St. Paul University at San Miguel

Our Origin:

 In the small village of Levesville-la-Chenard in the diocese of Chartres, France, Father Louis Chauvet, the parish priest, founded the Daughters of the School in 1696, with the help of Mademoiselle Marie Anne de Tilly, who trained the first members: Mère Marie Micheau and Mère Barbe Foucault, to teach children and to care for the sick in their homes. The growing institution was entrusted in 1708 to Bishop Paul Godet des Marais of Chartres , who gave it his name. The death of the founder on June 21, 1710 did not impede the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres from spreading to different corners of the globe, to all the continents except Antarctica.

     

 

Humble beginnings

The desire of giving the children the benefits of a deeply religious education sparked the idea of putting up a Catholic school in San Miguel, Bulacan. So, in 1921, Rev. Father Ildefonso Caranza , the first Filipino parish priest of San Miguel, founded a parochial school and named it Escuella Catolica. It was during the incumbency, however of Rev. Father Honorio Resurreccion that catholic education in the town received a new impetus. He requested the Mother Provincial of the Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Paul of Chartres in the Philippines to send him Sisters to manage Escuela Catolica. The response was favorable, so that on May 23, 1938, five sisters arrived. Through the indefatigable efforts of Mother Agnes de St. Anne Couplan, a French sister, the crumbling convent became habitable to Sister Juanita du Sacre de la Paz, Sister Angel Joseph Parayno, and Sister Marie Remy Paredes. With the help of three lay teachers, they blazed the trail for San Miguel Catholic Institute. With their coming, the Kinder class was opened. In 1939, other recruits arrived. Grades five, six, and seven were opened with a good enrolment in each level. Escuela Catolica was then changed to San Miguel Catholic School. The people, satisfied with the Sisters’ work, clamored for the opening of a high school. The school got the permit for a junior high school class in 1940 and San Miguel Catholic Institute emerged. The third year class was opened in 1941. World War II, however, interrupted the classes. During the critical days of the war, the sisters had to evacuate to Manila while Mother Agnes de St. Anne Couplan, a French sister, gathered all the school papers, books and laboratory instruments and fled to the mountains. As the Japanese rulers were quite well disposed towards the people, Mother Agnes came out of hiding and with the permission of the Mother Provincial took back all the sisters to resume classes. After a few years in 1966, the College of Education was opened under the administration of Sister Chantal de Joseph Goyena. Two years later the College of Commerce and the College of Liberal Arts were opened together with the Secretarial Course. The domicile for the college students was a residential house owned by the Santiago –Mossessgeld family and it was offered for free. Year after year the enrolment increased and other courses were offered. It was also during Sister Chantal's administration that the sisters purchased a nine-hectare lot in Barrio Salangan, two kilometers away from the town proper, which is now the site of the university. In June, 1975, vocational courses were opened: six-month course in Poultry Raising and Swine Raising, five-month course in Typewriting and two-year course in Agricultural Technology. Other vocational courses were a six-month course in Dressmaking and Tailoring, five-month course in Stenography and one-year course in Cosmetology. The German Misereor Foundation granted a fund for the operation of these vocational courses.The Department of Education Culture and Sports approved the operation of the following majors: Filipino, History, Mathematics and Accounting for BSC in 1983. The dwindling college enrolment led to the transfer of the College Department to the Poblacion Campus to make college education accessible to its clientele. The High School generally coming from middle –income groups of San Miguel, San Ildefonso, and Gapan, transferred to the Salangan Campus. There were years when the school went through its trying moments, but with God’s mercy it faced the critical times with tranquil daring aura, optimism, hope and prayer. Soon after, major developments on curriculum, instruction, faculty, students, services, Christian formation, physical plant and financial viability were properly addressed. God’s graces overflowed such that the chronology of events year after year, the school gained a reputable image of quality and excellence as proven by its graduates who are successful in their respective workplaces here in the country and overseas.

