Andrew Gonzalez
Encyclopedia
Brother Andrew Benjamin Gonzalez FSC PhD (February 29, 1940 – January 29, 2006) was a linguist
, writer, educator, and a De La Salle Brother
. He served as president of De La Salle University
from 1979 to 1991 and from 1994 to 1998. From 1998 to 2001 he served as Secretary of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports
under the presidency of Joseph Estrada
. After his term ended, he returned to De La Salle University
as Vice President for Academics and Research from 2001 to 2003 and as Presidential Adviser for Academics and Research from 2003 to 2005.
Gonzalez conceptualized the De La Salle University System and helped expand the range of Lasallian education in the Philippines
. During his first term, Gonzalez established the College of Career Development of De La Salle University-Manila which later became De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde
and took over a college and a medical school in Dasmariñas
which became De La Salle University-Dasmariñas
and De La Salle Health Sciences Institute.
Gonzalez attended and completed grade school at De La Salle College in Manila. He was a consistent honor student and graduated as salutatorian
. He also finished his High School at De La Salle College in 1955 as Valedictorian. His love for teaching made him decide to become a De La Salle Christian Brother. He finished his novitate at the De La Salle Retreat House in Baguio City
on November 20, 1955 and made his initial vows the year after. He joined the Scholasticate of the De La Salle Christian Brothers in Winona
, Minnesota
, U.S.A. on December 10, 1956. He studied at Saint Mary's College
, a Christian Brother-run college in Winona and earned his Bachelor of Arts
degree at the top of his class at the age of 19. He obtained his Master of Arts
in English Literature
from The Catholic University of America
in Washington, D.C.
the year after.
He returned to the Philippines in 1960 and began teaching English Language and Literature at the high school department of La Salle College
in Bacolod City
, Negros Occidental. He served in several administrative positions at De La Salle College in Manila from 1964 to 1967 and made his final vows as a De La Salle Brother on May 30, 1965. He took up graduate courses in linguistics
in the Philippine Normal College. He was admitted to the doctoral program in linguistics at the University of California, Berkeley
as a Regent's Fellow in Linguistics and as a Stanley Tasheira Scholar in 1967 and completed the PhD degree in 1970.
, and in 1994 he was elected to his second term as president of De La Salle University-Manila where he served until 1998. He was appointed as the Secretary of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports
during the term of President Joseph Ejercito Estrada on July 1998 and served until January 2001. During his term as DECS Secretary he got involved with the Ford Expedition Scandal. He rejoined De La Salle University-Manila as Vice President for Academics and Research from 2001 to 2003 and as Presidential Adviser for Academics and Research from 2003 to 2005. Manila Bulletin gave him the title of President Emeritus on January 26, 2006.
, Cavite
which respectively became De La Salle University-Dasmariñas and the De La Salle Health Sciences Institute. He prioritized graduate education by creating new masteral and doctoral degree programs. He also wrote many books in linguistics and education. Under his term, De La Salle University-Manila underwent significant developments as an institution of higher learning, particularly in the areas of research and faculty and program development. He also promoted Alumni activities, and boosted scholarly activities on campus. For example, he made his private collection of books available to members of the public, especially ones interested in learning about applied linguistics.
He initiated the revision of the Basic Education Curriculum and placed a corruption-free procurement system which significantly reduced the costs of textbooks and supplies purchased by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports
. He initiated the changing of language of instruction to the lingua franca
for the first three grades.
and from San Beda College
. He received honorary doctorate degrees from Waseda University
and Soka University in Japan, St. Paul University in Canada and from St. Mary's College of California. De La Salle University Manila granted him the title of President Emeritus on September 28, 2005 and DLSU-Manila's new state-of-the-art 20-storey General Education Building
was named the Brother Andrew Gonzalez Hall.
, Batangas
.
Linguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. Linguistics can be broadly broken into three categories or subfields of study: language form, language meaning, and language in context....
, writer, educator, and a De La Salle Brother
De La Salle Brothers in the Philippines
The De La Salle Brothers - Philippine District is part of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, the largest congregation of Roman Catholic religious Brothers who are exclusively dedicated to education...
. He served as president of De La Salle University
De La Salle University-Manila
De La Salle University is a private Lasallian university in Malate, Manila, Philippines. It was founded in 1911 by De La Salle Brothers as the De La Salle College in Paco, Manila with Blimond Pierre serving as its first director...
from 1979 to 1991 and from 1994 to 1998. From 1998 to 2001 he served as Secretary of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports
Department of Education (Philippines)
The Department of Education , is the executive department of the Philippine government responsible for the management and governing of the Philippine system of basic education. It is the chief formulator of Philippine educational policy and is responsible for the Philippine primary and secondary...
under the presidency of Joseph Estrada
Joseph Estrada
Joseph "Erap" Ejercito Estrada was the 13th President of the Philippines, serving from 1998 until 2001. Estrada was the first person in the Post-EDSA era to be elected both to the presidency and vice-presidency.Estrada gained popularity as a film actor, playing the lead role in over 100 films in...
