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Garcia College of Technology (GCT)
March 2007
A legacy of a lifetime
The GARCIA COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY (GCT) is a private college located along
Osmeña Avenue in Kalibo, Aklan. It was founded in 1968 by the late spouses Don
Florencio M. Garcia and Doña Enrica Reyes Garcia, who served as the
Chairperson of the Board of Directors up to 1983. Their sons Eric, Levy, and
Edwin were members of the Board of Directors, and successors as the Chairman
of the Board in 1984 and 1985, with the latter holding that position up to the
present.
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
GCT – the first ever engineering school in the province of Aklan – was
established in answer to a call for advancement in the technological fields
and educational needs of the youth of Aklan, Antique, Romblon, Capiz, and
other neighboring provinces in Western Visayas (Region VI).
In 1968, the College applied for and later got its permit to operate
curricular offerings in Bachelors of Science in Civil, Electrical, and
Mechanical Engineering; Commerce majors in Business Management and Accounting;
Industrial Education; Bachelor of Arts majors in English and Mathematics;
Associate in Geodetic Engineering; Diploma in Secretarial Science; and
vocational courses. Edwin Reyes Garcia served as its first president, Engr.
Ariston Huliganga as the first dean and Emiliano Fernandez as registrar. The
members of the faculty of instruction were made up of young and pioneering but
determined instructors, who were all raring to prove to all and sundry that
excellence is not reserved for big institutions alone.
The Garcia College of Technology along Osmeña Avenue in Kalibo, Aklan.GCT
started with only 398 enrollees – 107 for Engineering courses; 11 for
Commerce; 55 for the Bachelor of Arts; 25 for Industrial Education; 72 for
Diploma in Secretarial Science and 128 for vocational courses. Today, it has a
student population of ______.
Government recognition for vocational and secretarial courses was granted to
the College in 1969. In the same year, Engr. Peter Ureta joined the College as
executive vice president and dean. But when he applied for a study leave in
1973, Juanita Dela Cruz was appointed as Administrative officer and dean of
the College until 1987. She was succeeded by Edwin Garcia and Violeta Distor,
who, up to now, is the president/dean and Administrative officer of the
College, respectively.
In 1972, government recognition for Engineering courses, the Bachelor of Arts,
the Bachelor of Science in Commerce and Industrial Education was granted.
Additional programs were offered: B.S. in Accountancy (1990), ladderized
programs for B.S. in Office Administration (1990), Associate in Secretarial
Computer Education (1990), B.S. in Computer Science (2003), Associate in
Computer Science (2003), B.S. in Hotel and Restaurant Management (2005) and
Associate in HRM (2005); B.S. in Information Technology and Information
Management (2005).
At the time of its founding, the school’s campus was located along Archbishop
Gabriel M. Reyes St., in Kalibo, Aklan. But in 1996, it transferred to its new
building named the GCT Building I along Osmeña Avenue. Due to the increasing
population of the College, the GCT Building II in Estancia in Kalibo was
constructed in a half-hectare area. It has a laboratory for HRM, a "hometel"
with four fully-air-conditioned rooms and air-conditioned function hall fully
equipped with modern facilities. It is here where classes for HRM subjects and
engineering laboratory subjects are conducted. The College seal symbolizes the
first courses offered by Garcia College of Technology. Its e-mail address is
[email protected].
PRESENT TIMES
Strengthening national and international linkages with educational agencies,
businesses, industries, government, and labor, the Garcia College of
Technology is committed to provide quality education to students and to
develop the full potentialities and capabilities of the individual.
GCT’s educational programs provide solid grounding in all core disciplines
with emphasis on the ethical environment of the business and industry. It
envisions helping men and women achieve their dreams so that they can
contribute to the development of society. It provides effective administration
in promoting quality education and develops the full potentialities and
capabilities of the individual. It provides an environment conducive to
holistic learning of the faculty, staff and students.
GCT has highly qualified faculty in order to render efficient, effective and
quality of instruction to the students. The College has pooled out its
resources to upgrade its facilities. It continues to plan strategies in the
implementation and development of program improvement, as well as the
improvement of curriculum and instruction, personnel, and planning and
evaluation in promoting quality education.
