Adamson University breaks ground on new Meralco Annex Building
Date Posted: July 31, 2024 at 02:44 PM
Adamson University broke ground on the new Meralco Annex Building on July 27, marking another milestone in the 92-year-old academic institution’s history.
The momentous event featured Fr. Tomaz Mavric, CM, Superior General of the Congregation of the Mission, and other dignitaries from the local government and Vincentian Province.
This feat was seen as part of CM Philippine Province’s oneness with the celebration of the Congregation’s 400th Founding Anniversary next year, as well as the 60th year of Vincentian presence in the University and a countdown to the institution’s centennial anniversary in 2032.
Fr. Mavric was joined by Fr. Peter Solis, CM, Provincial Superior of the Congregation of the Mission-Philippine Province, Adamson University President Fr. Daniel Franklin Pilario, CM, and Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan in the symbolic laying of the time capsule for the new building.
Adamson University Faculty and Employees Association (AUFEA) President Prof. Ireneo Ignacio, Adamson University Student Government (AUSG) President Ms. Justin Mae Estilles, and Project Designer Ar. Dennis Villanueva also attended the ceremony to show their support for the project and its anticipated positive impact on the Adamsonian community.
In his message, Fr. Mavric emphasized the importance of holistic human development, Vincentian spirituality, and the University's collaborative mission.
“The human person in his totality, in his humanity, in his spirituality, in his psychology, in all the parts that form our being and form for the good of the person,” he said.
“As we know, the ones who usually have this gift, this possibility to be formed in such a manner, are those who are in a state where financially kind of sells to this totality—the dream that Jesus has as his own mission. And we just want Adamson University to be part of this mission,” he said, echoing Fr. Pilario’s discussion of the project’s rationale.
For his part, Fr. Pilario focused on the project's goals, namely “addressing practical exigencies” for facilities, resources, and student services as demanded by the “digital age” and “celebrating institutional milestones.”
“I think this new building should be able to form the human person, which is the aim of Catholic education,” he said.
“There is only one objective of Catholic education, and it is to train, to form the human person in our students and the human person in our faculty and administrators,” he furthered, referring to contents of the Second Vatican Council’s declaration on Christian Education titled Gravissimum educationis, which he described as the magna carta for Catholic education,
The Meralco Annex project aims to construct enhanced infrastructure and facilities at Adamson’s Cardinal Santos campus area.
This initiative is designed to address the diverse needs of the University community, creating an environment that aligns with Adamson's commitment to innovation and sustainability.
The project will augment offices, classrooms, laboratories, and facilities for various departments, including the College of Architecture, College of Computing and Information Technology, Hospitality Management (HM) Department, Senior High School Department, and Physical Education Department.
The new 13-story building will also accommodate classrooms, laboratories, workspaces, student services offices, a hotel, dormitories, and sports facilities.
The old chemistry laboratory will be demolished as part of the revamp to create a green and open space.
Offices and departments affected by the construction were relocated to temporary locations to ensure the continuity of their operations.
