Joemart C.

Enricoso BSMT-2

MADAME Laureana San Pedro-Rosales, the founder of Capitol University and several other educational institutions in Northern Mindanao, died last July 24. She was 84 years old.She was born in Limay, Bataan in 1925. Unable to become the medical doctor she had dreamed to be due to inadequate family resources, she obtained the Elementary Teachers Certificate from Philippine Normal School in 1947. She taught at:

Limay Elementary School in Limay, Bataan; Cosmopolitan College in Manila; Agusan Colleges in Butuan; and Kamilol Islam Institute in Marawi City where she became Principal, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Executive Vice President in the fifties and sixties.

With her late husband Engr. Sesenio S. Rosales, she founded the following schools:

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Iligan Capitol College in 1964; Jose Rizal Institute in Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte in 1965; Cagayan Capitol College, now Capitol University in 1971; Bataan Heroes Memorial College in Balanga, Bataan in 1979; Gingoog City Junior College in Gingoog City in 1981; St. Francis Learning Center in Cagayan de Oro City in 1987; and Lyceum of Iligan Foundation in Iligan City in 1996. She founded Capitol General Hospital Foundation in Cagayan de Oro City in 1973. She also established several successful business corporations. Her charitable projects have benefited churches, seminaries, religious communities and programs. She has donated a ten-hectare lot in Maitum, Puerto, Cagayan de Oro City for a Drug Rehabilitation Center and a home for street children and unwed mothers

A testament to her contributions to the field of education, Madame Rosales was feted in different universities in the country and abroad. In 2004, she was conferred the Doctor of Humanities, Honors Cause from Soka University in Tokyo, Japan testament to her selflessness and dedication to human spiritual development, she was given the Papal Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice in Balanga, Bataan in 1993; conferred with the Papal Nuncio Award in the year 2000 and Dame of the Pontifical Order of St. Sylvester in 2000.She is survived by her daughters Linda and her husband Ray Deleste, and Fe Juarez her husband, lawyer Casimiro B. Juarez, Jr., and her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her remains lie in state at the CU Gymnatorium since Saturday, July 25, till the late afternoon tomorrow. Starting tomorrow evening, her remains will lie in state at the St. Augustine Cathedral. Interment at Divine Shepherd Memorial Gardens will follow shortly after the 9 a.m. funeral mass on Wednesday.