By: Sophia Pacheco
Photo by: Allen Matthew Velasquez/ The LANCE
Letran-Manila officially signed a sister school agreement with Kaohsiung Private Kaoyuan Senior Vocational School from Taiwan, on May 13, 2025, at St. Thomas Hall.
The ceremony was joined by faculty, administrators, and guests from Kaohsiung Private Kaoyan Senior Vocational School, and featured a cultural performance by the Letran Filipiniana Dance Company.
Professor Danilo K. Villena, Ph.D., Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA), delivered welcoming remarks, underlining the two educational institutions' shared purpose.
“The formal signing of the sister school agreement later will definitely affirm our common vision to provide our learners transformative experiences whether through friendship and cultural exchange programs, or any collaborative programs envisioned of ours and yours,” Prof. Villena stated.
Mr. Yu Cheng-Hsien, Chairman of Kaohsiung Private Kaoyan Senior Vocational School, expressed his gratitude and dedication to the new collaboration.
“We are devoted to our technical and vocational expansion of education. For many years we have already established the sister school agreement of Japan high school and through this sister agreement we have already helped and taken charge in teaching student exchange in technical and cultural support,” he shared.
He also discussed plans to increase collaborations in Southeast Asia through cultural activities, skill training, and the exchange of educational ideas, aiming to establish innovative learning platforms for the development of partner schools.
Rev. Fr. Raymund Fernando P. Jose, O.P., Rector and President of Letran-Manila, also spoke about the need for collaboration in increasing educational quality and expanding opportunities for students and teachers.
“This partnership will certainly enhance and strengthen our TechVoc job in senior high school and give them an accreditation level. It will also broaden the national perspectives of our teachers and students,” he said.
In an interview with The Lance, VPAA Prof. Villena discussed how the collaboration began, underlining the historical relevance and mutual interest.
“They came personally here upon knowing that our school happens to be one of the oldest in the Philippines. They have been looking for a partner school in Southeast Asia, particularly in the Philippines. So this is history because this is the very first time that they will be partnering with a school in the Philippines.” he explained.
When asked how Letran will remain true to its Catholic traditions while expanding globally, Prof. Villena assured that there would be no conflict because the partner school is also Catholic.
However, he added that the institutions have yet to confirm the details of the exchange programs or any initiatives, and both sides are focusing on developing friendships first before delving deeper to academic partnerships.