The Valderrama Family: A Promise for Today and Tomorrow

The late Valderrama patriarch, Tranquilino, who was a longtime friend of the De La Salle Brothers, and his descendants made their family among the most significant contributors to La Salle schools over the years.

Raising a family of 15 children and surviving the war-torn years in the Philippines had been nothing short of a miracle for the modest lumberman.

His granddaughter Agnes shares, “His prayer to our Lord was that if his family would survive the war, he would promise to give back to the Church.”

And so he did. After the Second World War, he supplied wood in order to rebuild community churches and schools. With a heart filled with gratitude for surmounting life’s trials and difficulties, Tranquilino lived a full life with his wife and children.

According to his family, Tranquilino was very close to Fr. Gratian, a former Brother, as well as to many other De La Salle Brothers. The family also recalls their grandparents fondly sharing meals together with the La Salle Brothers at their home. It was from these friendships that their shared vision of honoring the Church emerged.

His son-in-law and daughter, Manolo and Cecilia Valderrama Lopez, had donated the chapel located at the retreat house of University of St. La Salle in Bacolod in honor of C.P. Lopez, a deceased Lasallian youth leader.

Moreover, his son, Tranquilino M. Valderrama Jr. put up the T.H.V. De La Salle in Bubunawan, Bukidnon under Felicito Rugay, although this is no longer in existence after the closure of the family’s logging company. Tranquilino’s grandson, Paul Borromeo, shares that his grandmother also made a donation to De La Salle University when Br. Andrew was president, through T.M. Valderrama, Jr. Furthermore, the latter made a donation for a room in honor of his deceased brother, Celemente.

The family also established three funds under the Science Foundation Inc., namely: the Tranquilino Valderrama, Sr. Professorial Chair in Humanities, the Tranquilino Valderrama, Sr. Scholarship Endowment Fund, and the Clemente Valderrama Scholarship Endowment Fund.

In addition, the family also helped build the St. Joseph School in Bacolod and made a donation to its library.

The generosity that runs through the Valderrama family is a continuing legacy of Tranquilino and Consuelo’s deep faith in the mercy of God. “This would sustain our grandparents and influence us all deeply,” Paul says.

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