Since the College aims to develop the potentials and capabilities of its
Accountancy graduates, the Accounting Incubation and Review Program, with
Sonny Parman, CPA, as the mentor, was formed in 1997. This is an answer to the
GCT Accounting graduates who are potential CPA Board passers but are hindered
because of financial problem. This program is made possible through designing
complete and comprehensive self-review program for reviewees who have
entrusted their CPA Board preparation to this program; preparing and
facilitating systematic review program that will lead to high probability of
passers; closely monitoring and evaluating progress of students under the
program; designing individualized day-to-day program of some reviewees while
undergoing review at the review center; conducting continuous research and
study in relation to the intricacy of CPA Board Exam; and offering carefully
designed self-review program for the incoming second, third and fourth year
Accountancy students of the College.
The effort of the faculty who untiringly supported these endeavors did not end
in vain for in academic years 1997-2002, GCT was awarded a certificate of
recognition for outstanding performance in the pursuit of quality education as
exemplified by ranking 6th in the licensure examination for Certified Public
Accountants in Western Visayas.
The Engineering Pre-Review course of the College was put up in 2005 with the
aim to obtain high percentage of passing and to produce board topnotchers in
the licensure examinations for Civil, Electrical, and Mechanical Engineering
administered by the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC). This program
envisioned engineers with ability, skills and knowledge and is expected to be
world-class engineers in any workforce. The pre-review course includes
subjects in Engineering Mathematics, Engineering Sciences and allied subjects,
and major subjects in Civil, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering. Extra
efforts were exerted by Engrs. Flor Dexter Padaboc, Darryl Quindor, Boysie
Tejada, Leslie Cabanez, and Dr. Arnulfo Distor, Sr. as review staff; and Engr.
Jolenie Hing as program director, as well as the Department Chairs for
Engineering.
Moreover, this pre-review class helps students monitor and analyze their
weaknesses in solving possible problems in the Board Examinations. Students
will be evaluated if their stored knowledge and ability are sufficient enough
for formal review after their graduation.
The performance of its graduates in both Engineering and CPA Board
Examinations (with some of them in the top), the competition in the global
arena of professional certifications, the success of its graduates, and the
interpersonal effectiveness of the organization give the College a special
identity among the different dimensions in the marketplace.
In November 2006, Valfre Clarito, CPA, magna cum laude (2003), competed in the
global arena of professional certification and passed the Global Qualifying
Test for Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) as released by the Institute of
Internal Auditors Philippines. He is one of the 174 new Filipino passers from
4,000 passers worldwide. Placers in the licensure examination are Cristy Cezar
(7th Place, CPA Licensure, 2006), Engr. Mark Derven Rico (13th Place,
Registered Electrical Engineer, 2005), Engr. Hegie Rembulat (2nd Place, Civil
Engineer, 1993), Engr. Teresa Intano (3rd Place, Registered Electrical
Engineer, 1995); Engr. Noe Arca (9th Place Registered Electrical Engineer,
1995), Engr. Leovigildo Lumio (9th Place, Professional Electrical Engineer,
1998), Engr. Gina De Leon (7th Place, Geodetic Engineer, 1994), and Felinor
Suco (1st Place, Registered Master Electrician, 1997).
Moreover, GCT is the only college in the Aklan that has produced CPA and
Engineering Board placers in the top 20. Other graduates excel in their chosen
fields of endeavor.
The College has a number of student organizations that cover a variety of
interests: the GCT Supreme Student Council, Associate of Civil Engineering
Students, Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers, Association of Mechanical
Engineering Students, Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers; Society of
Electrical Engineering Students, Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers,
Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants, Students In Free Enterprise, and
P.E. Club. Aside from this, there is also an active GCT Alumni Association.
GCT has a student-run magazine, The Garcian, a semestral publication of GCT
students. It has been in print since 1969 and remains devoted to news on
campus, as well as issues of national concern.
Now on its 38th year of existence and with a student population of 1,700, the
Garcia College of Technology has withstood the trials for years. Its
successful graduates are living testimonials for its success. Its
ever-increasing student population every year is an inspiration for the GCT
community to do more until the apex of success is reached. Indeed, the Garcia
College of Technology is an institution committed to affordable and accessible
quality education. (DR. MALYN I. VILLANUEVA, Research Director)
Source: Manila Bulletin Online
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