Summary
Highlights
De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) adopted the tagline 'doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.' Its roots trace back to 1911 with the establishment of De La Salle College in Manila. In 1978, Brother Andrew Gonzalez fsc, then president of De La Salle University, envisioned Benilde as an educational innovator, focusing on community services. This led to the creation of a career development program for working professionals, initially housed in what is now Miguel Hall. By 1985, it was known as Community College, and in 1987, it began offering bachelor's degrees, eventually becoming 'De La Salle University College of Saint Benilde' in 1988.
Saint Benilde was a 19th-century French Lasallian brother known for his extraordinary teaching methods and innovative approach to education. He accommodated all types of students, irrespective of their background, age, or marital status. He even learned sign language to teach a deaf student, embodying a spirit of prejudice-free education.
Due to increasing student numbers, the college moved to a new building at 2544 Taft Avenue in 1989. This building, designed by Rogelio Villarrosa and Genes Rivera, houses Napoleon Abueva's 'Lord of the Resurrection' sculpture. In 1991, the School of Design and Arts opened, and significantly, vocational programs for the deaf in bookkeeping and accounting were introduced. In 1994, the De La Salle University College of Saint Benilde gained autonomy from De La Salle University, establishing its own constitution and values.
In 1996, the college established the Certificate Program Center (later the School of Professional and Continuing Education) and the Grants-in-Aid program for student financial assistance. The School of Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management was also founded, with its building completed in 1999 and supported by philanthropist Dr. Angelo King. In 1997, Benilde held its first independent graduation. The college joined the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in 1999 and introduced pioneering programs like Multimedia Arts (1999) and Music Production (2000).
The ambitious School of Design and Arts (SDA) campus, designed by Ed Galma to inspire creativity, was inaugurated in 2007. It started offering groundbreaking courses in animation, digital filmmaking, and photography. In 2004, the college officially became 'De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde,' shedding 'University' to emphasize its independence. In 2008, it hosted East Timor President Jose Ramos Horta, marking the first visit from a foreign head of state. 2009 saw the introduction of a game design and development IT program and a unique transnational hospitality management program with Institut Vatel in France.
In 2010, the Toon Row Animation Studio was founded, leading to the production of 'Frere,' an animated movie about Saint De La Salle shown in 2013. The Brother Miguel Febres Cordero Building, supporting student services, and the Saint Jaime Hilario Center, empowering persons with disabilities, were established in 2011. In 2014, the CSB Hotel reopened as Hotel Benilde, and the Andrew Cafe launched. The strategic plan for 2014-2018 emphasized inclusivity, aiming to increase students with special learning needs and financial challenges to 30%, and innovation, with 85% of graduates demonstrating expertise in collaborative and innovative projects, especially for the poor. The year 2014 also marked Benilde's silver anniversary.