Bacolor -- The Don Bosco Academy (DBA) - Bacolor named its newest academic building after its late alumnus and business magnate Liberato “Levy” P. Laus in honor of the latter’s self-less contributions and initiative that led to the school’s homecoming in this town.
The Levy P. Laus building was formally unveiled before the school community on Wednesday afternoon, July 10. It was also witnessed by Laus’ family, relatives and closest friends, business colleagues and members of the Pampanga clergy.
DBA-Bacolor Rector Fr. Ditto Gueco, who led the unveiling of the building, remembered the late Laus as the one of the prime movers in the proposal back in 2015 to re-open the old campus in Barangay Cabalantian here.
Laus, who graduated from the academy in 1966, then enjoined and led his fellow alumni in clamoring for the return DBA-Bacolor campus almost 20 years after it relocated due to ravaging of lahar from the Mt. Pinatubo eruption.
“Kong (brother) Levy really pushed for the return of the old campus here in Bacolor and so he led his fellow alumni to formally file for a request to the Salesian priests of Don Bosco back in 2015 and I believe that is just one of the many major contributions he made for Don Bosco,” Gueco said.
Gueco added that Laus has been very active in supporting the programs and activities, as well as the needed development of the school community after it finally re-opened in 2016, and even until before his early demise earlier this year.
The Salesian priest said that Laus was a testament of being a true Bosconian who worked for excellence and for the people around him, especially the needy, through the socio-civic movements he initiated.
Among them are Laus’ spearheading of the Save San Fernando Movement which became vital in sparing the capital city from the ravages lahar, and his initiative of developing the countryside, Gueco said.
“It is only fitting that we honor the well-lived life of Kong Levy and memorialize all his legacies through this building and I am positive that he can inspire more young Bosconians who will be studying in every classrooms of this building,” he said.
Meanwhile, Laus’ daughter Carissa expressed gratitude and appreciation, in behalf of the whole family, to the Bosconian community for honoring their patriarch through such generous gesture.
“We are very much overwhelmed and happy because we know that our late father will forever be remembered in the community that he also very much love and we hope that our works will continue to inspire a lot of young people,” Carissa said.
Carissa also assured the Bosconian community and Kapampangans as whole that her father’s advocacy of providing educating for the youth will be sustained by the family, through the leadership of the family matriarch Tess Laus.
“Our papa always believed in the capabilities of Kapampangans and he always thought the proper education is the best way to enhance one’s talents and we, in the family, are very dedicated in pursuing his mission of helping Kapampangans, in our own simple ways, to reach the full potential,” she said.
Laus’ grandson Francef Julian, remembering the big plans of his Lolo for DBA-Bacolor and Pampanga province, has also shared his dream of a brighter future for his fellow youth, especially the poor and marginalized, who will be having their own Bosconian journey in the near future.
“Lolo Levy has left a message and gift for me and my family — to aim high and fly, to face challenges and risks, to dream big for others. This green building that is named after him marks his presence with us, and also for the future generations of school children, Bosconians, who will live and learn inside it. I dream for them big, just like how my Lolo Levy dreamed big for all of us here,” he said.