By: Nicole Llanderal
Photo Courtesy: Arreann Prim from The Letran Student Council.
Last May 8, 2025, the reimagined College of Engineering and Information Technology library had its grand launch and blessing rites led by Rev. Fr. Jose Martin L. Sibug, O.P., Colegio de San Juan de Letran’s Executive Vice President and Vice President for Administrative Affairs. The new CEIT library offers a modern, student-friendly environment designed to inspire creativity and learning not just for CEIT students but to all Letranites.
Julian Rainier Blancaflor, a 3rd year Information Technology student and Letran Student Council upcoming IT Senator, highlights how the revamped library space encourages a more creative approach to learning. "It promotes a more creative way of learning parang you will have options rather than yung normal tables and chairs and yung couches," he explains. The introduction of bean bags and carpets is a deliberate effort to attract students and enrich the learning environment, making it more inviting and conducive to study.
Matt David Obiena, a 4th year Information Technology student and Letran Student Council Digital Arts Senator and Senate President, is the project head of this initiative. "The main reason why we did this in the first place is because to add more spaces for students to stay or hangout with during their vacants and whenever they have to study outside of the class," he says. The addition of board games and a shoe rack, requested in consultation with library staff, further enhances the area as a chill zone where students can unwind while waiting for classes.
The project faced several hurdles as Julian Blancaflor emphasizes, "The challenges of these were multiple approval from different departments since we really have to follow certain protocols that adhere to the standards of the library and other standards of the Colegio such as safety and the number of seating capacities.”
Matt Obiena adds that timing was another challenge: "This was supposed to be done last year pero since we started initiative late into the school year, it was a bit too late to do something about it. So we just started with conducting surveys to the student. I guess ‘yun (ang challenge) since hindi naman lahat kaagad sumasagot. (The second challenge) the multiple consultations with the admins, sa library, sa ASD, sa CEIT, and then yung mga waiting for a suggestion and approvals ng VPAA.”
Assoc. Prof. Jacqueline Reynoso, ECE, Ph.D., Dean of CEIT, vision before was to have the library have an extension that it can accommodate more students. She sees the library’s new space as an opportunity to encourage faculty presence and engagement.
"It could invite more faculty to be staying in the library and with the newly purchased board games so we can invite more faculty members who had more of the creation type," she says, noting the board games as a way to stimulate creativity and relaxation among both students and faculty. While she envisioned a larger bean bag setup, she acknowledges the project as "one step at a time," with plans to continue improving the furniture and space.
Mr. Antonino “Sir Ton” Guerrero III, Head Librarian of the CEIT Library, shares that the initiative originated from the student council’s desire to make the library more inviting and open. "They just want to improve the set up in the library to make it more enticing to students na pumunta. Actually marami nang may gusto talaga ng open space kasi meron na kami sa ibang part ng library… so with that they try to initiate magkaroon din ng open space so students from the CEIT can relax, mag-share ng moment na hindi naka-set up sa lumang structure ng silid aklatan yung chairs and tables," he explains.
He also highlights the library’s ongoing modernization efforts, including expanding online resources such as Philippine e-journals and ebooks, aligning with the evolving needs of students and faculty. "We coordinate with the academics... we involve them so that they are interconnected… kahit yung mga before we bili ng ebooks, bumili ng mga online journals, we ask the faculty, the Dean to let them first experience a new acquire natin kasi sila din naman ang maga-approve niyan. So kami lang ‘yung nagr-recommend sa kanila tapos evaluate nila kung okay tapos with the approval of the Dean if-forward kay VPAA," ensuring that library services align with the Colegio’s mission and vision.
The reimagined CEIT Library embodies a collaborative effort among students, faculty, and administration to create a modern, student-friendly space that balances study and relaxation. As Matt Obiena hopes, "Future RSO’s and the future student council would also go with the initiative and add more spaces, add more ideas or events that could benefit the students and the Colegio.”