The De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde (; ), also known as DLS-CSB or Benilde, is a private, Catholic secondary and tertiary education institution established by the De La Salle Brothers, located in the Malate district of Manila, Philippines. It operates four campuses, all of which are located within the vicinity of Malate, Manila, along with an upcoming satellite campus in Aseana City, Parañaque. The college is a member institution of De La Salle Philippines (DLSP), a network of 16 Catholic Lasallian institutions. Benilde is also a member of a 350-year-old international network of over 1,200 Lasallian educational institutions globally established by the De La Salle Christian Brothers in 82 countries.
The college was established in 1980 during the administration of Br. Andrew Gonzalez, FSC as the College of Career Development, a night school for working students at De La Salle University-Manila. In 1988, it was renamed the De La Salle University–College of Saint Benilde after the Vatican's Patron Saint of Vocations – Saint Bénilde Romançon, a Christian Brother who taught in France during the 19th century. In 1994, the college became autonomous. In 2004, along with a restated vision and mission, received its present name, dropping the University and becoming De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde.
The college uses "learner-centered instruction" to offer degree and non-degree programs in the arts, design, management, service industries, computer applications in business, and special fields of study. It is the first in the Philippines to offer degrees in AB Animation (ABANI), AB Photography (ABPHOTO), AB Film (ABFILM), AB Multimedia Arts (ABMMA), AB Production Design (ABPRD), AB Fashion Design and Merchandising (AB-FDM), AB Music Production (ABMP) and BPA Dance (BPA-D).College History . benilde.edu.ph. Retrieved January 2009.About the College benilde.edu.ph. Retrieved October 18, 2006.
The college's sports teams, known as the Saint Benilde Blazers, compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association with La Salle Green Hills representing the junior division. Since joining the league in 1998, the college has won five general championships, first in the 2005 season, back-to-back in the 2007 and 2008 seasons and another back-to-back win in 2013 and 2014 seasons.
History
Early history (1980–1987) In 1980, De La Salle University-Manila opened an academic unit known as the College of Career Development, an evening school for working students. It was Saint Benilde Romancon, FSC who pioneered the development of evening classes for adult working students for continuing education hundreds of years ago. In 1984, the Preparatory Studies Department (PSD) was established to allow students to cope with the requirements of subsequent degree-oriented courses in regular undergraduate colleges.DLSU-College of Saint Benilde Interactive. Development and Communications Office. 2003 In 1985, the college was renamed the Community College. In May 1987, the PSD was phased out and replaced by the Arts and Business Studies Area (ABSA). The ABSA offered two courses: a Bachelor of Arts degree in management with emphasis on human resources management and a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration, major in computer applications.
Under De La Salle University (1988–1994) The Community College was officially renamed De La Salle University–College of Saint Benilde in 1988, after the establishment of the De La Salle University System. Saint Bénilde Romançon was selected as the namesake to symbolize its objective of providing innovative education for the verbally but not numerically gifted, late bloomers, disabled, as well as artists. Bénilde made room for his students in Clermont-Ferrand, regardless of their age or their mental capabilities. He also learned sign language to instruct a deaf-mute boy for his first Holy Communion.CSB'S Original Vision, excerpts from the paper of Br. Andrew Gonzalez, FSC. DLSU-CSB Newsletter. August 10, 1992
The ABSA was renamed as the Arts and Business Studies Department (ABSD) and became the day program of the college, while the Career Development Department (CDD) remained as the college's evening program. Because of the need for more space, the college moved to its own campus at 2544 Taft Avenue in 1989. A third major program, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, was offered, undertaken in consortium with the College of Liberal Arts. In 1991, the college offered certificate programs in Accounting and Bookkeeping for the deaf, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Design.
As an autonomous college (1994–2005) Presidents ofDe La Salle–College of Saint BenildeUnder De La Salle University-Manila• Br. Andrew Gonzalez FSC, 1978–1991• Br. Rafael Donato FSC, 1991–1994Under the De La Salle University System• Br. Andrew Gonzalez FSC, 1994–1998• Br. Rolando Dizon FSC, 1998–2003• Dr. Carmelita Quebengco, 2003–2004• Br. Armin Luistro FSC, 2004–2006Independent administration• Br. Edmundo Fernandez FSC, 2006–2007• Br. Victor A. Franco FSC, 2007–2013• Br. Dennis M. Magbanua FSC, 2013–2019• Br. Edmundo Fernandez FSC, incumbent Benilde became an autonomous member of the De La Salle University System in April 1994. It ratified its proposed Constitution and By-Laws and identified Benildean core values in November 1994. The Night College, a scholarship program, was transferred from De La Salle University-Manila to the college in 1995. In the same year, the School of Design and Arts (SDA) was established, and the following degrees were offered: Bachelor of Arts in Animation, Bachelor of Arts in Film, Bachelor of Arts in Photography, Bachelor of Arts in Music Production, Bachelor of Arts in Theater Arts, Bachelor of Arts in Production Design, Bachelor of Arts major in Fashion Design and Merchandising, Bachelor of Performing Arts major in Dance, Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design, Bachelor of Science in Interior Design.
