Ingrid Sala Santamaria Donates Collection to DLSU Libraries

On 21 January 2019, Ingrid Sala Santamaria donated a collection of books, CDs and DVDs to the Libraries. In line with this, she gave her Remarks of Circumstance focusing on the purpose of life. She recalled how she been organizing and collating these materials in the spirit of documenting how she lived her life.

(A copy of the Invitation nestled on the book “My Four Seasons”)


Born in Cebu City, Philippines, Ingrid Sala Santamaria received her Bachelor of Music degree from the Battig Piano School in Cebu under her mother, Pilar Blanco Sala. Further studies followed at the Juilliard School in New York. She received a master's degree from Sta. Isabel College in Manila. De La Salle University conferred on her the Doctor of Music degree in Music Education, honoris causa, in 2006.

As chair of the Salvador and Pilar Sala Foundation, Inc. (SPSFI), Santamaria spearheaded a Ten-Year Music Development program which produced the Cebu Youth Symphony Orchestra (CYSO) in 1995 evolving into the Peace Philharmonic Philippines (PPP) in 2000. The young and deserving music scholars who have graduated from this endeavor have since reaped honors nationally. With this initiative, SPSFI continues their training and performance projects, PPP being the only orchestra group south of Manila.

Among the honors received by Santamaria are: the Hall of Fame award from the Performing Arts League in Crestwood, Florida, USA; "Who is Who" in Asia documentary feature by NHK Television, Japan; "One of the 100 Most Notable Cebuanos of the Century" award; and from the French government; Chevalier, Ordre des Palmas Academiques; and Chevalier, Ordre du Merite Nationale.






Ingrid Santamaria at podium for Remarks of Circumstance




Going through all this memorabilia for years, Santamaria has now come to the point of thinking on how to preserve the collection for the next generations. She made the donation in the hope that young aspiring adults can make a difference in the world through her inspiring work. To reciprocate the kind gesture, Brother Ray gracefully accepted the donation as he delivered his Remarks of Acceptance.






Brother Ray delivers Remarks of Acceptance










DLSU Director of Libraries Christine Abrigo, Ingrid Santamaria and DLSU President Brother Ray Suplido, FSC posing with the certificate of appreciation and token of donation






Posing with some Memorabilia items: Edu Jarque, Marilou Magsaysay, Ingrid Santamaria, Brother Ray Suplido



Brother Ray, Ingrid Santamaria, Chona Montinola

Mila Wales, Belinda Cunanan







Seated L-R: Christine Abrigo, Brother Ray Suplido, Ingrid Santamaria, Jeffrey Solares, Mila Wales;
Standing, L-R: Janice Penaflor, Edwin Reyes, Belinda Cunanan, Edu Jarque