Saint Louis University (Philippines)
Pamantasan ng San Luis | |
Latin: Universitas Sancti Ludovici | |
Motto | Sapientia Aedificat (Latin) |
---|---|
Motto in English | "Wisdom Builds" |
Type | Private University |
Established | 1911 |
Affiliation | CICM Roman Catholic |
President | Rev. Fr. Gilbert B. Sales, CICM, Ph.D |
Principal |
Melchor Pablico, (Grade School) Ronaldo Pontanosa, (High School) |
Students | 30,000++ (elementary, secondary, and tertiary) |
Location |
Baguio City, Benguet, Philippines 16.4140° N, 120.5987° E |
Campus |
Main Campus (6 has.) Maryheights Campus (8 has.) Gonzaga Campus (5 has.) Navy Base Campus (5 has.) |
Alma Mater song | "Saint Louis Hymn" |
Colors | White and Blue |
Affiliations |
Association of Southeast Asian Institutions of Higher Learning International Federation of Catholic Universities International Federation of Catholic Universities International Association of University Presidents Association of Southeast and East Asian Catholic Colleges and Universities |
Website | www.slu.edu.ph |
Saint Louis University is a private Catholic university located in the city of Baguio, Philippines.
Saint Louis University is the largest university north of Manila with more than 30,000 students (not counting the elementary and high school) as of academic year 2016-2017. It is centrally situated in a six-hectare campus in the heart of Baguio City and has more than 30 buildings.
The university offers programs at the elementary, secondary, undergraduate and graduate levels. The university comprises nine schools or colleges with campuses throughout the Baguio metropolitan area. SLU's main campus is on A. Bonifacio Street where the seven schools or colleges are housed while the Maryheights Campus houses the School of Accountancy and Business Management.
History
In 1907, the CICM missionaries arrived in the Philippines, mandated by the Vatican to Christianize the northern part of the country.[1] They settled in Baguio because of its proximity to Manila and the mountain province of Benguet beyond the Cordillera mountain range, which was home to numerous indigenous tribes. In 1911, Rev. Fr. Séraphin Devesse, CICM, founded a one-room elementary school in Baguio for ten local boys, naming it the Saint Louis School.
In 1915, the St. Louis School expanded, becoming a vocational and trade school. In 1915 it opened a secondary branch. In 1952, the combined efforts of Msgr. William Brasseur and Rev. Fr. Rafael Desmedt founded Saint Louis College, then consisting of three departments: Education, Liberal Arts, and Commerce and Secretarial.[2]
In 1955, the graduate-level programs of Saint Louis College were granted recognition. The real turning point came on 13 May 1963, when Saint Louis College was conferred university status by the Philippine government. The school started with only 75 students with Gerard Decaestecker, CICM, as the first rector. Other courses and developments soon followed under the guidance of the following rectors/presidents:
Dates | Rectors/Presidents |
---|---|
1952-54 | Gerard Decaestecker |
1954-62 | Albert Van Overbeke |
1962-64 | Gerard Linssen |
1964-76 | Paul Zwaenepoel |
1976-83 | Ghisleen De Vos |
1983-96 | Joseph Van den Daelen |
1996–2005 | Paul Van Parijs |
2005–2015 | Jessie M. Hechanova |
2015–present | Gilbert B. Sales |
University seal and motto
The color of the seal of Saint Louis University are white and blue, with a big golden cross in the middle of a shield. The year 1911 shows the foundation date while the motto on the lower part of the seal, "Sapientia Aedificat", expresses the belief of its founders that "wisdom builds."[3]
High school education
Saint Louis University - Laboratory High School (SLU-LHS) was formerly Saint Louis University - Boys' High School. SLU-LHS became coeducational in 2003. Although administered freely from the SLU system, there are some private high schools that link themselves with the university through academic and research exchanges. These are Saint Louis High School - Philex (SLHS-Px), Saint Louis School of Aurora Hill (SLAH), Saint Louis School of Pacdal (SLP), and Saint Louis School Center High School Department (Girls' High).
Elementary education
Saint Louis University - Laboratory Elementary School (SLU-LES) is located at Gen. Luna Street, Baguio City with the Aloysius de Gonzaga Building (Grades 4 to 6) and the Fr. Ghisleen De Vos Building (Grades 1-3).
Student publications
White & Blue is SLU's official student publication. It is named after the colors representing the Blessed Virgin Mary, with which the CICM is associated. It is run by college students and is under the supervision of the publication adviser from the SLU administration.
There are two annual publications: Sapientia, a black-and-white themed magazine tackling current and relevant events, and a literary folio, Kuwaderno.
Performance
Saint Louis University has always been one of the top performing universities in the Philippines for its excellence in research and passing rates in board exams. SLU is on the top ten universities for their performance in Teacher Education, Law, Medicine, Medical Technology (Medical Laboratory Science), Pharmacy, Engineering, Nursing, Architecture. SLU is concurrently awarded by the Professional Regulation Commission of the Philippines as the top performing school in Pharmacy and Medical Technology (Medical Laboratory Science) for its passing rate ranging from 90 to 100%.
Research
SLU's research units are as follows: Business Research Extension and Development (BREAD), Engineering Urban Planning Laboratory (EUPL), Environmental Research Laboratory (ERL), Information and Communications Technology Research Laboratory (ICTRL), Natural Sciences Research Unit (NSRU) and SLU Cordillera Research and Development Foundation (SLU-CRDF).[4]
CICM system of schools
Other school campus include:
- Saint Louis College, San Fernando City, La Union
- University of Saint Louis, Tuguegarao City
- Saint Mary's University, Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
- Saint Louis School College- Cebu, Mandaue City, Cebu
- Maryhurst Seminary, Baguio City
- Maryhill School of Theology, Quezon City
- Maryshore Seminary, Bacolod City
- Saint Louis College of Bulanao, Tabuk City, Kalinga
Notable alumni
- Marvic Leonen, 172nd Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines
- BB Gandanghari, actress, model
- Paolo Ballesteros, actor, TV host
- Boobay, actor, comedian
- Marky Cielo, actor
- Kylie Verzosa, Beauty Queen
- Roger Tong-An, Doctor, DOH Undersecretary
- Rachel Salinel, Senior Correspondent ABS-CBN (TFC)
- Ingrid Payaket, Singer, Host
- Cousin from Baguio, Social Media Figure, Writer
- Angeli Vilog, Singer, Host, Dancer, Research Awardee
References
- ↑ CICM Missionaries
- ↑ CICM Missionaries
- ↑ http://www.slu.edu.ph/index.php/facts-and-figures/university-seal
- ↑ SLU research