Present times

Saint Paul College at San Miguel’s lifeline is likened to the mosaic of stained glass on the wall at the altar at the university’s chapel beautifully forming Christ image; like the thread that connects each dots and lines creating a piece of art - a handiwork passionately woven to bring out the beauty of creation. The intertwining events from its very beginning, its twilight years, the trying times to the challenges that await ahead, all collected together contribute to the making of a wonderful story worth remembering and worth sharing.

Saint Paul College at San Miguel and its Elementary Expansion Campus in San Ildefonso, Bulacan made its historic giant leap towards its university status by merging with Saint Paul University Quezon City as the product of a creative synergy, sound strategic management, collaboration and resource sharing.

Upon approval by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Articles and Plan of Merger was executed. The merger was endorsed by the Department of Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and the Commission on Higher Education. This is anchored on the desire to further quality education, share expertise and resources, expand the market of both institutions and satisfy CHED’s land area requirement. The administrators labored much in the sustainability of excellence, quality and productivity of the university, thus, paradigm shifts have to be drafted and implemented. It was a tough task touching on several changes at the very start but with passion and zeal and with the all- out support of its parents, alumni, faculty, staff, personnel and the studentry, great changes slowly sprouted and now being maintained to await its fruition. The success of the PAASCU preliminary survey marks the university’s bold steps towards stabilizing the groundwork for quality education. The accreditation is an eventual take-off for a long term challenge for Catholic Paulinian education. Its newly constructed three-storey building now houses classrooms, offices and soon laboratories for the use of the Nursing, Education, Tourism, Hotel and Restaurant Management, Computer, Business and Technology students. The human resource, being the most important resource of the institution, is a potent factor in achieving productivity and excellent endeavors on a continuous professional growth and development. Moreover, instruction has been improved through assessment, reengineering, implementation of creative and varied approaches and strategies that address the needs and interest of the modern times and of the modern students. The collaborative efforts demonstrated among its stakeholders as well as strong linkages and networking with various organizations, schools and agencies both local and international had made the university programs afloat. The school year 2007-2008 ushers in new hope and new challenges, blessed with a new administrator in the person of Sister Dina Alilain., spc. The university takes bolder steps in addressing the challenges of attracting more clientele who would have the distinct experience of a Quality Catholic Paulinian education in a very caring environment. As the university reviews its marketing strategies and promotions to invite more and more students to join and experience the difference of being educated in a Paulinian environment, it gives full trust, focus and confidence in the transformation of its students and graduates who are and soon to be the best billboards of the university. Caritas Christi Urget Nos, the Paulinian motto penned years ago, verbalizes the aspiration of the university to carry out the ideals of Paulinian education deeply rooted in the love of God being the center and reason in the mission to love the least, the lost and the last in the community.

Flagship courses

Saint Paul College at San Miguel prides itself for its stable Basic Education Program from Kinder I and II, Elementary Education and Secondary Education. Its Extension Campus at San Ildefonso caters to Kinder I and II and Elementary Education. At the Tertiary Level, SPUSM has the following Academic Programs: At the College of Business Technology and Allied Health Sciences, Bachelor of Science in Accountancy, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration major in Business Management, Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Associate in Computer Science, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management. The Education Department offers Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education major in English, Filipino, Values Education, Library Science and Biological Science and Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. The short term courses offered are Reflexology, Cosmetology, Cell Phone Repair and six-month Caregiver Course. During Summer classes, the university conducts Karate Lessons, Dance lessons, Fine Arts, Piano/Organ Lessons, Advance Math/Science, Survival English and Advanced Spoken English, Review for the College Entrance Examination as well as Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) Review. In the next few years, the college hopes to open more short term courses to address the needs of the community, the country and of the global market. It looks forward to strengthening its Nursing Program and other Health Allied Sciences courses. Long Live Saint Paul College at San Miguel and San Ildefonso! Long Live the Paulinians! Let the Charity of Christ urge us on!    

Chronological Events: 

1921                Fr. Ildefonso Carranza founded Escuela Catolica – the first parochial school. It opened with Grades One and Two.

