In its commitment to continue delivering quality education and exceptional service, STI West Negros University inaugurated its new School of Basic Education (SBE) building along Hilado Street, Barangay 18, Bacolod City, yesterday.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony and unveiling of the building marker were led by Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson; Rep. Greg Gasataya; Dr. Jesli Lapus, Chairman of the STIWNU Board of Trustees; Atty. Monico Jacob, Chairman of the Board of STIWNU; Peter Fernandez, STIWNU President; and Dr. Ryan Mark Molina, STIWNU Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer. Martin and Miya Tanco, STI Consultants, were also present during the event.
Dr. Lapus, a former Education Secretary, expressed his particular interest in basic education. “Our commitment to basic education is epitomized in this building. Without basic education, we cannot start talking about tertiary education. STI wants to contribute our share in basic education,” he said.
He further added that the expansion underscores the university’s commitment to providing excellent and quality education, aligning with its vision and mission to foster academic excellence and holistic development for its students.
The construction of the four-story building with an upper deck began on September 1, 2021, and was completed on April 30, 2024, marking a significant milestone for the university. The building covers almost 3,000 square meters and features 43 modern classrooms that can accommodate 4,000 SBE students, from pre-elementary to senior high school levels. It also houses 7 laboratories, an expansive library, a clinic, a faculty room, and meeting rooms, among other amenities to enhance students’ learning experience.
Lacson said for years, STIWNU has been a partner of the provincial government in various educational advancement programs, such as the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Scholarship.
“We are grateful to this partnership, which has made a significant difference in the lives of our Negrense scholars by enabling them to complete their tertiary education. The inauguration of your new SBE Building today, is a welcome development in our goal to enhance and strengthen our educational system. It is a decisive and bold step in meeting the challenges of educational globalization,” said the governor.
Rep. Gasataya, an alumnus of what was then West Negros College, said he was quite emotional while he was talking to the VIPs of the academic institution. He said he entered the School of Basic Education of the university in 1878 and graduated in 1984.
“This school produced a lot of graduates who during their elementary, high school and college years, were aiming to enroll in a private school but they did not have the resources. So, most of us went to this institution to get educated in a private school. I am pretty sure that your basic education facilities are, if not the best, one of the best in Bacolod City,” the solon said.
STIWNU was founded on Valentine’s Day in 1948 by three Baptist women leaders, and began as West Negros College (WNC). Initially housed in a rented hall, it quickly grew, moving to Burgos Street in 1951 and expanding its facilities to accommodate increasing enrollment. Over the years, the institution evolved, adding a gymnasium, computer center, and various buildings.
In 2008, WNC achieved university status. In 2013, the Agustin family turned over the university to STI Education Systems Holdings Inc.*
