La Salle pushes for quality education for the poor

The Federation of Lasallian Institutions (FLI) called for a continuous and collective reflection among Lasallian institutions during the 2nd National FLI Convention at the Angelo King International Center of the De La Salle University-College of St. Benilde from July 20 to 21.

With this year’s theme, Transforming Ourselves, Transforming Others, Bro. Armin Luistro, FSC, of the Philippine District urged FLI members to nourish and renew St. John Baptist de La Salle’s vision and mission of providing Christian education to the young, especially the poor.

The Social Development Research Center sponsored a leadership training for women in communities on July 20-21. The two-day activity emphasized the importance of empowering women by enhancing their organizational and management skills. It was funded by the International Federation of Catholic Universities.

In response to this call, the second FLI convention resolved to adapt a flagship project called Education for Life, to concretize the Lasallian mission in the Philippines.

In seeking to transform others, the FLI knew that change must first come from within. Sharing her insights on Institutional Renewal in Urban Lasallian Educational Institutions, DLSU-M Executive Vice President Dr. Carmelita Quebengco, cited the urgency of renewal particularly in the area of social commitment to the marginalized sector of society. She also encouraged participants to develop among members of the Lasallian community, a passion for equality and social justice. Dr. Quebengco noted that institutional renewal process will succeed by challenging the conventional thinking and encouraging the critical thinking of Lasallian community members.

Affirming the need for poverty alleviation, DLSU System President Brother Rolando Dizon, FSC spoke on District Unity and Solidarity as a means for evangelization. In his speech, he pointed out the failure of La Salle to strengthen the commitment of its students towards the struggle for social justice and elimination of poverty. In addressing this issue, he called for a collective renewal based on uncompromising values of individuals and institutions. To be effective evangelizers and community development workers, he stressed the need to form strong action networks, both within and among the Lasallian schools.

The convention aimed to assess FLI’s work as a partner in progressively changing the socio-cultural, economic, and political landscape of our country.

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