. After his term ended, he returned to De La Salle University
De La Salle University-Manila
De La Salle University is a private Lasallian university in Malate, Manila, Philippines. It was founded in 1911 by De La Salle Brothers as the De La Salle College in Paco, Manila with Blimond Pierre serving as its first director...
as Vice President for Academics and Research from 2001 to 2003 and as Presidential Adviser for Academics and Research from 2003 to 2005.
Gonzalez conceptualized the De La Salle University System and helped expand the range of Lasallian education in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. During his first term, Gonzalez established the College of Career Development of De La Salle University-Manila which later became De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde
De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde
De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde is a private Catholic college in the Malate district of Manila, Philippines. The main campus is along Taft Avenue, with two campuses along Pablo Ocampo Street and Arellano Avenue...
and took over a college and a medical school in Dasmariñas
Dasmariñas
Dasmariñas may refer to:* Dasmariñas City, a city in the province of Cavite, Philippines* Dasmariñas Resettlement Area, a resettlement area located in Dasmariñas City* Dasmariñas Village in Makati City, Philippines...
which became De La Salle University-Dasmariñas
De La Salle University-Dasmariñas
De La Salle University - Dasmariñas ' is a member institution of De La Salle Philippines located in Dasmariñas City, Cavite. It was established on July 18, 1977 as a private nonsectarian tertiary school named General Emilio Aguinaldo College-Cavite and managed by the Yaman Lahi Foundation...
and De La Salle Health Sciences Institute.
Early life
Gonzalez was born as Macario Diosdado Arnedo Gonzalez in Manila to Augusto Gonzalez, a prominent businessman and wealthy landowner and Rosario Arnedo, daughter of Pampanga Governor Macario Arnedo.Gonzalez attended and completed grade school at De La Salle College in Manila. He was a consistent honor student and graduated as salutatorian
Salutatorian
Salutatorian is an academic title given, in the United States and Canada, to the second highest graduate of the entire graduating class of a specific discipline. Only the valedictorian is ranked higher. This honor is traditionally based on grade point average and number of credits taken, but...
. He also finished his High School at De La Salle College in 1955 as Valedictorian. His love for teaching made him decide to become a De La Salle Christian Brother. He finished his novitate at the De La Salle Retreat House in Baguio City
Baguio City
The City of Baguio is a highly urbanized city in northern Luzon in the Philippines. Baguio City was established by Americans in 1900 at the site of an Ibaloi village known as Kafagway...
on November 20, 1955 and made his initial vows the year after. He joined the Scholasticate of the De La Salle Christian Brothers in Winona
Winona
- Places :United States* Winona, Arizona* Winona, California, former name of Squeaky Springs, California* Winona Lake, Indiana* Winona, Kansas* Winona, Michigan* Winona County, Minnesota** Winona, Minnesota, the county seat of Winona County...
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, U.S.A. on December 10, 1956. He studied at Saint Mary's College
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is a private, comprehensive, coeducational university with an undergraduate campus in the city of Winona, Minnesota, United States...
, a Christian Brother-run college in Winona and earned his Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree at the top of his class at the age of 19. He obtained his Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in English Literature
English literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
from The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America is a private university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
the year after.
He returned to the Philippines in 1960 and began teaching English Language and Literature at the high school department of La Salle College
University of St. La Salle
The University of St. La Salle , located in La Salle Avenue, Bacolod City, Philippines, is a Catholic private university run by the De La Salle Brothers. Established in 1952 as La Salle College-Bacolod, it is the second oldest campus originally founded by the congregation in the country...
in Bacolod City
Bacolod City
The City of Bacolod , is a highly urbanized midsize Philippine city. It is the capital of the Negros Occidental province. Having a total of 499,497 inhabitants as of August 1, 2007, it is the most populous city in the Western Visayas Region. It is currently ranked as the 17th most populous city in...
, Negros Occidental. He served in several administrative positions at De La Salle College in Manila from 1964 to 1967 and made his final vows as a De La Salle Brother on May 30, 1965. He took up graduate courses in linguistics
Linguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. Linguistics can be broadly broken into three categories or subfields of study: language form, language meaning, and language in context....
in the Philippine Normal College. He was admitted to the doctoral program in linguistics at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
as a Regent's Fellow in Linguistics and as a Stanley Tasheira Scholar in 1967 and completed the PhD degree in 1970.
Return to the Philippines
Gonzalez returned to the Philippines in 1971 where he was chosen to become the chairman of the Humanities Department of De La Salle College and was promoted to Academic Vice President from 1971 to 1978. Upon the sudden death of then De La Salle University President- Brother H. Gabriel Connon FSC, Gonzalez became the Acting President. In recognition of his exceptional management ability, he was elected as the president of De La Salle University by the Board of Trustees in 1979 and served until 1991. After his term as university president, he was designated as president of Manila Bulletin Publishing CorporationManila Bulletin
The Manila Bulletin , is the Philippines' largest broadsheet newspaper by circulation, followed by the Philippine Daily Inquirer. It bills itself as "The Nation's Leading Newspaper", which is its official slogan...
