______________, 2000

His Excellency Mons. Pedro Dean, D.D.
Archbishop of Palo
Archbishop's Palace, Palo
Province of Leyte

Your Excellency,

For many decades Divine Word University of Tacloban had played a key role in the Catholic education of the youth in your Archdiocese delivering quality education at affordable prices with standards rivaling those of the best schools in Metro Manila and Metro Cebu. Its unfortunate closure in 1995 deprived your Flock of quality Catholic education and adversely affected the economy of Region VIII. Families now had to pay more for a similar kind of education they wanted for their children, and many collateral businesses in the area closed up or suffered severe income declines as a result of the closure. Up to now, the people of Leyte and Samar are still experiencing these ill effects.

We feel that as the Leader and Shepherd of the faithful in your Archdiocese, Your Excellency has some degree of obligation and responsibility to see to it that your Archdiocese has a Catholic institution of higher learning for the education of the youth under your care. Divine Word University is the only such institution in your Archdiocese, and we feel that Your Excellency should act urgently to effect its reopening. And since the Archdiocese has a proprietary interest in DWU, as we understand, Your Excellency, it is, if we may suggest, in a good legal position to arrange for DWU's reopening.

Rest assured of our prayers and support in whatever action Your Excellency may undertake for the reopening of DWU.

Sincerely yours,

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