To give unified honor and sincere appreciation to the true-blooded son of Bacolor, Pampanga, the College of Technology (CIT) building of Don Honorio Ventura State University (DHVSU) – Bacolor Campus has officially been renamed as the Guillermo D. Mendoza Building, effective November 30, 2023.

The renaming ceremony took place at the frontage of the CIT building and was attended by the DHVSU administrative council, led by University President Dr. Enrique Baking, the CIT faculty and staff led by College Dean Dr. Benigno P. Legamia Jr., and the Mendoza family, headed by Atty. Estelito P. Mendoza, who served as the commemorator and guest of honor.

“I would like to thank the [University] President Enrique Baking, and whoever bestowed this honor to my father. I will not say honor to my father but an honor to industrial arts, not just to civil engineers but to civil industrial arts,” Atty. Mendoza stated in his commemorative message.

In a message delivered by Dr. Baking, he told the audience about Atty. Mendoza’s contribution as the man behind the conversion of Don Honorio Ventura Memorial Schools of Arts and Trades into Don Honorio Ventura College of Arts and Trades by the virtue of Presidential Decree 1373 on the 5th day of May 1978, during his tenure as the solicitor-general, Pampanga governor, and minister of justice.

“The renaming of the industrial technology building into Guillermo D. Mendoza building could never be enough to equate the overwhelming contribution and uncontested support extended to DHVSU by the Mendoza family,” Dr. Baking expressed.

The late Guillermo D. Mendoza (1900-1958) was a former student of DHVSU when it was still offering elementary school, a public school teacher, and a former Supervisor of Arts and Trades, Chief Trade and Industrial Education, Bureau of Public Schools, and a Superintendent of Industrial Arts.

Words and photos by Samantha Batalla | MIS Office