Dr. Florangel R Braid
BRO. Andrew is one of those rare intellectuals who had successfully straddled the world of the academe and that of business management. Those of us in the education, media, and the arts sectors mourn his passing away at 65. If he had accomplished so much within these past six decades, it can be attributed not so much to his intellect and competence, as to his ability to manage time and resources. He was a man in a hurry and those of us who had worked with him are well aware of this trait.
Not only was he the longest serving president of the De La Salle University. He had the greatest impact, according to Bro. Armin Luistro, DLSU’s 20th president, as he was primarily responsible for articulating the institution’s vision — expanding, diversifying, and evolving it into becoming a "multiversity" in 1980. His work in linguistics had a profound effect on Philippine education and national identity, particularly in the context of our highly multi-lingual population, according to the citation given by the St. Mary’s College of California which awarded him a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership, honoris causa. His work in linguistics, where he was a leading scholar, provided the "balancing" framework in policy development — the "maintenance of English and the development and intellectualization of Filipino."
I had the privilege of working with him as he was trustee of our Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication for 17 years and its chairman for six years (he resigned upon his appointment as Secretary of Education). He steered the planning of the AIJC graduate school and its consultancy program, ensured its quality and independence as well as its financial viability. It was also Bro. Andrew who gave me the opportunity to write a regular column for this paper. He is known to have extended many acts of "building" and inspiring many individuals and institutions as can be shown in the number of organizations where he served as board director.
During his three-year stint at the DepEd, he introduced several innovations in the curriculum of basic education, and in the streamlining of the DepEd bureaucracy. According to Acting Secretary Fe Hidalgo, his dedicated service to the cause of Philippine education is unmatched. Although at times misunderstood, no one doubted his integrity, competence and concern for the common good.
A project where he had devoted considerable attention and energy during the last few years is the establishment of the Museo De La Salle together with the present curator, Joey Panlilio. This was his brainchild — a structure which he believed could strengthen the country’s vision of becoming the regional center of nationalism, history and culture (e.g., historical studies in Philippine revolution and Cavite studies). The reconstruction of the museum which was the original bahay na bato of the Joven Panlilio home in Bacolor started in 1996.
After retirement from the DepEd, Bro. Andrew became president of the Manila Bulletin, a position he held until he passed away last Sunday. He was also Vice President and Presidential Adviser for Academics and Research at the De La Salle University as well as its President Emeritus. The latter was the position given him by the Manila Bulletin just recently, after the appointment of Miguel Varela. He obtained his Ph.D. in Linguistics from the University of California at Berkeley, a Litt. D. from Waseda University.
We will miss Bro. Andrew, the quintessential educator, literati, gourmet, and one of the kindest persons I have ever met. He will be greatly missed by the students he had taught and those whose lives he had touched here and in the international community. Please e-mail me at florbraid@yahoo.com
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