Department of Education Secretary Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara graced the blessing and inauguration of Tarlac State University's new building at the La Paz Campus on Thursday morning (November 28) in Brgy. San Isidro in La Paz town.
La Paz Mayor Venustiano Jordan and Sec. Angara unveiled the two markers installed in the phase I and II buildings. This campus offers Bachelor of Public Administration and Bachelor of Elementary Education programs.
The extension building, funded by Sec. Angara in 2023 as a senator of the 19th Congress, is named after his father, the late Senator Edgardo J. Angara, per municipal ordinance no. 20, series of 2023.
"This building was named after the Angara family for their continuous support for education and significant contributions as well to the municipality of La Paz, and our institution, our dear Tarlac State University," TSU President Dr. Arnold E. Velasco said in his speech.
According to Mayor Jordan, he first sought the approval of former TSU president Dr. Myrna Q. Mallari to put up an extension campus for the tertiary students in La Paz in 2019. This extension campus was made possible with the help of Councilor Roberto Mananquil.
"Ang daming mga bata na gustong mag-aral pero hindi lahat ma-accommodate ni TSU," Mayor Jordan said.
Both Mayor Jordan and Pres. Velasco also expressed their shared interest in adding the Bachelor of Science in Criminology program to cater to more students as the La Paz Campus expanded.
"This new building will be an essential hub for academic excellence and innovation, providing the necessary resources and infrastructure for education and scholarly work to our TSUians who live in the municipality of La Paz," Pres. Velasco added.
Sen. Angara said TSU is the first among the state universities and colleges to name a building after their family, particularly his father.
“If we want to succeed, if we want our children to succeed, all of us have to invest in education... Lahat tayo may magagwa para sa edukasyon; hindi lang po yung teacher, hindi lang po yung estudyante, pati po magulang kasama natin,” Sec. Angara said.
Meanwhile, College of Public Administration and Governance Dean Dr. Edwin T. Caoleng emphasized the community's shared responsibility in advancing quality education.
“Sa amin po sa CPAG, I take this as a perfect example of good governance, mabuting pamamalakad: a perfect collaboration of academe and local government para matugunan 'yung vision nila na maging catalyst for change, maging instrumento ng pagbabago para sa buhay ng ating mga kabataan. Ang edukasyon ay susi para bumangon at umunlad ang bayan ng La Paz,” Dean Caoleng, the designated focal person for TSU La Paz Campus, said.
The blessing of the building and its classrooms was presided over by Rev. Fr. Renato Dimaculangan, parish priest of Nuestra Senora Dela Paz in La Paz town. (jlmm-OPA)
