LIPA CITY, Batangas — What was once an ambitious idea discussed around conference tables is now becoming a reality.
On June 19, Jose Rizal University officially broke ground for its future Lipa Campus, a development that will expand the university’s presence beyond Metro Manila and bring its educational programs closer to students and families in Southern Luzon.
The ceremony brought together university leaders, students, alumni, local officials, and project partners to celebrate a milestone that has been years in the making. While construction has yet to begin in full, the event marked the first tangible step toward a campus envisioned to serve future generations of Rizalians.
For JRU President Dr. Vicente K. Fabella, the groundbreaking represented more than the start of a construction project. It was the realization of a vision that began more than a decade ago when the university first explored opportunities to establish a second campus.
In his keynote address, Fabella recalled how JRU began studying potential expansion sites in 2014. Over the years, plans evolved, locations were evaluated, and timelines shifted, yet Lipa consistently remained at the center of the university’s plans. Those plans were temporarily halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which delayed projects across the country. Even so, the university remained committed to bringing the campus to life.
“We have developed a strong educational experience over the years, and we want to bring that experience outside Metro Manila,” Fabella said. “We hope that by coming here to Lipa, we continue to learn, improve, and create more opportunities for students.”
The president also shared a personal reflection that resonated with the audience. Noting that Dr. Jose Rizal’s first love, Segundina Katigbak, was from Lipa, Fabella joked that unlike Rizal, JRU kept returning to the city until its plans finally became reality.
The remark drew laughter, but it also underscored the university’s longstanding
connection to Lipa and its determination to establish a lasting presence in the city.
The future campus is expected to provide students in Batangas and neighboring provinces greater access to a JRU education while remaining connected to the university’s broader academic and professional network. The first phase of development will include a five-story academic building designed to support learning, collaboration, and student development.
As university officials and partners participated in the ceremonial turning of the soil, the moment served as a reminder that the project is ultimately about more than buildings. It is about the opportunities that will emerge once those buildings are filled with students, teachers, and future professionals.
Years from now, the site will look very different from the open space that welcomed guests on June 19. Classrooms will replace construction equipment, and students will fill hallways that have yet to be built. For now, however, the groundbreaking stands as the first step toward that future.
As construction begins, JRU hopes that the future Lipa Campus will become more than a place of learning. It is envisioned as a place where students can dream of a better future, discover their potential, and create opportunities for themselves, their families, and their communities. Through education, the campus aims to help shape generations of Rizalians who will carry forward the university’s mission and make meaningful contributions wherever life takes them.
Chynna A. Tamayo
Writer, Rizalian Student Focus
Rusylle Jon Viance L. Famentera
Photographer, Rizalian Student Focus