My Gift to SLU on Its Centennial

The Saint Louis University's Centennial celebration aims to increase the people's awareness of CICM past and present engagements as well as to express gratitude to people and communities for the opportunity to do its mission. As to revitalization, the centennial is a time to revitalize missionary spirituality among mission partners to intensify and renew mission and vocation animation and to shape dynamic future direction of CICM in the Philippines.

"A Louisian: An Empowered Steward of the World"


The theme itself shows that SLU is a Catholic school. As its students, we must do our duty to spread God's words. As its student, it is just right to show a bit of appreciation for its full effort on broadening the knowledge of its students especially now that it's celebrating its centennial.

One of the simplest form of appreciation for SLU is to be proud that you are a Louisian. Every student should be proud of his own school. He should be proud to say that he is studying in an excellent and exceptional school. Another form of appreciation that we could give is to protect the name of Saint Louis University. We must not do anything that could destroy its name. We should always be aware in everything that we do. We must know our limitations as a student and we must always put in our minds  that a Louisian is a model and inspiration for all; a Louisian is a good example for all.

We can also show our appreciation by bringing out the best in each one of us, we must know how to share our God-given talents and we must be determined to do well in our studies. Saint Louis University is a school that enhances our skills and helps bring out the best in each one of us. It helps us share the blessings that God had given us. As students, we must not only depend on SLU alone, we must also help ourselves to bring out the hidden talents that we have. We must think that all of these we do not only for our parents but also for ourselves.

Being a Louisian, a student if Saint Louis University is really a great plesure. For me, SLU is one of the best school here in Baguio. Why? ..because it enhances not only our skills, it also focuses on four core values - competence, Christian spirited, creativity, and social involvement. I also can see that SLU has an aim. Aim is to make every student graduate. I can also see its aim to renew students who had lost their path at first but are now willing to change their path into right ones. I can see SLU's perseverance to make students realize the importance of learning and studying and  in their life.

Now, as we  celebrate SLU's Centennial, I offer a gift of prayer. A prayer that asks for guidance so that SLU could  continue its mission to serve people and to make them realize the importance of many things in their lives. A prayer for guidance to help SLU renew students who had lost their path and is now willing to change. 

The gift of Love, I also give... promising that SLU would always be with me; the knowledge I had learned and the knowledge that I'm about to learn will always be my guiding light. It will always be my key to success, my key to a better future. Even though in the near future, I am to graduate, a part of SLU would always be with me.

SLU had touched my life. It had left me with great memories and it will be leaving me with more. SLU: you'll be my school forever; Nothing could ever replace you. :). I started as a Louisian and that mark will be mine forever.

I wish that SLU could touch more lives and that it can give students a deep realization of how important education is in their lives.

My Gift to SLU on Its Centennial by Lady Shaira 'Shai' Abuan is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at www.shaimemylifeandyou.blogspot.com.

SLU, You're One of A Kind

Saint Louis University is a Catholic school founded by Congregatio Immaculati Cordis Mariae (CICM) in 1911.

CICM was founded on November 28, 1862. It was born not knowing exactly what lies ahead. In 1862, Fr. Theophile Verbist led a group of Belgian priest. He had the desire to help the orphans as well as those who lived in ignorance and poverty in China. The fathers never imagined that many would follow their footsteps.

On November 2, 1907 the first batch of nine pioneer CICM missionaries composed of priests and a brother arrived in the Philippines.CICM has grown into an international religious missionary congregation.

The CICM works have challenged and inspired many Filipinos to serve the missions nationwide. CICM missionaries live and work together as brothers in order to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ wherever it is most needed.

Here is a CICM-Philippines Timeline:

1898 - After the Philippine Revolution against Spain in 1898 with the help of the United States, all Spanish missionaries were expelled. Thus, the Philippines became an American territory and American bishops were appointed, among them Bishop Dennis Dougherty who was assigned to the diocese of Nueva Segovia in Vigan, Ilocos Sur.

1906 - Msgr. Ambrosius Agius, Apostolic Delegate to the Philippines, appealed to CICM in Scheut, Brussels to send priests to replace the ousted Spanish frailes.

- Bishop Dougherty offered the northern Luzon missions populated by many pagans as the areas to be served by the arriving CICM missionaries.

November 02, 1907- Msgr. Agius welcomed the first nine CICM missionaries composed of eight priests and one brother along Manila Bay. They were Superior Pieter Dierickx, Florimond Carlu, Albert Dereume, Seraphin Devesse, Constant Jurgens, Jules Sepulchre, Oktaaf Vandewalle, Henre Verbeeck and Christiaan Hulsbosch (brother). Weeks later Herman Ramaekers and Albert Botty also arrived. They set up initial mission  stations in Baguio; Bauko, Mountain Province; and Cervantes, Ilocos Sur.

1908- A group of 10 more missionaries arrived in 1908 and 13 more in 1909. By 1912, there were 40 CICM missionaries in the Philippines. 

April 1909- The Philippine mission was established as a religious province and the provincial house 'Home Sweet Home' was set up in Baguio City. It was opened as a central house where the Belgian spend a 10-day retreat annually.

1911- Fr. Seraphin Devesse founded a one-room school in the sacristy of the church along Session Road for 10 local boys. From this humble origin, the Saint Louis School began. He also founded a school in Campo Filipino.

1912- The missionaries built two churches: the Baguio Cathedral in the center of Baguio along Session Road, and another in Campo Filipino along Naguilian Road.

