De Lasalle University 1946

Dominating a stretch of Taft Avenue between Quirino and Vito Cruz Street is De La Salle University, which was established by the De La Salle Brothers in 1911 as a boys’ elementary and high school in Paco. As enrollment grew, a more suitable site was found along Taft Avenue where plans to build a new campus were delayed by World War I. It was only in 1921 that the present structure began to take shape, and in October 1923, the new De La Salle College building received its first students. By 1938, work began on its north and south wings, and new additions were made—including the chapel, dining room for boarders, and various laboratories.

De La Salle College was known for its excellent Commerce and Business courses. In the dark days of World War II, La Salle served as a refuge for war-affected civilians, and many of the school’s brothers were killed by the Japanese. After Liberation, the school reopened and classes resumed in July 1945. The '70s were a period of major breakthroughs—in 1973, the school began accepting female students, and in 1975, De La Salle achieved university status. Over a century after its founding, the animo spirit of De La Salle continues to shine on that sliver of land along Taft Avenue.