A partnership that began more than seven decades ago continues to support the formation of young leaders in Cebu. 

On March 4, 2026, the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI), Don Bosco Technical College – Cebu (DBTC), and the Salesians of Don Bosco formally marked the turnover of the Bugsay Leadership Center, a new space designed to empower students, and strengthen learning, and leadership development. 

The milestone builds on a shared history that dates back to 1955, when Don Ramon Aboitiz donated a 4.5-hectare property to the Salesians of Don Bosco. That land would later become the home of Don Bosco Technical College Cebu, a campus that has formed generations of young leaders and innovators. 

Over the years, RAFI and DBTC have sustained this partnership through programs that advance youth formation, leadership development, and education. The Bugsay Leadership Center continues this shared commitment to investing in the next generation.

Built to support Don Bosco Cebu’s vision of becoming a premier technopreneur hub in the Visayas, the center introduces modern learning spaces that encourage collaboration, innovation, and discovery. 

The facility includes a 350-seat auditorium that will serve as a venue for seminars, workshops, cultural events, and student assemblies. The center also features a visitor’s lounge, accessible facilities, and audio-visual equipment that support interactive learning experiences.

Complementing the auditorium is a library, envisioned as a learning resource hub that strengthens research, innovation, and access to knowledge for students. Together, these spaces create an environment where ideas grow, leadership is practiced, and students develop the skills needed to contribute meaningfully to society.

“What the Aboitiz family and RAFI have done here is not merely to add an AVR or a library for an institution, you have thrown your bugsay [strengths and capacity] in the same waters where Don Bosco has been rowing for nearly two centuries, here and every part of the world. You have helped us create a place where young people can think, imagine, research, and dream. Where the next engineers, technicians, artists, and parents will be formed not only in competence, but in conscience.  

Thank you for believing with us that investing in education is the surest investment in humanity. The one that never loses money because it is made in the minds and the hearts of the young,” Fr. Fidel Ma. D. Orendain, SDB General Councillor for Social Communications, shared during the ceremonial turnover. 

Today, the Bugsay Leadership Center will benefit over 700 Bosconians currently enrolled at DBTC, while also serving the generations of students who will follow. 

More than a new building, the Bugsay Leadership Center stands as a symbol of what enduring partnerships can achieve. Rooted in shared values and a belief in the power of education, the collaboration between RAFI and Don Bosco Cebu continues to open opportunities for young people to learn, lead, and build a better future.

As the next generation of Bosconians steps into this new space, the Bugsay Leadership Center reflects RAFI’s Past Forward commitment—honoring a legacy of partnership while embracing new ways to nurture leadership and innovation. It embodies how long-standing collaborations can continue to evolve, creating meaningful opportunities for young people today and for generations to come.