24 Facts About Andrew Gonzalez

Brother Andrew Benjamin Gonzalez was a Filipino linguist, writer, educator, and a De La Salle Brother.

Andrew Gonzalez served as president of De La Salle University from 1979 to 1991 and from 1994 to 1998.

Andrew Gonzalez attended and completed grade school at De La Salle College in Manila.

Andrew Gonzalez was a consistent honor student and graduated as salutatorian.

Andrew Gonzalez finished his high school at De La Salle College in 1955 as Valedictorian.

Andrew Gonzalez finished his novitiate at the De La Salle Retreat House in Baguio on November 20,1955, and made his initial vows the year after.

Andrew Gonzalez joined the Scholasticate of the De La Salle Christian Brothers in Winona, Minnesota, USA on December 10,1956.

Andrew Gonzalez studied at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, a Christian Brother-run college in Winona and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree at the top of his class at the age of 19.

Andrew Gonzalez obtained his Master of Arts in English Literature from The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, the year after.

Andrew Gonzalez returned to the Philippines in 1960 and began teaching English Language and Literature at the high school department of La Salle College in Bacolod, Negros Occidental.

Andrew Gonzalez served in several administrative positions at De La Salle College in Manila from 1964 to 1967 and made his final vows as a De La Salle Brother on May 30,1965.

Andrew Gonzalez took up graduate courses in linguistics in the Philippine Normal College.

Andrew Gonzalez was admitted to the doctoral program in linguistics at the University of California, Berkeley as a Regent's Fellow in Linguistics and as a Stanley Tasheira Scholar in 1967 and completed the PhD degree in 1970.

Andrew Gonzalez returned to the Philippines in 1971 where he was chosen to become the chairman of the Humanities Department of De La Salle College and was promoted to Academic Vice President from 1971 to 1978.

Andrew Gonzalez was appointed as the Secretary of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports during the term of President Joseph Ejercito Estrada in July 1998 and served until January 2001.

Andrew Gonzalez rejoined De La Salle University-Manila as vice president for Academics and Research from 2001 to 2003 and as Presidential Adviser for Academics and Research from 2003 to 2005.

Brother Andrew Gonzalez established the College of Career Development of De La Salle University-Manila which became the De La Salle-College of St Benilde and took over a college and a medical school in Dasmarinas, Cavite which respectively became De La Salle University-Dasmarinas and the De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute.

Andrew Gonzalez prioritized graduate education by creating new masteral and doctoral degree programs.

Andrew Gonzalez promoted Alumni activities, and boosted scholarly activities on campus.

Andrew Gonzalez initiated the revision of the Basic Education Curriculum and placed a corruption-free procurement system which significantly reduced the costs of textbooks and supplies purchased by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports.

Andrew Gonzalez initiated the changing of language of instruction to the regional language for the first three grades.

Andrew Gonzalez received honorary doctorate degrees from Waseda University and Soka University in Japan, St Paul University in Canada and from St Mary's College of California.

Andrew Gonzalez died due to complications of diabetes on January 29,2006, at the De La Salle University Medical Center of De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute in Dasmarinas, Cavite.

Andrew Gonzalez's remains were brought to the De La Salle Brothers' Mausoleum at Lipa City, Batangas.