USC School of Engineering soon to rise!

Dr. John Gokongwei Jr. breaks ground for Gokongwei Brothers School of Engineering

Gokongwei Brothers Foundation Chairman Dr. John Gokongwei Jr. graced the ground breaking ceremonies for the University of San Carlos Gokongwei Brothers School of Engineering today, January 28, 2008.

The ceremonies kicked off the whole day celebration at the University, which also remembers 25 years of missionary service of the USC Retreat House, where Dr. Gokongwei and his party were invited to lunch. At 5:30 this afternoon, the USC Law and Business School’s new building will be dedicated to Fr. Ernest Hoerdemann, SVD.

Dr. Gokongwei, along with his wife, Elizabeth, and sister, Lily G. Ngochua, as well as University officials took part in the blessing of the construction site and the blessing of mementoes for the time capsule. He then laid the capsule together with Fr. Pres. Roderick C. Salazar Jr., SVD, USC Board of Trustees Vice Chair Fr. Dionisio M. Miranda, SVD, Engineering dean Nicanor S. Buenconsejo Jr., Ph.D., and Architecture dean Omar Maxwell P. Espina.

Dr. John Gokongwei lays the time capsule together with (from left) Archt. Espina, Fr. Miranda, Fr. Salazar and Dr. Buenconsejo.

Fr. Salazar delivered a message of gratitude to Dr. Gokongwei during the ceremony. Dr. Gokongwei then gave a response, recalling the times that he has spent at USC when he was still “young and agile” and under the tutelage of some of the best educators in the country, calling them some of the most memorable moments of his and his brothers’ life. The Gokongwei Brothers Foundation, Inc. has given the University Php50M for the School of Engineering.

Author: P. J. Lim
28 / January / 2008