Assumption College Service Awards

*Dr. Maria Corazon T. Lopez

Good afternoon.

Today I am honoring a dear colleague at the School of Business, who of late, we have started to call endearingly as "Lolo Ben." Despite the fact that he is an accountant by training, by profession, and active practice, he has taken the role of being our resident nutritionist and wellness moderator - closely watching over what we eat and how we take care of ourselves. His caring of us is so very much in the core of his being that his concern was about us in the department even at the worst time of his stay in the hospital.

Our "Lolo Ben" is Professor Benjamin de la Cruz. He came to join us in 1994 as part time faculty, the youngest of the batch of seasoned gentlemen professors such as Mr. Lao, Mr. Buhay, Dr. Handog and Mr. Apodaca.

He came to us with a portfolio of experiences gained from 22 productive years of working in San Miguel Corporation. His skill in teaching was honed by his exposure in Ateneo and Don Bosco as part time faculty. In 1997, he became an "Asumptionist" and took on the mantle of a true Assumption educator focusing mostly on teaching accounting and finance subjects. As an administrator, he nurtured the Marketing Department as the Chairperson. He actively involved himself in the PAASCU committees on curriculum and on physical plant. I am sure his sojourns as an ISSP professor would remain permanently embedded in his memory. "Lolo Ben" always spoke very fondly of his ISSP times with the students.

"Lolo Ben" is retiring. He will be missed by the students because he is so well loved by them - always referring to his fatherly concerns. We, his colleagues, will miss his edgy jokes, his ministerings to our wellness, his towering strength at times of adversity. We will miss having an unofficial photographer and documentor in our midst.

In behalf of the department and the rest of the Assumption College, today we honor this man - Professor Benjamin de la Cruz - for thirteen years of unstinting service; for thirteen years of embracing this life of a mentor to a bevy of young women, many of whom are now successful professionals, mothers, and leaders. Ladies and gentlemen, a warm applause to our man of the hour - PROF. BENJAMIN DELA CRUZ.


*Maria Corazon T. Lopez, PhD.
Associate Dean, School of Business
Assumption College

9 March 2007 5F Therese Emmanuel Building