Br. Bernard S. Oca FSC
24th president of De La Salle University
A Lasallian through and through, Br. Bernard S. Oca FSC finished his grade school at De La Salle College (the former name of De La Salle University) and his high school at La Salle Green Hills. He graduated summa cum laude with a degree of Bachelor of Arts in Literature at DLSU, where he also earned his Master of Arts in Language and Literature and Doctor of Education in Religious and Values Education.
Br. Bernie entered the postulancy in 1971, took the habit of the Brothers in 1974, and made his final vows at La Salle Green Hills in 1980.
He was president of La Salle Green Hills from 1997 to 2006. One of the founding Brothers of Jaime Hilario Integrated School-La Salle in Bagac, Bataan, he served as its president from 2006 to 2007.
In AY 2007-2008, he returned to the Manila campus to serve as president of the DLSU Professional Schools, Inc., which managed the University’s graduate business programs. The following academic year, he was appointed as the Vice-Chancellor for Lasallian Mission and External Relations (VCLMER).
His proclivity for being on time reflects much of how he views invaluable resources and how he makes the most of what he has. As VCLMER, he launched the “Lasallians on Time” campaign to develop time management as well as a stronger culture of thoughtfulness and respect among members of the Lasallian community. This principle also allowed him to handle multiple roles.
For the centenary of Lasallian presence in the country in 2011, he concurrently served as the head of the Centennial Committee, which oversaw the various multi-sectoral programs and activities for the yearlong celebrations. It was also in 2011 that he was given the new title of Vice Chancellor for Alumni and External Relations, a position he held for almost two years. He also taught for DLSU’s Theology and Religious Education Department during this period.
On June 1, 2013, he became the eighth president of De La Salle Santiago Zobel School (DLSZ), a post he serves up to the present. He is concurrent president of the Jaime Hilario Integrated School- La Salle in Bagac, Bataan, and De La Salle-Araneta University.
When he was appointed as DLSU Chancellor on August 30, 2018, he vowed to continue advancing DLSU’s vision mission and to find innovative ways to harness the University’s potential.
The DLSU Board of Trustees named him as the 24th president of De La Salle University effective August 1, 2021.
In his new role as president and chancellor, Br. Bernie emphasizes the importance of bringing hope amid the uncertainties and conflicts in our society and the rest of the world. “We shall continue pursuing our commitment as a leading resource for God and Country. Like our Founder, St. John Baptist de La Salle, we need to bring passion and innovation in our work and actively generate solutions towards a sustainable future by providing quality Lasallian education,” he says.
He adds, “By pursuing knowledge and promoting values like compassion, truth, and justice, we can help change lives and empower communities. Green, which represents our Lasallian community, is most commonly associated with freshness, hope, and life. I pray that our living God will give us a steadfast spirit to live out our Lasallian values and pursue our vision-mission, that we may continue to journey together and make the future green again.”