Proudly La Sallian

Tomorrow, the La Salle community unravels an event called “Proudly Green” at the SMX Convention Center, a stone’s throw away from the Mall of Asia in the Manila Bay Area. It’s the kick-off activity in the year-long celebration of La Salle’s centennial anniversary and “Proudly Green” promises to be an affair to remember.

A Mass will start the program at 4:30 p.m. The highlight is the presentation of an hour-long musical relating La Salle’s 100-year history in three powerful acts. Director and La Salle alumnus Fritz Ynfante calls it the ultimate “lyric theater” with no spoken word  the dialogue will be done in song.

Ynfante has assembled a strong cast for the stage show featuring Robert Sena, Isay Alvarez, Rannie Raymundo, Lance Raymundo, J. M. Rodriguez and about 60 more actors. The story will revolve around the nine pioneer Christian Brothers who landed in the Philippines in 1911 to spearhead the educational mission of St. John Baptist de la Salle. A video portrayal of the nine “angels” in flight on the way to the Philippines will be shown on three large screens with a stirring overture as background music to set off the play.

La Salle alumnus Adie Peña tweaked the lyrics of 14 songs to depict La Salle’s life story in the country. Some of the songs that were adapted for the musical are “A Day in the Life” by the Beatles, “The Earth Song” by Michael Jackson, “I Dream a Dream” and “Master of the House” from Les Miserables, “Something in the Air” by Thunderclap Newman, “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen, “Music To Watch Girls Go By” by Andy Williams, “Something’s Coming” from West Side Story, “I’ll Walk with God” from Student Prince, “Gonna Build a Mountain” by Bricusse and Newley, “This is the Moment” from Jekyll and Hyde and “Rainbow Connection” from the Muppets Show.

Over 3,000 alumni, students, faculty, administrative officers and relatives are expected to jam the SMX Convention Center. A Green Wall will be set up for those who wish to take commemorative photos with the backdrop showing the Christian Brothers of yesteryears. A two-minute trailer of the forthcoming animated film feature on the life of St. John Baptist de la Salle, produced by students of St. Benilde, and a documentary of La Salle’s history will be shown during cocktails and the buffet dinner. A time-line exhibit will be accessible for viewing in the Convention Center. Sponsors will also provide corporate social responsibility exhibits of their projects.

Organizing committee chairman Bomboy Araneta said students with IDs will be admitted at a price of only P300 each. Regular tickets will be sold for P1,000 at the gate. So far, over 80 percent of tickets have been taken. The 42 Christian Brothers from 17 La Salle schools all over the country are expected to attend.

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La Salle students in the Philippines constitute about 10 percent of the entire La Sallian student population of 1.2 million in the world. It is the La Salle community’s goal to maintain 20 percent of the entire Philippine student population on scholarship as a social commitment.

As La Salle gears up for its centennial anniversary, a graduate with an outstanding track record in various fields of endeavor celebrates his birthday today. San Miguel Corp. chairman and chief executive officer Eduardo (Danding) Cojuangco has often been described as a man for all seasons, a legend in his own time, a visionary, a doer and one of the country’s most successful business leaders and captains of industry.

The oldest of six children, Ambassador Cojuangco entered La Salle as a kindergarten student in 1940, fondly remembering Juan Medrano as his first teacher. When World War II broke out the next year, he went from school to school as his father Eduardo, Sr., then Governor of Tarlac, was constantly on the move in his courageous campaign to oppose the Japanese occupation. Eventually, Ambassador Cojuangco returned to La Salle where he graduated from high school in 1952. One of his mentors was Horacio Cebrero, later La Salle high school principal.

La Salle will always have a special place in Ambassador Cojuangco’s heart. He recalls being an acolyte and a member of the Junior Police conducting traffic on Taft Avenue. He remembers memorable moments with Brs. Athenaesius, Dennis and William and going on retreat at the La Salle house in Baguio.

“The La Sallian credo for God and country is one I have always tried to live by,” said Ambassador Cojuangco, fondly called Boss Danding. “The basic lesson that somehow, in return for all that we’ve received, we have a duty to put something back is one that I learned at La Salle. As La Salle marks its centennial, the tradition of giving and sharing with the less fortunate is more alive than ever.” Ambassador Cojuangco delivered those remarks in accepting the prestigious La Sallian Master Award for his “invaluable contributions to Philippine history, management, education and corporate citizenship” in a solemn ceremony at the Christian Brothers’ private chapel on the fourth floor of the main La Salle building on Taft Avenue late last year.

A nationalist, Ambassador Cojuangco has always believed in investing in the Philippines and in spurring countryside growth to provide livelihood for Filipinos. Today, he continues to make an impact in San Miguel Corp., Southeast Asia’s largest food, beverage and packaging conglomerate whose markets extend throughout the Asean countries, China and Australia.

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As a Christian gentleman, he is closely associated with the Catholic Church and has personally financed the construction of churches in his home province of Tarlac and his wife Gretchen’s home province of Negros Occidental. His devotion to the Church, reflective of his La Sallian education, was recognized when the Vatican dubbed him a Knight of the Order of St. Sylvester.

As a politician, Ambassador Cojuangco followed in his father’s footsteps and became Tarlac Governor. He was also an outstanding congressman of the first district of Tarlac. An award that the Philippine government conferred on him was the Legion of Honor.

In sports, Ambassador Cojuangco is an achiever, too. He bred the thoroughbred “Manila” which won the Breeders Cup in the US in 1985 and conceived the idea of employing naturalized players as a means to even the playing field in world basketball. Today, the use of naturalized players is widespread and an accepted practice in world competitions. Under his leadership as project director, the Philippines won its last FIBA-Asia title in 1986 and made history by beating legendary Purdue coach Gene Keady’s US All-Stat collegiate selection, composed of several future NBA cagers, in overtime for the Jones Cup crown in 1985.

Ambassador Cojuangco is a firm believer in corporate social responsibility and giving back. In 1977, he established two chairs for the College of Liberal Arts at La Salle. Last year, his personal foundation launched a P42 Million program called Project Free (Flagships to Reach Educational Excellence) to raise standards across the educational system in Tarlac by providing masters and doctorate scholarships for over 2,000 public school teachers in coordination with the Department of Education, Tarlac State University and the University of St. La Salle-Bacolod. When the teachers graduate, they will receive La Salle diplomas. His priority for education was no doubt influenced by La Salle. Beyond Project Free, Ambassador Cojuangco provides thousands of scholarships and training programs for the less fortunate in championing the cause of education. Another program involves microfinance which his foundation supervises to extend credit to thousands of small businessmen in North and Central Luzon provinces.

La Salle’s centennial celebration is only as meaningful as the impact that its graduates have made on the country. Ambassador Cojuangco stands out as a model example of a La Salle graduate with a social conscience, an astute mind and a heart for the less fortunate.