The University of San Carlos-College of Engineering marked its 75th anniversary this week with two commemorative events: the launching of a 283-page coffee table book and the issuance of a postage stamp by the Philippine Postal Corporation which were held simultaneously the other day.
The book is entitled “For the Good of Humanity: The First 75 Years of the USC College of Engineering,” and is ably authored by Dr. Patrick John Lim. The stamp, designed by computer engineering faculty Christopher James Labrador, on the other hand, carries as its design the college’s venerable home, the Lawrence Bunzel Building, the iconic architectural gem that meets any guest coming to the Talamban Campus. Incidentally, the building, designed by architects Cristobal Espina and Santos Alfon, also celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.
These two events are a first for USC. In the long history of the university, it has never issued a book specific to a college or a stamp to mark an event. In fact, three other colleges already marked their diamond jubilees (Law and Commerce in 2012 and Education in 2013) but somehow they missed the chance to come up with either a postage stamp or a jubilee book. Even the College of Arts and Sciences, which marks its 80th anniversary this year also failed in this regard.
One of the most touching moments for the book’s author happened during the pre-launch selling of the book the other day at the Grand Convention Center during the 2014 Grand Alumni Homecoming held there.
A father bought a copy and asked Patrick, the author, to sign it because he was giving it as a gift for his daughter, a sophomore engineering student at USC. That gesture of gift-giving by a father to a daughter defined the very essence of why this book came out: for the present and future generations of students to be inspired by the achievements of those who came ahead of them. And, boy, does this college have a long track record.
USC president Fr. Dionisio Miranda, SVD, in his opening message during the launch yesterday also defined the nature of this commemorative book, calling it a monument for the present and the future to read and build upon. Already a second volume to accompany this one is being mulled, to document the current generation of engineers now working here and abroad and giving honor to the college.
My congratulations to Dr. Lim and the woman behind this project, Dr. Evelyn Taboada, the dean of the College of Engineering, for setting the tone for other colleges–-and other schools and universities–to mark their achievements with monuments, one that generations read and ponder upon. Let me also acknowledge the men and women of the Philippine Postal Corporation for the speed with which the request for the stamp and the actual printing and delivery happened.
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Collectors who are interested to get copies of the book , the stamp and the accompanying first day covers and souvenir albums may contact the Dean’s Office at Tel. 2300 100 loc. 151. I am sure she will graciously sign copies to buyers. Copies of the book can also be obtained at the same office or at the USC Press (Tel. 2300-100 loc. 290) or at USC Museum (Tel. 2531000 loc. 191).