Silliman University breaks ground for business incubation facility
A groundbreaking ceremony was held May 22 for the Silliman University (SU) Business Incubation Facility to be constructed at the Fel & Bert Bravo Technopreneur Park in San Antonio, Sibulan.
The planned business incubation facility will offer services to foster technological innovation and entrepreneurial talent, as well as develop innovative products and services that will contribute to economic growth and progress in the country. Negros Oriental – and the Philippines in general – does not lack creative and entrepreneurial people. What the country lacks are the facilities and know-how to help these talented people develop and market their creative ideas and products to the full.
Dr. Felina Bravo and Atty. Edilberto Bravo recognize this urgent need and have made resources and funds available for such a facility. They have donated to SU 1.5 hectares of their land in San Antonio, Sibulan and committed one hundred million pesos to build the Business Incubation Facility in the Technopreneur Park.
SU president Betty Cernol-McCann, vice president for development Prof. Jane Annette Belarmino, former SU president Dr. Ben Malayang III, Prof. Janice Antoniette Forster, and SU Church pastor Rev. Dr. Noriel Capulong joined Atty. Bert and Dr. Fel Bravo, some members of the Bravo and Aldecoa families, and others involved in the project in breaking the ground on which the facility will be built.
“There can be no better investment that we could make for the youth than education,” Atty. Bravo told the gathering. His belief in education, he said, has guided his decision to make the donation to Silliman University.
“I come from a family of teachers; my wife, too, comes from a family of teachers,” he shared, adding that both of them believe in the old truism that goes: “Give a man some fish and you will feed him for a meal. But teach him how to fish and you will feed him and his family for a lifetime.”
In her response, Dr. McCann thanked the Bravos for their generous gift. She described the event as a confluence of forces: first, the generous Bravo couple, their vision, and their donation that will help in the economic development of the country; second, Silliman University, whose mission to develop competence, character, and faith will be put to test, and who will prove that it walks the talk in terms of contributing to economic development beyond offering academic programs and passing board exams.
Dr. McCann emphasized the importance of partnerships. “Silliman can’t do it all alone; we need the network of Dr. Fel, the resources of Atty. Bert. So that together, we can do more,” she said. In closing, the SU president said the university accepts the donation and makes a commitment to make the Business Incubation Facility work.