1923                Fr. Deogracias Javier succeeded Fr. Carranza. He opened Grades Three and Four.

1931                Rev. Fr. Marcelo Fajardo and Arsenio Nicdao completed the primary school.

May 23, 1938    Rev. Mother Alice de St. Paul Huchery, Mother Provincial of the Congregation of the Sisters of SPC, sent five sisters with Mother Agnes de St. Anne as the first Superior to manage Escuela Catolica. The Kindergarten class was opened.

1939                Grades Five, Six and Seven were opened. Escuela Catolica was then changed to San Miguel Catholic School.

1940                San Miguel Catholic Institute (SMCI) emerged. Mother Agnes got the permit for a Junior High School class.

1941                The Third Year class was opened. World War II however, interrupted the classes. Fr. Resurreccion suggested the evacuation of the Sisters to Manila. Mother Agnes, together with the Sisters, evacuated to the mountains, and eventually went to Manila.

1942                Mother Agnes and the Sisters resumed classes in San Miguel.

1944                Sr. Luisa Martha Meris succeeded Mother Agnes. She opened the Fourth Year High School class on June 3, 1944. The first high school graduation took place in March 1945. Massive rehabilitation was done to the school. Through her guidance the first yearbook, The Builders, was published.

1946                Sr. Romaine Martha became the third Superior. She worked hard to improve the school. She succeeded in increasing the enrolment of the high school by seeking a permit from the Provincial Superior and the Bureau of Private Schools for co-education.

1949                Sr. Joseph de Jesus de Ocampo succeeded Sister Romaine. Through her efforts, the convent was repainted and repaired.

1956                Sr. Rose of St. Joseph Encarnacion succeeded Sr. Joseph de Jesus de Ocampo. The Home Economics and the new High School buildings are tangible proofs of her ability as a manager.

1961                Sr. Mamerta of the Cross Rocero was installed next Superior. In preparation for the SMCI Silver Jubilee, massive repairs and minor construction works were undertaken.

1963                SMCI’s Silver Jubilee. Festive and colorful activities marked the celebration.

1964                Sr. Chantal de Joseph Goyena ( a native of San Miguel) became the Superior and Directress. Sr. Chantal together with Sr. Mary Florence Echanis were instrumental in opening the College Department.

 1966               The Tertiary Level was opened with an initial enrolment of 97 students for the Education Program.

1967                On July 23, St. Paul School of San Ildefonso was founded as extension school of SMCI. A pilot school in Sibul Springs offering a Kindergarten class was established. Other St. Paul schools in the nearby towns followed. Schools in San Rafael and San Antonio (in Nueva Ecija) were also opened.

1968                The College of Commerce and Liberal Arts were opened together with the Secretarial Course. The school assumed the status of a college and was known as SPCSM. They held classes at the House of the Santiago-Mossessgeld.

1970                The first Commencement Rites for the College was held. This was also the time when the Community of the Sisters of SPC purchased a nine-hectare lot in Salangan, San Miguel, Bulacan thru the effort of Sr. Chantal Goyena with Mother La Croix Jesus Ilagan as the Provincial Econome. The said lot was purchased to be the future site of SPCSM.

                        Sr. Marie Gonzague Maquiling became the Superior/Directress. Among her initial projects were the renovation of the building to meet the needs of the apostolate, construction of new offices for the use of the High School and the Grade School Principals, and the extension of the school canteen. School bus and laboratory tables were purchased for the use of the students.

1972                The fencing of the nine-hectare land in Salangan commenced after it was surveyed. To meet the problems of increasing student population, a cottage for the Sisters and two one-story buildings were constructed in Salangan. One building was for the vocational courses and the other for the college students.

