De La Salle University – Today in History : June 16, 1980
On June 16, 1980, the Philippine Government established the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), an agency tasked to promote and uphold the interests of Filipino emigrants and permanent residents abroad, and preserve and strengthen ties with Filipino communities overseas.
Through the enactment of Batas Pambansa (Republic Act) 79, it replaced the Office of Emigrant Affairs (OEA) but retained its mandate and extended its functions to formulate policies.
The CFO primarily registers and provides pre-departure orientation seminars to emigrants. It promotes, among other functions, the transfer of technology and material and financial contributions from overseas to development activities in underserved communities all over the Philippines.
The agency also provides younger generations of Filipinos overseas with opportunities to learn Philippine history, culture, institutions and the Filipino language.
Also on this same day in 1911, De La Salle University was established by the Brothers of the Christian Schools in Paco, Manila.
Classes were conducted in Spanish for the first 125 boys of varying ages and grade levels who enrolled and began their schooling in June 1911.
The Brothers were allowed to offer initially the full primary and intermediate programs (grades 1-4, 5-7) and a three-year commercial secondary school program.
It moved to its present location along Taft Avenue in the 1920s and was known then as De La Salle College.
