Through its hundred year history, La Salle has produced outstanding Filipinos who have shaped Philippine history. Some were in politics like Senator Jose Diokno and Senator Lorenzo Tanada. Aside from Francisco Ortigas and Ramon del Rosario, there were other pillars in the world of business like Joseph McMicking, Enrique Aboitiz Sr. And Alfonso Yuchengco. Some have made their mark in the world of art and humanities like film directors Joey Reyes, Peque Gallaga and Behn Cervantes; writers like Butch Dalisay, Ricardo de Ungria, Cirillo Bautista and Vicente Groyon; and environmentalists like Tony Oposa.

Among the prominent alumni awardees who will be honored this Saturday are Eduardo Cojuangco, Ramon del Rosario Jr., Jose Cuisia, Jessie Robredo, Gerardo Ablaza, Edgar Chua, Raul Concepcion , Daniel Lacson, Deogracias Vistan, Enrique Razon, Philip Juico and Ramon Magsaysay Jr. Sports has always been a major part of La Sallian life. The ANIMO spirit is manifested by its athletes like Tito Eduque, Paeng Nepomuceno, Joseph Uichico, Franz Pumaren, Tomas Manotoc, Florentino Broce and Lim Eng Beng who will also be honored.

In many countries in the world, one of the first question asked, upon making a new acquaintance is – what school did you go to? Many of our lifelong friendships and social circles are formed during school days. Alumni associations actually begun centuries ago when young British students attending all male private schools were called “boys” and then were referred to as ” old boys” once they graduated. Exclusive networks known as “ Old Boys Clubs” developed between graduates of the same school. The first university to form an official alumni association was the Harvard Alumni Association was established in 1840.

The De La Salle Alumni Association has continued to thrive because La Salle has become so much a vital part in the lives of its alumni. Bobby Tanada, in a speech about his father Senator Lorenzo Tanada, icon of nationalism and human rights, said: “And if there is one institution that he owes his strong moral foundations, it is his old school, De La Salle. It is his alma mater that helped mold the virtues that were to define his life...My father has always proudly ascribed his Christian philosophy and outlook to De La Salle.”