1973                The Government Recognition of the Education and Commerce Programs were granted by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports, the following are:

                        a) Bachelor of Science in Education

                        b) Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education

                        c) Bachelor of Science in Commerce

1975                The German Misereor Foundation granted SPCSM a fund for the operation of its vocational courses for the Out-of-School Youth. Finally in 1975, a Government Recognition for special Vocational Courses (no. 76 and 77 s. 1975) was obtained by Sr. Marie Gonzague. The vocational courses included a two-year course in Agricultural Technology, a six-month course in Poultry-Raising, Swine-Raising, Dressmaking, Tailoring, a five-month course in Stenography and a one-year course in Cosmetology. The nine-hectare lot was fully utilized for planting rice, poultry and swine raising. Classes were held at five o’clock in the afternoon to seven o’clock in the evening. These were made possible under the supervision of Sr. Mary Esther Teston and by the competent members of the faculty from Bulacan National Agricultural School. The termination of the Misereor funding and the rise of agricultural and technical schools in nearby towns seemed to render these technical courses unnecessary.

1979                Through the efforts of Sr. Marie Therese Crisologo, the Department of Education, Culture and Sports approved the following majors for the Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education course: Filipino, History and Mathematics. Likewise, Accounting was approved for Bachelor of Science in Commerce.

1983                The Sisters’ Convent was constructed in Salangan.

1985                Sr. Marie Rosanne Mallillin enabled students’ clubs and organizations to promote activities for personal growth and development. She worked on the intensification of Paulinian core values among the students and the faculty. Student leaders were sent to national conferences and conventions to tap their potentials. It was under her administration that the High School Department gained a very respectable position in the National College Entrance Examination.

                        Sr. Rosanne also prepared the High School academe for the needed change due to the introduction of the Secondary Education Development Program(SEDP) and New Secondary Education Curriculum (NSEC). Much time and budget were allocated for teacher training and in-service programs. Teachers underwent various training programs to cope with the demands.

1986                (October) The High School Department transferred to the Salangan campus and the College Department to the Poblacion campus to make college education more accessible to San Miguel clientele.

1987                The second floor of the High School Administration Building in Salangan was constructed. Paulinians also had an active involvement in community and religious activities in the parish.

1988                The Golden Jubilee of SPCSM. It marked the 50 years of service to the town of San Miguel and nearby communities. Eucharistic celebration, parade, cultural programs, and reunions highlighted the significant event.

1989                The Department of Education, Culture and Sports granted the approval of the Bachelor of Secondary Education Course major in Values Education.

                        The Basketball court near the Sisters’ convent and the covered walk leading to the Administration building were constructed.

1991                The most crucial year of SPCSM. Parents of the elementary pupils and the high school students staged a public protest over the issue of tuition fee increase. They had the impression that the increase was not proportionate to the increase in the teachers’ salaries. Thus, they feared for the exodus of the best teachers for greener pastures.

1992                Sister Agnes Therese Teves, Provincial Superior, appointed Sr. Sonia Milagros Checa as Directress and College Dean. She was a blessing to the school. She faced a great challenge of winning back the confidence of parents in SPCSM and its identity for academic excellence. Sister Sonia, equipped with a Ph.D. in Educational Management as well as teaching and administrative expertise, handled the critical issues with faith, prayer and professionalism.

                        Her eight years of stay proved her worthy of the position. She worked painstakingly on the curriculum and instruction, faculty, student services, Christian formation, physical plan and financial stability of SPCSM.

                        Her initial step was a moratorium on tuition fee increase for two years but she increased salaries just the same. She won the hearts of the parent-leaders who staged the protest the previous year and who became supporters of her development plans.

                        She opened Bachelor of Science in Accountancy which was later granted government recognition.

1993                The Grade School building was constructed.

1994                The Elementary Department transferred to the newly constructed building. DECS approved the opening of a Two-Year Office Management with Computer Literacy course.

1995                The school gymnasium was constructed and blessed honoring Msgr. Honorio Resurreccion. It was made possible through the collection of a development fee from the students.

1996                Construction of the College building.

1998                In order to meet the demands for tertiary education, the college applied for and was granted the following priority programs of the Region and the CHED:

                                    BEED   - major in Early Childhood Education

                                    BSE      - major in Library Science

1999                Christian Formation Program was strengthened. Basic Ecclesial Communities was introduced not only as a weekly ritual but a way of life. Gospel reading and sharing became the motivating force for the integration of Paulinian Values.

