DepEd, La Salle mourn death of Bro. Andrew

Department of Education (DepEd) officials and employees joined the De La Salle University (DLSU) community in mourning the death of Bro. Andrew Gonzalez, who passed away last Sunday due to complications from diabetes.

In separate statements, the DLSU and DepEd expressed sadness over his passing away while citing the many accomplishments of Gonzalez as an educator.

Gonzalez was president of DLSU-Manila from 1971-1979 and 1994-1998 and was education secretary from 1998-2001.

"It is with extreme sadness that we announce the passing away of Bro. Andrew Gonzalez, FSC, president emeritus of De La Salle University," said Dr. Carmelita Quebengco, executive vice president of DLSU-Manila.

Quebengco described Gonzalez as "the visionary, the institution-builder, the intellectual giant, the distinguished linguist, the committed educator and administrator, a Christian brother and a Filipino patriot who left a valuable legacy for La Sallians to nurture and pass on to the next generation," she said. 

Undersecretary Fe Hidalgo, DepEd officer-in-charge, said Gonzalez’s  dedicated service to the cause of Philippine education is unmatched.

"His contributions, from the development of the basic education curriculum to the restoration of our heritage schools, are recognized for their ingenuity and importance," Hidalgo said. "The improvements we are seeing now are due in part to the vision and inspiration of Bro. Andrew."

Hidalgo said Gonzalez’s life was devoted to the service of the education sector and shall forever serve as an inspiration to all.

Gonzalez died at 5:40 p.m. last Sunday at the De La Salle-Health Sciences Campus University Medical Center in Dasmariñas, Cavite. He was 65.

His remains lie in state at the Chapel of the Most Blessed Sacrament of DLSU-Manila.

Masses will be held at 7 p.m. today an d tomorrow. The Mass of the Resurrection will be held on Thursday at 9 a.m.