These could just be mere coincidence, but computer school STI curiously shares these same facts with the late senator. But it could also be that this shared history is what has propelled STI to seek out what Aquino had envisioned for the Filipino people — knowledge and enlightenment.

And so as the country celebrated the 25th death anniversary of the former senator, STI also marked its silver anniversary with a simple recollection of what it has achieved so far.

It was on August 21, 1983 — the same day that military henchmen shot Aquino on the back of his head —that four entrepreneurs and friends, Augusto Lagman, Herman Gamboa, Benjamin Santos, and Edgar Sarte, came together to put up Systems Technology Institute.

Lagman, the most prominent of the four founders, would go on to become an active officer of Namfrel (National Movement for Free Elections) during the 1986 snap elections that would eventually trigger the Edsa Revolution that would depose the dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

Lagman brought his social activism with him to STI, which would soon eventually figure in quickcount initiatives in every national election.

Lagman, as head of the IT Foundation of the Philippines (ITFP), has also spearheaded a lawsuit against the Comelec for approving an anomalous deal involving election counting machines. The Supreme Court ruled in his group’s favor.

Though no longer officially connected with STI, which is now being headed by lawyer Monico Jacob as chief executive, Lagman’s legacy is somehow still being carried out by the school through its effort to become a socially relevant education institution.

One such advocacy it is currently undertaking in line with its silver anniversary celebration is a campaign involving 20,000 student volunteers who will raise funds from their community for the transportation and meal allowances of out-of-school youths.

STI, in turn, will provide scholarships for selected out-of-school youths for any two-year course at any of its campuses nationwide.

Originally, the school was envisioned by its founders to serve as a training center for computer professionals for the then booming industry of information technology (IT).

It has accomplished that goal quite well, with its network of just three IT schools in the early 1980s exploding to more than 100 campuses, both local and abroad.

However, the school has expanded beyond computer education. Its programs now include courses in information and communications technology (ICT), engineering, healthcare, business and management, hotel and restaurant management, and education.

In September 2002, it completed its acquisition of De Los Santos College, paving the way for the school to offer a degree in nursing. With 19 schools, STI said it is now one of the largest networks of nursing colleges in the Philippines.

At some of its campuses, STI has also expanded to provide education at the basic and secondary levels. —Melvin G. Calimag