Onward to the 21^st Century

2000                Sister Sonia worked for the purchase of a two-hectare lot and the construction of a building at San Juan, San Ildefonso to be the future site of St. Paul School of San Ildefonso. This school is an extension of SPCSM to cater to clients from the said town.

2001                Sister Nilda Masirag took over the administration of SPCSM. She worked tirelessly on the development of the curriculum and instruction, faculty and staff towards academic excellence. Together with Sr. Mary Asella Cariaga, a proposed ladderized curriculum for the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science was conceptualized.

                        She also undertook renovations of offices and improvement of added facilities. Environmental concern was included in her program. She engaged students in various projects like tree planting, cleaning of Biak-na-Bato, zero waste management and landscaping.

SPCSM was able to produce accountants.

2002                Sister Victoria Lavente undertook the administration of the College as Directress and Dean. She worked on the upgrading of salaries of faculty and the staff. Repairs and remodeling of the different offices were done and the gymnasium was constructed.

                        SPCSM hosted the cluster celebration of the Centennial of the Sisters of SPC. Different activities highlighted the affair. Student emancipation was also achieved.

2004                Sister Helen Malubay became the new Directress, College Dean and General Services Officer of the College. During her term, the rigorous requirement for the recognition of the Ladderized Curriculum for BSCS was finally granted by CHED. Empowered by her skills in effective administration from Warnborough University in England where she obtained her doctoral degree, she started working for the school’s accreditation. Series of meetings and departmental workshops were conducted and the Key Result Areas (KRAs) in achieving the vision-mission of the College were identified. The five-year development plans and programs, particularly on the strengthening of curriculum and instruction and human resource development of SPCSM, were prioritized. She likewise emphasized the importance of active involvement in the diocesan parish programs and activities. This included both short-term and long-term plans which were documented through the Key Results Areas. Such implementation provided satisfaction to the students, their parents and SPCSM personnel.

                        She introduced Professional Portfolio Management for all faculty and staff.

                        New computer laboratories for the Tertiary Department, High School and Elementary School were put up and the Science laboratories of the High School and Grade School were renovated as well to meet the current needs of the students. Multi-media and innovations in classroom teaching and strategies were introduced to encourage effectiveness in teaching and in other student-centered activities.

                        Regular in-house professional and spiritual development programs for faculty and staff were held for holistic formation.

                        Active involvement in the diocesan and parish activities and programs were prioritized.

                        Streamlining of student services and facilities for academic excellence was of paramount importance. The Academic Board was formed and efforts to live out the Vision-Mission, goals, values and Paulinian work ethics were emphasized.

                        New programs were designed and offered to meet the present market demand. Facilities were modernized and repaired to ensure effectiveness and safety. The construction of the perimeter fence was started.

                        Demands of the clientele such as Care Giver Course, and a Ladderized Course in Hotel and Restaurant Management were looked into through feasibility studies; eventually applications were filed in the offices of CHED and TESDA. Short-term courses were offered on Culinary Arts, Reflexology, Cell Phone Repairs, etc.

                        During her short stint, she involved both faculty and personnel on matters that concern them including, among others, the writing and ratification of the Faculty and Staff Manuals.

                        The Directress Council worked harmoniously and actively as a body in matters involving the administration of the College. The Administrative Manual was written.

                        Office policies, systems and procedures started to be written and documented through encouragement.

2005                Construction of the fence and rehabilitation of the main feeder line were completed.

                        Basic Education Library and T.H.E. Building were renovated.

                        On-line Building was constructed to serve global needs and re-enhancement of the use of technology among faculty and students.

2006                The General Council in Rome approved the merger of St. Paul College of San Miguel and St. Paul University of Quezon City.

                        Construction of the College of Nursing Building was started.

                        The history of SPUSM will go on by the grace of God… from its humble beginning and its glorious past… quietly proclaiming the goodness and the love of God… toward its shining future.