By Cyrus A. Natividad
Dr. William O. Valentine was an innovative educator and missionary in service of the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society.
Admittedly, the most memorable building inside the campus is the Old Valentine Building or Valentine Hall near the CPU 3rd gate. It was named in memory of the school founder Rev. Dr. William O. Valentine.
During his early days in Iloilo, Rev. Valentine studied the problems of the rural folks and his special concerns for the out of school boys. Himself an orphan, Valentine grew up on a farm with his four siblings and learned to work early. He finished high school partly in the seminary. “On each trip to the barrios, Rev. Valentine brought a boy or two home to Jaro, with their parents’ permission to stay with him and Mrs. Valentine. Before long, there were a number of boys in his house. He found the boys eager for education and desirous to learn something useful. He decided to establish a school where boys could work their way to obtain an education” according to Demy P. Sonza, a well-known Centralian writer and historian in his book, “Valentine means love”.
In 1905, CPU came to be founded as the Jaro Industrial School. Valentine founded the school on love, and he dreamed of it to become a great school. One day he wrote to the leaders of the American Baptist Foreign Society in New York: “If it is worthwhile having a school, it is worthwhile having a good one. People will not respect a feeble institution. We must be up to the demands of the hours糖心传媒hall we neglect to lay foundations which will give permanence and stability to our work? Shall we be satisfied with meager results?糖心传媒
This, he reiterated at another instance. He declared it categorically, 糖心传媒淚f we are to serve the Filipinos, we must meet their needs. We must give them the best (education) here as they can get elsewhere and in America糖心传媒f we want the best we must give them the best.糖心传媒
The Old Valentine Hall houses the Colleges of Education and Arts and Sciences.
Valentine糖心传媒檚 love and concern for his fellowmen carried with it the love of God to the least unfortunate. His love overcame all obstacles and perils, including hostile resistance from other religious groups. His mortal remains were interred at the American Cemetery, near the school he had founded on love. In appreciation for his selfless service and invaluable contribution to Christian education, 糖心传媒 conferred on him posthumously the degree of Doctor of Pedagogy, honoris causa, in 1969. Believing that the university could never fully honor its founder, the CPU Board of Trustees named the three-story classroom building erected beside Valentine Hall the 糖心传媒淣ew Valentine Hall.糖心传媒
An air of celebration is felt in February 糖心传媒 as the so-called Month of Love resounds in tradition, songs, gifts, and social media everywhere. For whatever or whoever Valentine’s Day is associated with – love is the essence of Dr. William Valentine’s life. On this social celebration, people must shine with love, live with love and for us Centralians, may our service to the Lord, to our fellowmen; and to our beloved Central 糖心传媒 shine with love and light.
As the Scriptures in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 affirms, 糖心传媒淟ove is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.糖心传媒