1924- Fr. Francis H. Lambrecht (1895-1978) arrived in the Philippines after being ordained in 1923. For 17 years, he evangelized the Ifugao people, mastering their language and tradition. He became one of the most energetic CICM missionaries in the mountains of Luzon.

1941- Fr. Lambrecht became the secretary and procurator of the Apostolic Prefecture, later the Vicariate of the Mountain Province; he founded the Saint Francis Xavier Seminary in Baguio City and for 30 years, he was involved in the training of the native priests for the Mountain Province. At the same time, he taught anthropology at Maryhurst Seminary, Saint Louis University and Baguio Colleges Foundation (now University of the Cordilleras)

June 1928- Establishment of the St. Mary's Elementary School in Bayombong, Nueva Viscaya which later grew into the St. Mary's University.

1931- Arrival of Fr. William Brasseur who worked in several missions among the Benguet tribes.

June 1948- Appointment of Fr. Brasseur as Vicar Apostiolicof the Mountain Province. Two months later, he was ordained a bishop at the Baguio Cathedral.

1951- Candidates for the priesthood were accepted temporarily in Home Sweet Home, the provincial house.

1954- The property where Maryhurst Seminary was to be built has been purchased in Lucnab, a barangay in Baguio City.

1955- A juniorate for possible candidates for foreign missions was initiated. Thus, the CICM General Government started constructing Maryhurst Seminar, the CICM novitiate in Baguio City which opened in May of the same year with eight novices.

From the early days, Scheut Missions-CICM in the Philippines accepted challenges outside the Mountain Province in many lowland parishes taht had no priests for years. From that concerted effort towards the evangelization of the Igorots and the revitalization of whole Christian areas, the greatest achievement CICM is proud of are the native Philippine CICM members.

June 1965- Saint Louis School in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan opened its portals to 138 boys accommodated in two sections of the First Year and one section of the Second Year. Later in May 2002, the college became the University of Saint Louis.

-Establishment of Saint Louis College in San Fernando City, La Union

-Establisment of Saint Louis High School in Mandaue City, Cebu

November 28, 2007- Centennial commemoration of the day when CICM pioneer missionaries first set foot on the Philippines.

As we celebrate SLU's Centennial... may we appreciate the efforts of SLU so as to make students more knowledgeable. May we also realize that SLU is not only a school; it is more than a school... it is a home and a teacher for all.

SLU, You're One of A Kind by Lady Shaira 'Shai' Abuan is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at www.shaimemylifeandyou.blogspot.com.

Can't Live Without You SLU

SLU - my second home, my second family, my teacher, my friend, my comforter, my inspiration.

For almost 10 years, I am a student of Saint Louis University. From my elementary years... until now, my high school years. Saint Louis is a witness of my successes, my failures, my struggles as a student, as well as my growing and maturing years.

Saint Louis University as my second home and family...

As a student, I spend most of my time in school. I only spend 3 to 5 hours of my day for my family and the remaining hours, for school and other school works like assignments, home works, and activities. In a week, I spend 5 to 6 days for school and only 1 day for my family. Still, sometimes, I spend 5 to 7 days for school, especially when there are group projects or activities. This is the reason why I  consider Saint Louis as my second home as well as my second family.

Saint Louis serves as my teacher...

Each school year is a challenge for me to learn more and grab the opportunities that SLU gives. Each day is a chance for me to do my best so that I could make my parents proud. Every minute is a chance for me to listen well to what my teachers say and every second is a chance for me to finish my assignments and other works so that I may pass all my subjects. Every day is chance for me to remember that if I'll do well today... rest assured because tomorrow will surely be great.

Saint Louis as my friend and my comforter...

Crushes... Infatuations... Admirations...

Yes, things related to the so called, "love". These are all normal especially for us - young people, high school students. In today's concept, it's not normal for a boy or a girl not to have a "crush". Most believe that every person has a thing to admire in another person (usually of different sex).

Honestly... SLU is one of the witnesses of how I had crushes, how I got infatuated, how I admired somebody, and how i experienced the feeling of "love". Yes, love...

Saint Louis as my inspiration...

Grades... This is usually one of my problems. I don't mean that I get failing grades, I just don't want my grades to be exactly passing or usually termed as "pasang awa". I'm not even contented with an eighty-five grade. I aim to get higher grades and if possible, I want eighty-six to be the lowest grade that I would have. Maybe it's because my parents are too strict about my grades that's why I'm also striving for a higher grade. 

My parents always scold me whenever I get a grade of eighty-six and below. At first, I thought that they were too strict. I thought that they were too over reacting. But afterwards, I realized that they're just right. It's a good thing for them to get mad whenever I get low grades. It's a good thing that they care.  I realized that they're just scolding me because that's what's best for me.

SLU gives me the reason to strive harder. It gives me a thought that one day, all of my hardships... my struggles as a student... will lead me to the right way. It gives me the thought that after all of these, I'll have a better future, and that I will also be the one to benefit all of my hard works.

Yes, it's true that it's not easy to be a student. It will never be easy to become a student. Sometimes you have to sacrifice some of your works, chores, and other businesses just to participate in your school works. Sometimes you just have to sacrifice your time just to finish your home works.

Now, as we celebrateSLU's Centennial, I hope that more people - especially the Lousians - could see the importance of SLU in their lives. I hope that people could realize how SLU had helped them achieve what they had achived right now 'coz it is surely a great pleasure to be a Louisian.

Can't Live Without You SLU by Lady Shaira 'Shai' Abuan is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at www.shaimemylifeandyou.blogspot.com.