MILESTONES IN THE HISTORY OF SLMCS

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Historical Background
St. Louise de Marillac College of Sorsogon is a member school of the St. Louise de Marillac Educational system managed by the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul.

The Company of the Daughters of Charity in the World
The Daughters of Charity (DCs) belong to an inte3rnational congregation known in the church as the company of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, numbering 18,832 Sisters in 91 countries, and present in 5 continents (CVF of the DC|) Founded by St. Louise de Marillac and St. Vincent de Paul on November 29, 1633, the daughters of Charity are the first-cloistered congregation of women in the church dedicated to the service of the poor. Inspired by the burning charity which came from Christ’s total self-giving to the Father for the salvation in the seventeenth century France grew steadily by hundreds and thousands. Engaged in multiple forms services to the poor, in social welfare, in schools, in hospitals, in parishes and in basic community bui8lding activities, the Daughter of Charity are known in the Church by the name of Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, Servants of the Poor. Organized to be a new type of consecrated women living and going about the world but not of the world, they form a company apostolic life in the community, in common response to the same vocation - the corporal and spiritual service of the poor as understood by St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac Worldwide expansion began during the 19th century and grew during the 20th century. Today, The Daughters of Charity continue to penetrate the world of the poor in Europe, in America, In Asia, In Oceana and in Africa. The mission “ad gentes” so much desired by St. Vincent de Paul promotes the formation of native communities in a company that has become international. The Little Company ardently desires to be entirely of Christ, in Christ and for Christ, and equally, entirely of the poor, among the poor and for the poor. The concern for the evangelization and service of the poor has recently taken the company to Chad, Libya, Kazakhstan and eve to Siberia. Truly, the daughters of charity are present wherever the poor are found for, “The Charity of Jesus Crucified Urges us”, to move forward with fidelity to the ‘vision of the founders’ and act to audacity to the ‘new calls of the poor in our time and in our place’ Over the years, responsiveness to constant change in the world has continually marked the DCs: spiritual renewal…adaptation in lifestyle….. Forms of community living…. Sisters’ formation… revision of their ministries (CVF and DC)

The Company of the Daughters of Charity
The Daughters of Charity arrived on the Philippines July 22, 1862, after more than three months of difficult sea journey abroad the frigate “Concepcion”. With the fifteen sisters, headed by Sister Tiburcia Ayans, were two Vincentian priest, two Vincentian brothers, seven Jesuits and thirteen Recollect friars. They were met by Manila Officials with a fluvial procession. The Sister’s profound faith and selfless love served as the foundation for the rapid growth of various institutions of Charity. The pioneer sisters’ "founding" missions were school-based and hospital/health services. Education apostolate expanded and the sisters found themselves in the mainstreams of building life-giving communities among the poor in several dioceses throughout the country. In Sorsogon, there were two communities established. They are St. Louise de Marillac College of Sorsogon (SLMCS), formerly Colegio de la Milagrosa, with a campus in Gubat, Sorsogon, named: St. Louise de Marillac College of Sorsogon Gubat Campus (SLMCS - Gubat Campus) and Colegio de la Immaculate Concepcion now named St. Louise de Marillac School of Bulan (SLMSB) SLMCS Gubat Campus and SLMSB takes pride in being the first and only catholic schools in Gubat and Bulan, respectively. From 1862 to 2012 - one hundred fifty (150) years of presence and service in the Philippines, the Daughters of Charity continually saw the need, responded to the love of Jesus Crucified wherever they were. Through the years, living out faithfully their identity - totally given to GOD in community, for the service of Christ in their sisters and brothers who are living in poverty in a spirit of humility, simplicity and charity (C.7a), the DC Philippine Province has grown in “wisdom, age, and grace.”

Journey through the Years
Colegio de la Milagrosa, now named St. Louise de Marillac College of Sorsogon, takes pride in being the first catholic school and the only PAASCU level II accredited school in the Province of Sorsogon.

