Groundbreaking Ceremony of the First Building of SPUI Ticud Campus

At 7:30 in the morning of May 28, administrators, faculty, and staff of St. Paul University Iloilo (SPUI) along with other prominent guests and SPC sisters, witnessed and participated in the ground breaking ceremony of the first building at Ticud Campus. The building is not only the first building to be erected in the new campus, it is also the first building in the history of SPUI that is not named after a religious or holy figure, but nonetheless after a foundation “whose generous hearts equal that of the saints,” as Sr. Carolina Agravante, SPC, University President said during her welcome address at the ceremony. This foundation is the Tiu Cho Teg-Ana Ros Foundation (TCTAR Foundation), whose president, Mr. Vicente Tiu, and his son, Mr. Mark Vincent Tiu were present during the ceremony. Thus, the building was named Tiu Cho Teg-Ana Ros Foundation Basic Education Building, which will house the elementary pupils of SPUI, which is now until Grade 3.

The Tiu Cho Teg-Ana Ros Foundation Basic Education Building

The event started with the welcome address given by the University President. Beaming with gratitude, Sr. Agravante wholeheartedly thanked the generosity of the TCTAR Foundation and for believing in the quality education provided by SPUI. With the new building, SPUI is all the more empowered to provide Christ-centered and quality education to elementary pupils of Iloilo City who “are molded to eventually be future leaders of the country,” Sr. Carolina said.

Sr. Carolina Agravante gives her welcome address.

After the address of the University President, Mr. Mark Vincent Q. Tiu gave a message in behalf of his father, the President of the TCTAR Foundation, Mr. Vicente Tiu. SPUI is not the sole recipient of the generosity of the TCTAR Foundation who has been actively involved in assisting many institutions in Iloilo City as the foundation has always been driven to support institutions dedicated towards quality education. “Quality education will bring endless possibilities not only to this generation but to more generations to come,” Mr. Tiu said.

Mr. Mark Vincent Tiu gives his message in behalf of his father.

The last message was given by Sr. Helen Malubay,SPC, Dean of the College of Accountancy and Business, who started her speech expressing her joy to have seen her former student, Mr. Mark Vicente Tiu improved and grown so much. It was through the efforts of Sr. Malubay, whose accidental or providential meeting with Mr. Tiu paved way towards this partnership in promoting Paulinian education through the establishment of the first building in Ticud Campus. Sr. Malubay ended her speech with an SPC song of blessing to the TCTAR Foundation; the other SPC Sisters who attended the ceremony sang with her in unison and in a cappella.

Sr. Helen Malubay, SPC, Dean of the College of Accountancy and Business, shared her joy and thoughts.

After the speeches, the event proceeded with the liturgy of the groundbreaking ceremony headed by the chaplain of St. Paul’s Hospital, Msgr. Paul Solomia. The time capsule which was filled with the blueprint of the building, current newspaper, the organizational chart of Academic Year 2013-2014, important news of Academic Year 2013-2014, and many other things. Also present in the groundbreaking ceremony include the architect of the building, Mr. Edgar de la Cruz; SPUI in-house engineer, Mr. Antonio Catubac; VP for Finance, Sr. Ma. Vicenta Estrella, SPC; VP for Academic Affairs, Dr. Flor Agnes Sy; Dean of the College of Teacher Education, Dr. Sunny Gabinete; Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Mrs. Jieza Napone; SPC sisters of Mere Monique Home and St. Paul’s Hospital, faculty of varied programs, staff and personnel of St. Paul University Iloilo.