The Hallowed Grounds of DLSU Campus

De La Salle University in Manila has an exquisite and very clean campus. Its buildings are stately such as the St. La Salle Hall and the Don Enrique T. Yuchengco Hall. 

My background is the Don Enrique Yuchengco Hall.

On visiting DLSU, you can see its most famous emblem which is the Archer. It symbolizes La Sallian excellence. It was made in 1985 by an award-winning Filipino sculptor Ed Castrillo.  

Statue of the Archer, an emblem of DLSU.

A newer installation is the monument to DLSU Parents of University Students Organization also known by its acronym PUSO. Its foundation was initiated during the time of Bro. Andrew Gonzales, FSC as President of DLSU.

A Monument Honoring the DLSU Parents of University Students Organization (PUSO)

The chapel that piqued my curiosity on my earlier visits at DLSU was the Chapel of the Pearl of Great Price. The name of this chapel was taken from a parable which Jesus told in Matthew 13:45-46.

Chapel of the Pearl of Great Price

My recent discovery though I read about it in Prof. Ambeth Ocampo's newspaper column was the Most Blessed Sacrament Chapel. This was the place of massacre of 16 brothers and 29 civilians who took refuge in the chapel at the close of World War II. The massacre took place on February 12, 1945 when a Japanese military officer along with 20 soldiers stormed the college and subsequently shot, slashed, or bayoneted the people at the campus chapel. Those who did not die were left to bleed until death and the women were violated by the Japanese soldiers.

Most Blessed Sacrament Chapel

Statue of a Priest Assisting a Dying Brother.

The 16 La Sallian Brothers who died during the massacre are being considered for sainthood as martyrs of the faith. They are honored by a monument sculpted by Peter de Guzman as shown above.

Nearby, you can find the statue of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal which was an endowment of La Salle High School Class of 1934. This was to commemorate their Silver Jubilee and to pass on to the future generations of La Sallians the devotion to the Blessed Mother.

Statue of the Miraculous Medal donated by La Salle High School Class 1934.

There is also this structure that looks like a bird cage but very huge, the size of a gazebo. Yes, and they call it bird cage or aviary even though are no birds in it.  

The Aviary

After immersing myself in the history of DLSU, I appreciated the school all the more. I can surmise that it is not just a testing ground for excellence, but a hallowed ground for its testament of loyalty to the Roman Catholic faith.