SLU reaches its 95th anniversary

3 MIN READ

BAGUIO CITY(Jan. 21) — Saint Louis University (SLU) celebrates the 95th founding anniversary guided by the theme “SLU- witnessing 100 years of CICM Missionary Presence in the Philippines”, to reach out to the people of Baguio and show appreciation to them, with a variety of activities for the students and the public.

In the press conference President Rev. Fr. Jessie Hechanova, CICM, announced this year’s “Handog ng SLU sa Baguio”, a devoted one-day celebration for the residents of the city of Baguio, mainly dedicated to the senior citizens. The off-campus celebration will be held at the Melvin Jones football field from January 20-21.

Mrs. Rebecca Nulud, director of SLU’s Center of Culture and the Arts (CCA), said that “Handog ng SLU sa Baguio” is the highlight of this year’s anniversary. Variety of events on January 20 included the 1st Father Hubert Dupont Memorial Marathon, a pet Olympics, free medical outreach mission, free legal aid and clinic, free blood typing, free health screening and health education, drawing for kids and face painting. By late afternoon, the winners of the music-dance-drama festivals of the SLU CCA performed in the arts fest artists’ show.

Hechanova reiterated that the elderly citizens will be the main focus of this celebration, so they will be given priority in all medical and professional outreach services.

There is also a weekly Free surgical operation from January 22-26 to indigent patients, courtesy of the SLU Hospital of the Sacred Heart.

On January 21, Gil Espiritu, SLU’s dean of student affairs said that the SLU community will have a parade starting from upper Session Road, up to Melvin Jones football field.

After the parade, SLU employees will pit talents in the dance aerobic competition, followed by a joint concert of the college and high school marching bands, and finally CCA’s “Handog sa Baguio” cultural show.

Moreover, Atty. Lourdes Tabanda, president of SLU Alumni Foundation, called on all graduates of SLU to be a member of the foundation and avail of the privileges it offers. The alumni foundation aims to make way for networking to all alumni of SLU all over the globe and also to grant scholarships for students who are financially in need.

Tabanda also invited all the alumni of Batch 1957 for a homecoming on March 3, 2007 with the theme, Alumni: onwards to SLU centennial.

Meanwhile SLU is developing its fourth Campus in Barangay Bakakeng, named “SLU Humanities Campus”for the college student and graduate school. The area of the said campus is 6.2 hectares and it will be an environmental friendly Campus and they will put up Solar Panel Electrical.

SLU President Rev. Fr. Jessie Hechanova said that they will not flatten the surface of the new campus and they are not going to cut all the pine trees in the said area.

He added that they already tested the soil so that they will know if they can build a building in that area, and they will improve the road network for the convenience of the materials for the construction and they are going to put up a barricade to secure the place and early next year they can start building the fourth Campus in Barangay Bakakeng.

Evangeline Trinidad said that the new campus can provide more classrooms. Laboratories, amphitheater, gym and chapel to the students. They will also put up students dormitory for men and women.

She also added that they chose Barangay Bakakeng to build there fourth Campus because it is the only place in Baguio City that has a large space of land, and it will have a big effect on contributing to the economic growth in Barangay Bakakeng like the residents in that area can put up businesses like boarding house, restaurant, canteens, stores and the likes. # Pamela Aniceto & Nerie Benavidez for NORDIS