Dear friends,

Do you know who Br. Andrew Gonzalez was?

He was president of DLSU from the late 1970s up to the early 1990s, and then again from 1994-1998. He appointed Secretary of the Department of Education and Culture (DEC) by then President Joseph Estrada. After the change of government in 2001, he assumed the role Vice President for Academics and Research of DLSU.

Do you know who Br. Andrew Gonzalez was?

He had many dreams for De La Salle; how it can be the best educational institution in the Philippines.

His ideas were very grand, inspiring, and very exciting. Together with his team of administrators, he went on to establish several Lasallian schools, among them, De La Salle- College of Saint Benilde.

Br. Andrew Gonzalez did not know anything about Deaf people until he met Fr. Luke Moortgart who told him about the plight of  Deaf high school graduates who did not have a chance to go to college.

Br. Andrew listened to the stories about the Deaf and became convinced that De La Salle could help improve the lives of Deaf people.

On his last year as President of De La Salle University System, Br. Andrew requested De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde to develop a program for the Deaf and to begin its operation the following school year. In SY 1991-1992, the certificate program for the Deaf was opened.

At that time, DLS-CSB did not know anything about Deaf people. Not one member of the College faculty knew sign language.

However, the administrators and faculty of DLS-CSB could not ignore the decision of the President. St. Benilde himself taught a Deaf boy. He did not know about Deaf people; neither did he know how to sign. But he learned from the Deaf boy. And when he learned, he committed himself to teach that Deaf boy.

So DLS-CSB was tasked to be as committed as St. Benilde was. I was the assigned guidance counselor for the Deaf back then. Together with other faculty members, I learned to sign and I learned about Deaf people. We evolved and continued to learn, and in our commitment to do our best, we found more and more Deaf and hearing people who learned to commit themselves to fulfill the College’s mission to teach the Deaf youth and help improve their lives.

After fifteen years, the College’s Deaf program has shown impressive progress. It continues to grow and reach out to more Deaf young adults who are determined to do something with their lives. We continue to hope that more and more Deaf and hearing people will help the College to continue its mission to help improve the lives of Deaf through education.

Did I personally know Br. Andrew Gonzalez?

We met quite a few times through the years as I fulfilled various responsibilities: Within a few seconds of greetings and discussions, he would ask about the Deaf program. The encounters were always quick and fast. I would report in quick succession the latest developments and updates. And each time, he would give advice and directions. And when the seconds were up, we parted ways. He continued in great speed to attend to his other tasks, and I had to stop for a few seconds to catch my breath.

The last time we met was three or four years ago. It was at the DLS-CSB chapel. And yes, just like in the past, we discussed developments and updates in a matter of seconds. And just like in the past, he gave me advice and directions. And yes, after we parted ways, I had to stop to catch my breath.

Do you know who Br. Andrew Gonzales was? He was the man I have wanted to talk to for the last few months. Why? To say thank you. He listened to the stories of Deaf people, and he created that one small opportunity to help Deaf people. Now that one small opportunity has grown to become what the School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies is now.

Today and the next few days I will see him at the DLSU chapel. Unlike in the past, this time it will not be done very quickly. Unlike in the past, I will not give updates. And unlike in the past, Br. Andrew Gonzalez will not be giving advice and directions.

I will no longer need to catch my breath. I will breathe quietly as I sit and pray….and give a silent but heartfelt thanks to Br. Andrew for that one decision he has made fifteen years ago to ask DLS-CSB to open a program for the Deaf.

In my quiet time of prayer, I hope to bring forth the many life stories of the Deaf people and the improved lives they live now. There are many more things that need to be done, and the calling to do more has grown stronger. The work must continue so that more young Deaf lives may be reached.

In the speed of unfolding opportunities and multitude of tasks to be done, I will stop every so often to catch my breath…to stand still and give reverence to that one man named Br. Andrew Gonzalez. He has passed on and left countless stories of hope and realized possibilities. One of which is the story of the Deaf program of DLS-CSB.

So now you know who he was.

Techie Benitez-dela Torre January 30, 2006