THE University of San Agustin (USA) is celebrating its 117 years of Catholic education and Augustinian experience in Iloilo City this 2021.
As it marks its 117th year this July 15, USA will start the occasion with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. Then a glimpse of the University of San Agustin through the years will be shared to the students, faculty, personnel, alumni, sponsors and donors, and other stakeholders through live streaming on its social media page (FB University of San Agustin-Iloilo). It will also be a momentous day as the university will continue its mission to explore and discover possibilities through research with the blessing and groundbreaking of the USA Magnetic Resonance Facility.
The announcement of finalists for the Dinagyang Monument Design Competition will also be one of the highlights in this celebration of the foundation anniversary.
In 1904, the school began as a preparatory school for boys, and as years passed on, various programs for science and the arts were opened to cater to more students, ready and willing to learn.
The university’s journey may have felt like a walk-in-the-park to some, but there were also struggles that were overcome. From the early onset of the First World War to the devastation brought about by the Second World War causing the temporary pause in education, Augustinians stood their ground, waited, and continued to pursue their dreams in the fields of practice they have chosen. The university followed suit in bringing forth additional courses that provided students choices on how to expound their knowledge and skills that could be an impactful addition to industries and organizations they would later be part of.
Generations of graduates have contributed to the progress of our country and internationally. They have shown how Augustinians thrive amid challenges and successes. Their actions provided encouragement and inspiration to the younger generations: that doing good in life and work takes a lot of hard work, practice, good personal relationships with those around them, and choice to be a good person for oneself and others.
This year has shown the results of these choices. Augustinians have continued the legacies of their forebears and strengthened the bond shared by Augustinians with the community. They have become witnesses to the strife brought by the pandemic; they have their losses and near misses. It is by the grace of God, fueling every Augustinian to keep on fighting and moving towards both their individual and common goal. It is by God’s grand design that they have been blessed with the capacity to work on the very little they have and accept the help that comes their way.
117 years of truth, unity, and love – the very tenets that keep the Augustinian spirit alive and thriving through the years. Viva San Agustin!/PN