In 1996, the School of Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management was formed, and groundbreaking ceremonies for the Angelo King International Center building were held. The following degrees were first offered in the same year: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Major in Export Management; Bachelor of Science in Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management; Bachelor of Arts major in Fashion Design and Merchandising; Bachelor of Arts major in Consular and Diplomatic Affairs, and the Bachelor of Arts in Applied Deaf Studies. The college also established the Certificate Program Center (CPC) which offered short courses, and the Grants-in-Aid Program to provide financial assistance to students in need.
In 1997, the administration of the vocational programs of the Night College of the De La Salle University was passed on to the college in June and was renamed as the Blessed Arnould Study Assistance Program in September. In October 1997, the college held its first graduation rites independent from De La Salle University. In the same year, the college established the School of Special Studies for deaf students. In March 1998, the NCAA accepted the college's application for membership to the sports league along with La Salle Green Hills athletes as its high school representatives. In 1999, the School of Design and Arts offered the Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Arts degree, the first of its kind in the country. Later that year, the construction of the Angelo King International Center was completed, which then housed the School of Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management.
In 2000, the college won its first Men's Basketball Championship title in the NCAA, marking the fastest win of any new school in the league since World War II. The college offered a BSBA degree in Information Management and a Bachelor of Arts in Music Production degree, a first of its kind. In the same year, the college held bidding for the architect of the proposed School of Design and Arts building.Shrine to cutting-edge creativity Philippine Daily Inquirer, October 24, 2007 In 2001, the School of Special Studies was renamed as the School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies (SDEAS). A year later, the SDEAS was invited to become a member of the Post-Secondary Education Network-International.
In 2004, the non-university members of the DLSU System — Canlubang, and Medical and Health Sciences Campus — removed the term "University" from their names. The college then restated its mission and vision and was renamed De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde. Construction for the 14-storey School of Design and Arts campus was started in this year.A design student’s utopia The Manila Times August 12, 2007 The Certificate Program Center was expanded and renamed into the School of Professional and Continuing Education. In 2005, the college became overall champions for the first time in NCAA Season 81.
Recent history (2006–present)
In 2006, the college became a district school of De La Salle Philippines, the successor of the DLSU System. Br. Edmundo Fernandez FSC, Brother Visitor of the De La Salle Brothers Philippine District, became the college's interim president.18 to 1 La Salle Perspective. Volume 8 no. 1. May 29, 2006 The college became the host for the NCAA Season 82,Let the games begin Perspective. Volume 8 no. 4. June 19, 2006 and landed in second place for the General Championship rankings.
In 2007, the School of Design and Arts opened four new degree programs: the Bachelor of Arts degrees in Animation, Digital Filmmaking, and Photography, the first of their kind in the country, and ArchitectureSDA unveils three new courses Perspective. Volume 8 no. 29-30. January 15–28, 2007 That same year, the new 14-storey School of Design and Arts Campus opened in May in time for the start of the school year 2007–2008.Worth the Wait Perspective. Volume 8 no. 41. April 9–15, 2007 The college inaugurated its first Brother President, Br. Victor Franco FSC in September.The Anointed ONE Perspective. Volume 9 no. 8. October 1–14, 2007
In 2008, the School of Management and Information Technology (SMIT), in partnership with the School of Design and Arts, announced its intention to offer a new degree in game design and development, pending approval of the Commission on Higher Education.Game time Perspective. Volume 9 no. 15. January 28 – February 10, 2008 At the end of NCAA Season 83, the college again became the overall champions, winning their second title after two years.Sweet Smell of Success Perspective. Volume 9 no. 18. March 10–23, 2008
On August 12, 2008, East Timor President, José Ramos-Horta visited the college and gave a talk entitled United in Faith, Partners in Nation-Building held at the School of Design and Arts Campus during a four-day state visit to the Philippines, which marked the first time that a foreign head of state visited the college.Timor-Leste President visits DLS-CSB Perspective. Volume 10 no. 5. August 25 – September 7, 2008
In 2009, the college opened three new degree programs, the Bachelor of Science in International Hospitality Management for SHRIM, which partnered with Vatel International Hospitality School in France, the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, Major in Game Design and Development for SMIT, the first IT program anchored in game design and development in the Philippines, and Bachelor of Science in Architecture for the SDA.Benilde Offers Three New Degree Programs. Perspective. Volume 10 no. 10. March 6 – April 5, 2009 The college won its third championship title in the NCAA, and became back-to-back general champions for NCAA Season 84.St. Benilde retains NCAA general championship Theodore P. Jurado. People's Journal. March 2, 2009