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La Consolacion College Bacolod
November 2007
A growing community of friends…
Humble beginnings
La Consolacion College in Bacolod was established on March 12, 1919 by three
Augustinian sisters whose attempt to open a colegio in Sibalom, Antique, ended
in frustration.
In 1917, on the request of Jaro Bishop, Dennis Dougherty, the three sisters
initiated their Catholic apostolate there because of the strong Aglipayan
presence in the province. One of the founders of the Iglesia Filipina
Independiente, Fr. Narciso Hijalda was from there and he became its first IFI
bishop. Understandably, the Catholics were in a minority and suffering from
the backlash of the Spanish rule that ended in 1898.
The sisters tried their best to educate the children of the remaining
Catholics, but they were derided and ridiculed. Their convent was stoned at
night and some rabid Aglipayans refused to sell to them. Despite the various
difficulties, their work received commendations during the provincial fair in
1918 where they exhibited the arts and crafts of their students. But the
pressure for them to leave became stronger when even the niece of the IFI
bishop that studied in the colegio sought to be baptized. The pressure had
also taken a toll on the health of the sisters, causing Mother Consuelo
Barceló, the superior general, to advise the bishop that she was deeply
concerned with the health of the sisters.
As Providence would have it, Fiscal Quirico Abeto of Antique was transferred
to Negros Occidental. His daughter was a student in the colegio and when he
heard of the predicament of the sisters, informed them that the parish priest
of Bacolod, Fr. Francisco Vega was looking for a religious order to open a
girl’s school in Bacolod. Fr. Vega and prominent families in the province have
invited several religious orders but all refused. Mother Consuelo looked into
the situation and agreed to the proposition. Fr. Vega had offered the convento
(present Bishop’s House) to be school, convent for the sisters, and dormitory
for the girls from the towns. With the approval of the new Jaro Bishop
Mauricio Foley, Fr. Vega bought the house near the church (present LCC college
building) that he used as the parish convent.
From Antique, the three sisters arrived on March 12, 1919 on the shores of
Bacolod. They were Sor Tomasa de la Sagrada Familia, Sor Maria Teresa de Jesus
and Sor Alfonsa de la Santisima Trinidad. In the reception given to them by
the parish priest, public officials and several families announced the
founding of the Colegio de la Señora de la Consolacion, an all girls school.
On July 15, the school opened its doors to the first students - 36 interns,
who were living inside the school dormitory and 50 externs who live with their
families or in private boarding houses.
From this humble beginning, Colegio de la Señora de la Consolacion grew and
became the first and pioneering private Catholic educational institution in
the province of Negros Occidental.
Present times
Eighty-eight years after she was instituted, La Consolacion College Bacolod
has gone a long, long way. Since her foundation in 1919, she has blossomed
into one of the most prestigious schools in Region 6.
As proof of her commitment to the highest standards of academic excellence, La
Consolacion College Bacolod has achieved notable records in board examinations
for architects where her graduates had been 1st placers, at other times 2nd,
3rd or a 4th but more often 100 percent passers in the Licensure Examinations
for Architects given by the government throughout the Philippines. She is the
only school in the region to offer a free and paid international practicum
training program for hospitality management, tourism, and commerce students.
And just as any prominent colleges ad universities in the country, she has by
the same token produced notable civic officials who are now serving the
communities here and abroad. All these feats and more have propelled LCCB to a
stature as one of the country’s top performing educational institutions.
Even more, LCC Bacolod values sterling education beyond standards. This is
proven by her efforts of accrediting curricular programs from the basic
education department to the select programs in the college department by the
Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities (PAASCU).
Structurally, La Consolacion College Bacolod has improved dramatically. The
rapid growth in population of her students was followed by an increasing
demand for improvement of school facilities. The college now has exclusive
campuses for her School of Architecture, Fine Arts and Interior Design and for
the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. A swim center has also been
established. A five-storey hotel building of eminent standard was built for
the actual training and formation of HRM and Tourism students. The Mother
Consuelo Barceló Activities Center is the latest of these architectural
masterpieces and a legacy of the present administrators to the future
clientele.
LCCB has proven herself as a reputable institution. Her Education Training
Department has produced teachers, supervisors and superintendents not only for
the Province but also nationwide. Not to be outdone is the fact that six
awardees of the Metrobank Most Outstanding Teachers of the Philippines all
came from LCCB (Vigie Cu-1984; Judith Verdadero-1992; Lina Sedonio-1993;
Cecilia Locsin Nava-1994; Benito Verdadero-1995; and Josephine Uy
Demerre-1996). This prestigious national recognition given to LCCB’s former
students is a testimony to her excellent educational standard.
LCC Bacolod’s existence for the past 88 years is a witness of its fidelity to
the mission especially in the Christian formation of the youth of Negros and
the entire country. Tomorrow, she will stand as it is today. As long as there
is one single LCCian with a heart to love and the will to serve; as long as
there are competent and dedicated people who believe in the ideals and spirit
of our Foundresses, LCC Bacolod will always be a dynamic Christian Community
of learning, actively involved in the pursuit of “a Nationalist Education for
Faith and Justice Toward a Societal Transformation.”
Source: Manila Bulletin Online
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