There’s no stopping the internet generation from developing this world from learnings via sensory-laden multimedia environment and, as such, the St. John’s Institute (SJI) North Point Ayala Campus in Talisay City is building a new haven for its students to explore the digital world and transition from the traditional learning model to one that is transformational.

. The groundbreaking of the New Academic Center was led by (from left) Willy Au, Jonny Uy, William Ong, Fred Barcelona, Rep. Kiko Benitez, Talisay Mayor Neil Lizares, Talisay Councilor Carl Lizares, and William Chua*

This was the message of SJI chairman of the Board of Trustees, Alfredo Barcelona, during the inauguration of the multi-million Luis T. Ong Sports Pavilion and the Swimming Center, and the groundbreaking of yet another addition to the Ayala campus, the New Academic Building that is expected to accommodate 2,000 students at SJI North Point Ayala yesterday.

Rep. Francisco Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District), the keynote speaker at the event, said the new facilities in the Ayala campus will be “a source of pride for generations to come, not just in Talisay but in Negros Occidental as well.”

Benitez lauded the donors, like the Ong Family, the Lopue Family, and other benefactors, mostly alumni of SJI, for “realizing this vision of SJI and making sports as a major component in providing a holistic education.”

“Giving importance to sports is a testament that SJI is going beyond just academics as it teaches not just teamwork and cooperation but develops leadership,” Benitez said, adding that having the sports facilities provides “a natural high in the context of today’s drug war; a locus for the community to form a collective experience; and in today’s world of quick, and shallow likes and dislikes and a digital generation of apathy, sports reminds us to relate in a physical way.”

Talisay City Mayor Neil Lizares also lauded the donors of the sports pavilion and the swimming center as this will be another thing that Talisaynons can be proud of. A graduate of SJI, Lizares said he is prouder of being an alumnus and hopes that the facilities will “encourage our children to indulge in sports,” saying that, as a former athlete of the school, “sports helped develop my character.

As SJI celebrates its 60th founding anniversary, Barcelona paid tribute to all those who have donated and served in both SJI and the Queen of Peace church.

“They all made a difference, they all served well,” quoting founding father, Msgr. John Su, who said, “Every donation made towards SJI is a donation towards the construction of a church where every student will have an experiential learning of their faith…thus the Queen of Peace Church cannot be separated from the school.”

SJI also handed out plaques of appreciation to benefactors like Architect Andrei Denzel Chiu Lim, who designed the sports pavilion, Alex Lim, Mary Chris Lopue, Dennis Ong, and Wilson Chang.*