History of Saint Joseph College | SJC (unofficial RE:GOV concept)

The founding years

Saint Joseph College was founded on February 20, 1928 by His Excellency Most Reverend Sofronio G. Hacbang, D.D. (1887-1937), Bishop of the Diocese of Calbayog to which Samar and Leyte canonically belonged. It was first named Instituto de San Jose. Its primary purpose was to offer Catholic education through which the Church could fulfill its work of evangelization.

In June 1928, the school welcomed its first elementary and secondary students. Classes were held in a provisional school building made of light materials. Two years after, the school got government recognition for the said courses.

The founder-bishop entrusted leadership of the school to the diocesan priests assigned as parish priest of the Parish of Our Lady of the Assumption, Maasin. The first school director was Reverend Father Sofio Mandia, who came to Maasin as parish priest in 1931.

The quest for quality and excellence

On August 14, 1968, the new Diocese of Maasin was created by Blessed Pope Paul VI, covering the whole new Province of Southern Leyte and six municipalities of Leyte. Supervision of the school transferred from the Diocese of Palo to the Diocese of Maasin, whose first bishop was Most Rev. Vicente T. Ataviado, D.D. (1929-1997).

In 1972, the Benedictine Sisters turned over administration to the Diocese of Maasin. The lay administration was headed by a president, with Mr. Marcelino Hanopol Jr. as first president. The Board of Trustees, chaired by the Bishop of Maasin, served as advisory and policy-making body. New courses opened:

Third and fourth years of the Collegiate Commercial Course in 1973
Night Secondary Course, One-Year Course in Electronic Serviceman for Radio Receivers, Practical Electricity Course, Auto Mechanics Course, Civil Engineering Course, Preparatory Law Course, and third and fourth year of the Collegiate Commercial Course in 1974

In 1978, Bishop Vicente T. Ataviado, D.D., took over the presidency besides being chairman of the board, assisted by three vice-presidents: vice-president for academics, vice-president for finance, and vice-president for general services.

In 1979, the Sisters of Saint Francis of Perpetual Adoration (OSF) started working for the school at the request of the Bishop of Maasin as administrators, teachers, and campus ministers. In the same year, an additional school site at Mambajao, Maasin, was developed where the Engineering building and part of the High School department were constructed.

In late 1981, the school adopted a new organizational setup headed by the president assisted by the Presidential Troika instead of three vice-presidents. Government recognition followed for the five-year Civil Engineering (BSCE) in 1985, Master of Arts in Education (MAED) in 1988, Four-Year Accountancy (BSA) in 1991, Associate in Computer Science (ACS) in 1994, and Associate in Computer Secretarial in 1995.

In 1995, Bishop Ataviado retired as school president and appointed Sister M. Anthony Kuizon, OSF to head the school. The president was assisted by the vice-president and members of the Administrative and Academic Councils. New grade school and college buildings rose to house newly offered courses, including in 1996 Master of Business Administration (MBA), Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (BSCS), Bachelor of Science in Secretarial Administration (BSSA), and two years later Bachelor of Science in Criminology (BSCrim).

The emphasis on professionalism and Catholic character

In 1998, Most Rev. Precioso D. Cantillas, SDB, DD became the second Bishop of the Diocese of Maasin, a year after the death of Bishop Ataviado. He assumed the presidency of the school in 2000. Under his leadership, the professional dimension was pursued with vigor and its Catholic character given greater and renewed emphasis, with reforms in organization, operations, services, curricula, campus development, and research.

Before completing school construction, the school president formulated the vision, mission, and goals to set a professional, Christian, and specifically Catholic direction. In 2001, Bishop Cantillas created the Theology Department with its own dean, making theology the core for college students from first year to fourth year.

Daily class Mass in elementary, high school, and college, recollection, and retreats nourished students spiritually. For this purpose, a recollection and retreat center in Macrohon called Shalom was built, and chapels in elementary, high school, college, and extension campuses were put up or renovated.

Other milestones in this period:

2001: Government recognition of Bachelor of Science in Criminology (BSCrim); fourth floor of the new college building finished
2002: Grade school program conferred PAASCU Level II accredited status
2003: Vocational Training Center (VOCTRAC) built with help from abroad for out-of-school youth, starting with Automotive NC II and Welding NC II, later with TESDA offering Electrical Technology (NC III), Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Technology (NC I), Consumer Electronics (NC II), Plumbing Technology (NC II), Computer Hardware Servicing (NC II), Short-Term Driving (NC II), Healthcare Services (NC II), Household Services (NC II), Housekeeping Services (NC II), and Bartending Services (NC II)
2007: Bachelor of Science in Office Administration (BSOA) offered
2008: Administration offices transferred to the New College Building; Office of Planning and Research established
School year 2011-2012: Hotel and Restaurant Management founded on the fifth floor of the college building; following year the Giuseppe Hotel and Restaurant and other HRM facilities inaugurated; St. Felicity and St. Rose of Lima dormitories for female students blessed; Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSIT) recognized
2012: Community Extension Service Office established for outreach to needy communities
2013: Five-year management and development plan implemented; third and fourth storeys of the new high school building with classrooms, principal's office, and library blessed; Bachelor of Science in Accounting Technology recognized
2014: Office for Public Affairs, Publications, and Alumni Relations created
2016: In compliance with the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013 (Republic Act 10533), or the K to 12 Law, a new three-storey building rose in the middle campus behind the Maasin Cathedral to house senior high school; the Godfrieda Covered Court and wooden college building gave way to the new senior high edifice and the bigger Bishop Cantillas Gym
2018: Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management (BSTM) opened

History

The founding years

From Instituto to College

The quest for quality and excellence

The emphasis on professionalism and Catholic character

Commitment to uphold the mission in synodality

Government

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