, and in 1994 he was elected to his second term as president of De La Salle University-Manila where he served until 1998. He was appointed as the Secretary of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports
Department of Education (Philippines)
The Department of Education , is the executive department of the Philippine government responsible for the management and governing of the Philippine system of basic education. It is the chief formulator of Philippine educational policy and is responsible for the Philippine primary and secondary...
during the term of President Joseph Ejercito Estrada on July 1998 and served until January 2001. During his term as DECS Secretary he got involved with the Ford Expedition Scandal. He rejoined De La Salle University-Manila as Vice President for Academics and Research from 2001 to 2003 and as Presidential Adviser for Academics and Research from 2003 to 2005. Manila Bulletin gave him the title of President Emeritus on January 26, 2006.
As President of De La Salle University Manila
As president of De La Salle University Manila, he conceptualized the De La Salle University System and helped expand the range of Lasallian education in the Philippines. Brother Andrew established the College of Career Development of De La Salle University-Manila which became the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde and took over a college and a medical school in DasmariñasDasmariñas
Dasmariñas may refer to:* Dasmariñas City, a city in the province of Cavite, Philippines* Dasmariñas Resettlement Area, a resettlement area located in Dasmariñas City* Dasmariñas Village in Makati City, Philippines...
, Cavite
Cavite
Cavite is a province of the Philippines located on the southern shores of Manila Bay in the CALABARZON region in Luzon, just 30 kilometers south of Manila. Cavite is surrounded by Laguna to the east, Metro Manila to the northeast, and Batangas to the south...
which respectively became De La Salle University-Dasmariñas and the De La Salle Health Sciences Institute. He prioritized graduate education by creating new masteral and doctoral degree programs. He also wrote many books in linguistics and education. Under his term, De La Salle University-Manila underwent significant developments as an institution of higher learning, particularly in the areas of research and faculty and program development. He also promoted Alumni activities, and boosted scholarly activities on campus. For example, he made his private collection of books available to members of the public, especially ones interested in learning about applied linguistics.
As DECS Education Secretary
Department of Education (Philippines)
The Department of Education , is the executive department of the Philippine government responsible for the management and governing of the Philippine system of basic education. It is the chief formulator of Philippine educational policy and is responsible for the Philippine primary and secondary...
. He initiated the changing of language of instruction to the lingua franca
Lingua franca
A lingua franca is a language systematically used to make communication possible between people not sharing a mother tongue, in particular when it is a third language, distinct from both mother tongues.-Characteristics:"Lingua franca" is a functionally defined term, independent of the linguistic...
for the first three grades.
Recognition
In recognition of Gonzalez's achievements, he received awards from the City of Manila, National Press Club, Adamson UniversityAdamson University
Adamson University is a private university Catholic university in Manila, Philippines, founded on June 30, 1932 by Greek immigrant George Lucas Adamson as the Adamson School of Industrial Chemistry...
and from San Beda College
San Beda College
San Beda College or Dalubhasaan ng San Beda in Filipino is a Private Benedictine college run by the Benedictine monks in the Philippines. It is located on Mendiola Street in San Miguel, Manila...
. He received honorary doctorate degrees from Waseda University
Waseda University
, abbreviated as , is one of the most prestigious private universities in Japan and Asia. Its main campuses are located in the northern part of Shinjuku, Tokyo. Founded in 1882 as Tokyo Senmon Gakko, the institution was renamed "Waseda University" in 1902. It is known for its liberal climate...
and Soka University in Japan, St. Paul University in Canada and from St. Mary's College of California. De La Salle University Manila granted him the title of President Emeritus on September 28, 2005 and DLSU-Manila's new state-of-the-art 20-storey General Education Building
Br. Andrew Gonzalez Hall
The Br. Andrew Gonzalez Hall is a 20 storey academic complex designed by Philip H. Recto Architects for De La Salle University. It is located on a 1,700-square-meter lot between Taft Avenue and Fidel Reyes St. and in front of the Enrique M. Razon Sports Center...
was named the Brother Andrew Gonzalez Hall.
Death
Gonzalez died due to complications of diabetes on January 29, 2006 at the De La Salle University Medical Center of De La Salle Health Sciences Institute in Dasmariñas, Cavite. His remains were brought to the De La Salle Brothers' Mausoleum at Lipa CityLipa City
The Lipa City /Li-pâ/ is a first class city in the province of Batangas, Philippines. It is one of the three component cities of Batangas province...
, Batangas
Batangas
Batangas is a first class province of the Philippines located on the southwestern part of Luzon in the CALABARZON region. Its capital is Batangas City and it is bordered by the provinces of Cavite and Laguna to the north and Quezon to the east. Across the Verde Island Passages to the south is the...
.
External links
- De La Salle University Manila
- De La Salle Philippines
- Philippine Lasallian Family website
- De La Salle Alumni Association