Tarlac State University celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Lucinda Campus earlier today (January 19, 2023) at the Alumni Center of the Lucinda Campus.
The anniversary marks the acquisition of the 10-hectare lot in Barangays Ungot and Maliwalo by former president Prof. Jack P. Smith through the donation of the couple Serafin and Lucinda David on the same day in 1973.
To commemorate this event, a program was held for the unveiling of the Serafin G. David and Lucinda C. David road signage at the Lucinda Campus and the ceremonial signing of the deed of donation and acceptance of the 2,592 square meters of land where the university's male and female dormitory will soon rise.
Representing TSU, university president Dr. Arnold E. Velasco led the unveiling and signing of the deed together with Mr. Serafin “Chito” C. David, Jr., S.G. David Realty & Development Co., Inc. president.
Pres. Velasco said he is very grateful for the generosity of the David family and for donating once again to the university.
“Your [family’s] generosity led to the significant changes to the life of the students – who are no longer students but accomplished persons now,” he said.
He also expressed his commitment to fully utilize the land for the construction of the dormitories for students.
“Marami po sa kanila will be given a significant change or improvement in their lives. Particularly, makatapos po sila na mga professionals gaya po natin. Kaya maraming-maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat,” he added.
Moreover, Pres. Velasco especially thanked Mr. Fidel S. Feliciano, TSU Alumni Association Inc. vice president, for working out the details and legalities of the donation. Mr. Feliciano served as the link between TSU and the David family.
In response, Ms. Maria Lucinda David-Esmundo expressed kind words and appreciation on behalf of their family.
“Education has always been important for our family. It is also an honor on our part to be able to do this for our province of Tarlac – adding to the prosperity and tradition of the great minds of our future citizens in Tarlac. Maraming salamat din sa inyong lahat for providing us an opportunity to do good and serve all of you,” she said.
In her welcoming remarks, Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Agnes M. Macaraeg also thanked the David family for their donation and reminisced about her time as an educator at the TSU Laboratory School.
She said they were able to instill the value of patience in their students because the roads then were not yet paved. She added that she and her students would walk from the School of Holy Spirit Tarlac to Lucinda Campus after riding a minibus.
“But we were very, very happy. Simply because out of the donations of the David family, we were able to produce so many professionals – doctors, nurses, teachers, architects, engineers... And now, because of your lot donations, we will be helping thousands of students not only here in Tarlac but also in nearby provinces,” she said.
The L.C. David road signage is located near the island in between the Alumni Center and the TSU Hotel. It traverses the path from the NSTP building until the campus exit gates. Meanwhile, the S.G. David road signage, located at the east corner of the Alumni Center, traverses the path from the entrance gate near the College of Teacher Education building to the Research, Extension, and Development building.
Meanwhile, the 2,592 sq.m lot donation for the dormitories is located inside the Villa Lucinda Subdivision across the Lucinda Campus.
