Last May 16, Villavicencio family patriarch and De La Salle College alumnus Ramon “Chito” Villavicencio was welcomed once again in DLSU as an honored guest. A lifelong Lasallian, the Flying V chairman and his family attended the inauguration of the Villavicencio Court located on the ninth floor of the Enrique Razon Sports Complex.
This was followed by a short ceremony in the Center for Lasallian Formation on the 12th floor of Br. Andrew Gonzalez Hall, which formalized the family’s donation for the Shrine of St. John Baptist De La Salle in the Laguna Campus.
Our home court
The inauguration was attended by several administration figures including De La Salle Philippines President Br. Armin Luistro FSC and University President Br. Raymundo Suplido FSC.
Present as well were other prominent members of the Villavicencio family including Flying V chief executive Raffy Villavicencio.
In his opening remarks, Office of Sports Development Director Emmanuel Calanog thanked the family for their generosity in helping finance the renovation of the court. Calanog shared that the project first came up as a common interest they had with Raffy and Chito Villavicencio to create a facility that “we’re proud to call our ‘home court’.”
In response, the Flying V chief executive expressed his gratitude to the University for making him a “part of the Sports Development program”.
Giving back
The Villavicencio patriarch expressed his “deepest admiration” for the University for receiving him as part of the Lasallian family. With at least 30 family members educated at various Lasallian institutions, he described his family as very “green-blooded”.
“The family is just giving back what we have garnered from Lasallian education and molded us to what we are today,” he said. The Flying V chairman reminisced on the sacrifices made by his parents, Edgardo and Pacita Villavicencio, explaining that his donation was dedicated to their memory.
“The blessing that we have is not ours to keep, the blessing should be shared. We should be a gracious receiver and a joyful giver,” he concluded.
In the ceremony’s closing remarks, Suplido also thanked the Villavicencio family for their generosity and compared them to the early benefactors of St. La Salle who played an important role in supporting the early Lasallian schools. He emphasized the school’s continuing mission of providing excellent education in spiritual and physical matters.
Suplido added that St. La Salle’s tercentenary of passing is also a moment to celebrate the “passing down” of a legacy—a balanced and integrated form of education for young people.
A Shrine for Filipinos
Aside from donations for renovation, the Villavicencio family also made a significant contribution for the Shrine of St. John Baptist De La Salle. Luistro expressed his gratitude to the family, welcoming them as part of a “new era for La Salle.”
As Luistro explained, the shrine is not only intended for Lasallians but also for all Filipinos “so that we together, can rediscover our soul.” As he put it, “We cannot just cheer ‘Animo’ for ourselves.”
The donation for the shrine was mediated by the Villavicencio-owned Academe Foundation. Sachi Reyes, the director of the foundation, signed the deed of donation with Chito Villavicencio standing as witness. Suplido signed in behalf of the University with Lasallian Pastoral Office Director James Laxa serving as witness.
The Shrine, which is currently under construction, is estimated to be completed by April 2020 and will contain the relics of St. La Salle.
