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"A University Town on the Rise"
There is no obscure little spot in Dominican Hills. The place is not only scenic. It is also historically significant.
Colegio de San Juan de Letran-Abucay, the “school of the future” in Region III opens its doors to its first 120 students beginning this academic year 2006-2007. Letran-Abucay is not without a valid claim to distinction and importance. For one thing, Bataan is a Dominican-evangelized province. And for us, Dominicans, the establishment of the Colegio is a kind of a homecoming to Bataan, particularly to Abucay, where the rector of Letran-Intramuros after his term ended was assigned. Abucay is, on the record, the location of the first printing press reportedly owned and managed by the Dominicans. St. Dominic de Guzman, founder of the Order of Preachers, is the patron saint of the town, whose church is one of the oldest but well maintained in the province of Bataan. It was established and entrusted to the Dominicans in 1588.
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The dormitory where most of the employees and students will stay.
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Colegio de San Juan de Letran sists on a sprawling land at barangay Gabon, which by virtue of the municipal resolution is now known as Dominican Hills. Letran-Abucay is about twelve kilometers away from Balanga, the province’s capital, considered as the technological city and eight kilometers from the center of the town, accessible through the road now called as Dominican Hills Avenue, connected to the Roman highway.
Letran-Abucay is the first Catholic tertiary school in Bataan. As a Catholic institution, it is guided by its mission-vision founded on the Dominican philosophy of education. Its curricula are designed to mould students in becoming responsible, productive and God-loving citizens through a formative educational process that integrates the development of reason, the deepening of faith and the appreciation and living of Christian values. It hopes to bring this Dominican brand of education to Bataan and the other provinces of Region 3. Capitalizing on the expertise and resources of Letran-Manila, Letran-Abucay is seen to offer the kind of education that is at par with the universities and colleges in the National Capital Region. It is envisioned to be the center of religious formation and academic excellence in Region 3, specializing in education, applied sciences and business courses; a leader in various areas of research and community service; an accredited university in a quarter of a century, producing technically-skilled and globally-competitive professionals; and a strategic partner of the government in uplifting the quality of life and the economic standing of the region. Beginning school year 2006-2007, the Colegio offers courses in Accountancy, Business Administration, major in management, marketing, financial management, economics, human resource management and information technology specializing in network engineering, database administration, software development and systems engineering. Courses in nursing, communication arts, engineering, education and hospitality management are lined up in the second year of operation.
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Proposed aerial view of Letran-Abucay
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In 2000, we started the construction in the fifteen-hectare area, donated by Mayor and Mrs. Liberato Santiago, Mr. and Mrs. Nicanor Soriano and Gov. and Mrs. Leonardo Roman. A breathtaking view of the Manila Bay and the surrounding mountains, including Mt. Samat, envelope the site. One of the main attractions of Letran-Abucay is its relatively undisturbed natural area and environment. Indeed, an ideal place for study. The site was chosen because of the natural character it projects - a plateau. Architect and environmental planner Yolanda David Reyes incorporated this in the overall design and conceptual master planning of the campus. We envisioned Letran-Abucay as a “university town” masterpiece.
Facilities in the 15 hectare campus consist of dormitories, research, community development, media, sports and business centers, radio and TV studios, auditorium, laboratories, libraries, retreat house and a church. We intend to make the retreat center and the church as the Caleruega of the north.
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Letran Business Center located at St. Joseph Cathedral in Balanga City
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For the record, Rev. Fr. Rogelio Alarcon, O.P. former rector and president of the Colegio and an alumnus, proposed the idea of having another campus in the north. Bataan was chosen. Initially, two sites were presented: Hermosa and Balanga. Abucay came into the picture later, after three years in the conceptuali-zation stage. By what we describe as heavenly inter-cession and provi-dential twists, Abucay was selected.The community of St. John Lateran, the Board of
Colegio de San Juan de Letran and the Council of the Philippine Dominican Province approved the establishment of Letran-Abucay in 1998. Prepara-tions and construc-tion spanned over the terms of three Filipino provin-cials: Rev. Fr. Quirico Pedregosa, O.P., Rev. Fr. Ernesto Arceo, O.P. and Rev. Fr. Edmund Nantes, O.P., an alumnus.
In 2020, the Colegio de San Juan de Letran will celebrate its quadricentennial. By that time, Letran will be a university system, composed and joined by Letran-Calamba and Letran-Abucay. The university system will have its accredited status across its program of studies in the three campuses.
We will muster all our available resources for Colegio de San Juan de Letran to deliver and actualize its mission-vision that does not only inspire and motivate but also compels and directs: to be the center of development for religious formation, academic excellence, research and community service. We know it is a tall order. But, we are not afraid nor intimidated. With God’s and Dominic’s guidance and help, we are confident that this mission-vision is just a heartbeat away, even amidst all odds and uncertainties.
God bless all of us. God bless the Dominicans. God bless Letran.
Arriba Letran!
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