From Rubble to Resilience: Dr. Lourdes S. Fernandez and the Rise of PhilCST

• Dr. Lourdes S. Fernandez founded the Philippine College of Science and Technology (PhilCST) in 1993, transforming the ruins of the 1990 Luzon earthquake into a center for academic excellence.
• The institution serves as a testament to resilience and the "bayanihan" spirit, continuing to support community development over three decades later.

Origins in Disaster

• Following the 1990 earthquake that devastated Dagupan City, Dr. Fernandez, a former hotelier, chose to build a new institution in Calasiao rather than wait for existing schools to recover.
• The mission was aligned with then-President Fidel V. Ramos’s "Philippines 2000" program to modernize the nation.
• The first PhilCST building was constructed in 1993, with the college opening its doors in June 1994 as the first higher education institution in Calasiao.

Institutional Expansion

• 2008: Added a four-storey building featuring 28 classrooms, a computerized speech laboratory, and a dedicated space for the Mother Lourdes Learning School.
• Facilities: A 150-meter multi-purpose gymnasium was built to host community events, graduations, and sports.
• 2009-2010: The Lourdes Building IV opened, adding specialized facilities including an indoor firing range, chemistry laboratory, and TLE simulation rooms.

Educational Impact

• PhilCST is recognized as a premier institution in the North, offering programs in engineering, criminology, business, and science.
• Graduates regularly pass Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) licensure exams and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) assessments.

Ongoing Leadership

• Dr. Fernandez maintains an active role, emphasizing empathy and leadership through direct engagement with faculty and students.
• The institution remains deeply involved in local relief efforts, such as personal donations of rice and aid during recent flooding in Calasiao, upholding the founding commitment to social responsibility.