De La Salle Philippines Statement on the Mamasapano Incident

We invite all Lasallians to reflect on the encounter in Mamasapano, Maguindanao that resulted to the violent and senseless loss of human life. We share with you this statement of concern and commitment in the hope that it will deepen our conviction as educators to be in solidarity with our fellow Filipinos. May we make our own their anguish and their hopes for a lasting and sustainable peace.

THE CONTINUING PURSUIT OF PEACE IN MINDANAO:
IN SOLIDARITY WITH YOUNG PEOPLE RENDERED VULNERABLE BY SITUATIONS OF CONFLICT

     De La Salle Philippines (DLSP) grieves with the nation over the loss of lives in a bloody encounter last January 25, 2015 in Mamasapano, Mindanao.  We mourn with the families of all those who were killed -- the forty-four members of the Special Action Force (SAF) of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the eighteen combatants from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), and the four civilian casualties, among whom was an eight-year old child.  

     As Lasallians, we support the calls for an impartial investigation so that we may know the facts behind the Mamasapano incident and set aright our relationship with those wounded and aggrieved by selfishness, mistrust or fear.

    The Mamasapano incident aggravates a situation of fear and poverty.  Decades of armed-conflict have heavily affected the well-being of the people of Mindanao, with children being the most vulnerable to suffering.  Whenever there are military or police encounters with rebel groups, communities are forced to evacuate to ‘safer’ places.  Such displacement takes a heavy toll on our children and those who are physically weak.  

     After the clash at Mamasapano, some 6,620 people were displaced and classes in thirteen nearby public elementary schools were suspended (UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs). This adds to the thousands of people, who until now, have not been re-settled after the so-called Zamboanga siege in October 2013. An unseen collateral damage in all these is the healthy growth of our children and young who cannot develop fully in an environment of fear and instability.

     Educating children, particularly of the poor -- instilling appropriate values and equipping them with relevant tools and skills so that they can be responsive and responsible citizens -- is primary in our mission as a network of Lasallian schools. We thus pray for a more conducive environment where Mindanao’s children can attend school, learn, and play without tension or fear.

     Amidst fears that the Mamasapano incident could derail the peace process, the Lasallian community stands firm that the peace process should in fact continue.  We are in solidartiy with our countrymen who are committed to the vigorous pursuit of lasting peace in Southern Philippines.  Even as investigations on the Mamasapano clash proceed, we ask both government and the MILF leadership to continue with the peace process; and for Congress to pass the needed legislation to enable the diverse groups in Mindanao to be heard, have their rights to develop acknowledged within the framework of our Constitution and live in peace. 

     As Lasallians, we will continue with our vigil and prayers for the families of the casualties and all the people who were affected. We shall also educate ourselves further on the peace process and on the complexities of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).   

     Lastly, we ask our people to act with sobriety and discernment as we grieve the lives that were lost and as we hurdle the challenge of restoring to wholeness the lives of those who have been displaced.  In these times we believe that what is asked of us as citizens is to reflect on the needs of our nation and to give shape to our collective aspiration in the name of the young and vulnerable people who can only discover their better selves in an atmosphere of peace and mutual acceptance.

_______

February 10, 2015

Br. Jose Mari Jimenez FSC
President, De La Salle Philippines (DLSP)

 

Thank You, Teacher.

"The books are important, and so are the pencils, blackboards, and the chairs, but if there are no teachers, who will bear the weight and the responsibility of educating the next generation?"

 

As we celebrate World Teacher's Day, let us all thank the people who made a difference in our lives - our Teachers.

Panalanging Lasalyano

Sa ating paggunita ng Linggo ng Wika, hinihikayat ng De La Salle Philippines na ating baliktanawin ang Panalanging Lasalyano.

Ang pagdarasal ay upang higit nating maunawaan ang kabutihang maidudulot ng pagbabago ng sariling kalooban.

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Nais pasalamatan ng De La Salle Philippines ang mga sumusunod:

La Salle Green Hills
De La Salle Santiago Zobel
Ramelle Javier
Louis Nathaniel Martin
Suzette Balgos
Methuselah De la Cerna
Angela Arcaño
Edana Castaños
Sandra Gelhay
Nathan Lawrence Payumo
Lorenzo Lopez
Althea Kalalo
Br. Iñigo Riola FSC

New Vicar General of the Brothers of the Christian Schools

Congratulations to our new Vicar General, Brother Jorge Gallardo de Alba FSC! Br. Jorge hails from the the District of Mexico North and served as a missionary in Japan, one of the current Sectors of the Lasallian East Asia District. He was appointed as President of the Delegation of Japan and was elected as General Councillor in Rome in 2007.

Br. Ricardo Angel P. Laguda FSC elected as the new General Councillor of the Brothers of the Christian Schools

Congratulations to Br. Ricardo Angel P. Laguda FSC for his election as General Councillor of the Brothers of the Christian Schools! Br. Ricky is currently the President and Chancellor of De La Salle University in Manila, Philippines. He and four other General Councillors will be representing the different parts of the world as advisers to the newly elected Superior General and his Vicar in Rome, Italy:http://www.lasalle.org/en/2014/05/election-of-the-general-councilors/ 

Br. Ricky is the 4th Filipino Brother to be appointed as General Councillor in Rome (Br. Benildo Feliciano, Br. Raymundo Suplido, and Br. Victor Franco). He represents the Pacific Asia region. God bless you, Br. Ricky!

KMzero hits road to Lipa

The De La Salle Lipa (DLSL) ABCDs hosted the Kilometer Zero (KMzero) program last 21 February at the college grounds of DLSL. The event was spearheaded by Br. Joaquin S. Martinez FSC, D. Min., President and Vocation Director of DLSL and De La Salle Philippines National Vocation Promoter, Br. Alex Diaz FSC. Forty-four students from the College and Integrated School community attended the program. 

KMzero was a success thanks to the assistance of the Local Vocation Team in coordination with the DLSL aspirants Aljay Martinez, John Paulo Ferrer, Ivan Karlo Umali, Brennan Garth Castillo, Vherton Acielo, Gendric Flores, and Dustine Joseph Suare.

 

E-waste Awareness Day at DLSU-D

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The Information and Communications Technology Center (ICTC) of De La Salle University-Dasmariñas (DLSU-D) in coordination with its Environmental Resources Management Center (ERMaC) will hold its first E-waste Awareness Day on 7 March 2014. The event will feature an E-Waste seminar, environmental film showing and capped by a Mangrove planting activity in Batangas.

The event is part of DLSU-D’s promotion in the proper management and disposal of electronic waste under the ICTC’s Project ICON (ICT Creates Opportunities for Nature).DLSU-D students, faculty and staff donated their old, broken and obsolete electronics to the ICON booth for proper disposal by ICTC and ERMaC. These disposed electronics are returned to the recycling plant and proceeds support the annual ICTC’s tree planting program in support of DLSP’s One Million Trees and Beyond Project.

For more details, please visit www.dlsud.edu.ph/icon.