Dr. Mariano Lao, philanthropist and entrepreneur, came to Dumaguete to personally grace the inauguration and blessing of the SU-Lao Global Studies Center last Saturday, March 22, in a ceremony held on the fifth floor of the Portal East.
The Center’s establishment traces back to 2022 to create a center that would utilize virtual learning methods to offer short courses accessible to learners anywhere in the world.
In support of this vision, Dr. Mariano Lao, Outstanding Sillimanian Awardee for Business Entrepreneurship in 2018, committed a generous donation of P20 million to help establish the Center.
Following its official approval in 2023, the Center initially operated at the Dr. Mariano and Lina Lao Activity Hall in the Junior High School area before relocating to its permanent home on the fifth floor of Portal East.
Dr. Dave Marcial, Center director, noted the significance of the occasion, saying that the event was more than an inauguration of the building; it was bringing a vision to life.
“This new home—the Dr. Mariano C. Lao Global Studies Center—stands as a symbol of hope, innovation, and inclusion. It reflects our shared commitment to making learning limitless, flexible, and transformative,” Marcial said.
Three key units, each with a distinct role in advancing the Center’s mission, are likewise housed in the same building.
The Continuing Education and Professional Advancement Unit serves as the core of the Center. It offers a wide range of flexible, accessible programs designed to promote lifelong learning. These include non-degree programs, on-demand and streaming video content, tutorial and assistance services, as well as institutional skills assessments.
The Silliman Online University Learning (SOUL) Unit extends Silliman University’s tradition of educational excellence to a global audience. It is committed to building a learner-centered online community grounded in quality, innovation, and inclusion. Its services include online distance education, technology-enhanced onsite learning, learning management system administration, upskilling and retooling programs, instructional innovation and support, Silliman Open Online Courses (SOOCs), and alumni professional engagement.
The third unit, Innovation, Creation, Invention, and Outreach, functions as a dynamic research and training hub focused on digital literacy and community outreach. Its offerings include a free computer education program, flexible and open laboratory access, technology research and capstone grants, assistance programs, as well as educational technology competitions, research initiatives, and extension activities.
Marcial said that although the offerings sound technical, their core is deeply human: “They speak of hope, access, and opportunity. They reflect our mission to create learning spaces where people are empowered to grow, contribute, and lead.”
Dr. Betty Cernol McCann, SU president, thanked Dr. Lao and Mrs. Lina Lao for their donations that “allow the institution to pursue its teaching and learning goals.”
“The Center provides opportunities for students and lifelong learners to acquire skills and proficiencies through technology-oriented flexible learning modalities that sustain the university’s relevance in the workplace and the wider society,” McCann said.
During the event, Ricardo Balbido, SU BOT chair, and McCann presented a plaque of appreciation to Lao in recognition of his invaluable support in establishing the University’s technological global studies and learning hub.
In his acceptance speech, Lao reaffirmed his commitment to the continued growth and success of the Center. He also voiced his deep concern for underprivileged students, emphasizing the importance of extending support to those in need.
“If there’s one project I am willing to support, it will be something for the underprivileged—people who need help,” Lao said. “I needed help some time ago and received it from people like Prof. Lina Rabor, then principal, and other teachers at the SU High School.”
A fellowship dinner followed at The Dining Room of The Henry Resort attended, among others, by close friends of Dr. and Mrs. Lao from the Manila Polo Club, including Leo and Lulli De Leon; Tom and Claire Tansoc; Naresh and Diana Mirani; Joe and Karen De Venecia; Arnold and Tillie McKenzie; and Lynne Razon. | NWI
