WHEN WE talk about the Negros Occidental Language and Information Technology Center (NOLITC), two names instantly come to mind: the Marañon brothers of Sagay City — Joseph, fondly known as “319,” and Alfredo Jr., or “02.” Both served as governors of Negros Occidental. Both have passed on.
But with the blessing and inauguration of the P135-million NOLITC Global Campus and Innovation Hub in Barangay Matab-ang, Talisay City on Tuesday, July 1, their memory came alive once more.
NOLITC stands today as their enduring legacy — a testament to how far-sighted they were in preparing Negros Occidental for the future long before they departed this life.
Conversational English: The Beginning
Let’s begin with 319. During his term in 2008, he envisioned a unique initiative — a sort of “mentoring the mentor” program — focused on retooling or upskilling public school teachers in conversational English.
His goal was noble: to strengthen the English-speaking and writing capabilities of educators in the province. Sadly, he passed away before fully realizing this dream.
When 02 succeeded him, he didn’t just maintain the course — he broadened the vision. Under his leadership, NOLITC evolved into a vocational training institution offering short-term courses ranging from one to nine months. These courses included Contact Center Services (call center training), Animation, Visual Graphic Design, and Software Development.
The best part? The scholars — all Negrense — didn’t pay a centavo. They came from different walks of life: out-of-school youth, high school graduates, college undergraduates, and the unemployed.
Happily Employed
Since its inception in 2008, NOLITC has produced 8,888 graduates. Impressively, 83% of them are now gainfully employed — in government, call centers, or various private institutions.
Recognizing its impact, current governor Bong Lacson chose to continue the Marañon brothers’ vision. He supported the expansion of NOLITC, situating its new global campus in Talisay City — the province’s emerging tech hub.
Governor Bong ensured that the brothers’ dreams did not fade. Instead, he nurtured them — allowing young Negrenses, from poblacion to far-flung barangays, to become tech-savvy and future-ready.
The NOLITC Global Campus and Innovation Hub is, in essence, a celebration of a legacy planted by the Marañons and watered by Bong Lacson.
A Legacy Built on Action
At the inauguration, Governor Lacson declared: “NOLITC Global Campus and Innovation Hub is a legacy built not on words, but in action.”
He added, “This new NOLITC Global Campus is proof of our larger and determined vision, and a legacy of our shared belief that education, to be effective and responsive, must be inclusive, innovative, and accessible — particularly in the countryside.”
Well said.
Special thanks to Antonio Montinola, a generous soul who donated the 2.3-hectare lot where the campus now stands — all for free, and all for a noble cause.
The new campus features future-ready facilities, including a student dormitory.
Exploring AI
Governor Lacson also emphasized the transformative role of the NOLITC Global Campus in changing — if not redefining — the future of countless Negrenses through knowledge, skills, and opportunity.
He said it will further cement NOLITC’s evolution into a provincial innovation hub.
School Administrator Tina Basa-Orbecido shared that they are now offering new short courses, including Python programming and Computer-Aided Development micro-credentials.
And yes, they are expanding into Artificial Intelligence (AI). Exciting!
But what is AI, really? While Millennials and Gen Z are no strangers to it, some may still wonder. In simple terms, AI is the simulation of human intelligence in machines programmed to think and act like humans. It’s the latest frontier in digitalization.
AI technologies aim to create intelligent systems capable of performing tasks traditionally done by humans.
See how far we’ve come?
Upskilling Our Teachers
Even more inspiring is a new initiative to upskill 1,000 public school teachers in the province. These teachers will be trained in AI and receive further enhancement in English proficiency.
Yes, Filipino teachers are generally proficient in English. However, recent studies show a noticeable decline — particularly in writing skills. This new NOLITC campus is expected to help bridge that gap.
What a blessing for our public school teachers, especially those whose teaching methods may have aged with time.
The best is yet to come.
Woven Into Lives
There’s a saying: “What you leave as a legacy is not what is etched in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.” And this perfectly captures the Marañon brothers’ gift to the people of Negros Occidental.
NOLITC will continue to open doors, enabling many Negrenses to become digital natives in an increasingly digital world.
Let us give due credit to the Marañons — men who saw the future and helped prepare their people for it. They were truly great beyond praise.
And if I may borrow the timeless words of Ernest Hemingway: “Great men are not born great, they grow great.”
Indeed, that is 319 and 02. And through NOLITC, their greatness will be remembered — even as the world turns fully techie in the years to come./PN