Early Beginnings

• 1937 Most Rev. Francisco Reyes, former bishop of Nueva Caceres, parish priest for many years in the town of Sorsogon, took cognizance of the total absences of Catholic schools in the province. The felt need to provide catholic education to the youth compelled him to seek the assistance of the daughters of charity of St. Vincent de Paul, who at that time, were actively managing Colegio de Sta. Isabel, now Universidad de Sta. Isabel in Naga City.
• June 30, 1937 Birth of Colegio de la Milagrosa
• 1939 Government recognition of primary courses with the twenty-two pupils, housed in a sever-room building located at Calla Reyes and Livingston, now Burgos Street
• 1940 Fifth and Six Grades of General intimidate course obtained government
• 1946 Complete Elementary program received government recognition
• 1947 Complete Secondary program obtained government recognition

Becoming a Teacher-Training Institution

• 1950 Government recognition of two-year junior Normal Courses (ETC)
• 1955 Liberal arts (AB) and the Bachelor of Science in Education (BSE) obtained government recognition. One year special courses in Home Economics received government recognition
• 1961 Associate in Commercial Science (ACS) obtained government recognition.
• 1962 Colegio de la Milagrosa celebrated its first Jubilee
• 1963 Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (BSEED) received government recognition.
• 1964 Marked increase in enrollment led to the construction of the three story modern structure to house the elementary and secondary department
• 1973 Kindergarten received government recognition
• 1974 The High School Department became co-education with the admission of male students breaking tradition of an "All Girl School"
• 1978 The two-year junior secretarial course received government recognition

Moving on Towards Curricular Expansion

• 1982 Bachelor of Science in Commerce (BSC) obtained government integration of the elementary and high school department into the basic formation department then to the Basic Education Department Similarity, the college department from a service formation department was changed to the Higher Education Department.
• 1986 The Administration ventured to open graduate school in response to the need of the personnel, alumni and other professionals of the larger community who were determined to upgrade themselves through higher studies.
• 1987 Colegio de la Milagrosa celebrated its 50th Foundation Anniversary the school underwent a congregational evaluation Visit (CEV) as part of the catholic school system development program adopted by the DC schools. The visit led to the school’s further quest for commitment to quality and excellence.
  The Graduate School received government recognition with major in in structural Methods.
• 1991 Bachelor of Science in Accountancy was granted government recognition.
• 1992 Educational management as an additional major in the graduate School was offered.
• 1995 Master in Business Administration (MBA) received government recognition.
• 1997 SLMCS celebrated its 60th Foundation Anniversary.
  First Formal PAASCU Accreditation visit to the Basic Education Department and has granted a level II Accreditation Status. SLMCS became the First PAASCU accredited school in Sorsogon City leveling it with other prestigious accredited schools all over the country. The school received government recognition by the Department of Education as Service Provider of the Alternative Learning System that caters to out-of-school youths and adults, who, because of poverty were unable to finish their schooling.

FIRST RE-CONFIGURATION SCHEME OF DC EDUCATION MINISTRY

• 1998 Birth of the DC St. Louise De Marillac Educational System (SLMES) Change of the name from Colegio de la Milagrosa to St. Louise De Marillac College of Sorsogon (SLMCS) Two additional majors in the Graduate School were offered: Guidance and Counseling and Religious and Values Education.
• 1999 The Higher Education Department underwent the preliminary PAASCU Accreditation visit for the Liberal Arts, Education and Commerce Programs.
• 2000 Clustering of DC schools in Albay-Sorsogon (A-S) areas composed of St. Louise de Marillac School of Tabaco (SLMST), Colegio de Sta. Luisa Alternative Learning Center, St. Louise de Marillac School of Bulan (SLMSB), St. Anthony Academy of Gubat (SAA), and St. Louise de Marillac College of Sorsogon (SLMCS) as the lead school. The A-S Cluster schools are led by a servant leadership team (SLT), an alternative shared leadership in the management and supervision of the school. The Team is composed of the cluster President, The Vice President for the Academics, Research, Christian Vincentian Formation and Community Extension Services, The Vice President for the Administrative Services & Finance and the Site Sisters Servants. Amendment in the articles of Incorporation with a special provision that all courses being offered in SLMCS can also be offered in the Site Schools. This Extension program led the conception of St. Anthony Academy as an extension campus of SLMCS.
• 2003 First PAASCU Formal Survey visit of the Liberal Arts, Educational and Commerce programs and was granted level 11 accreditation status the following year. Basic Education Department received a five year level II PAASCU accreditation.
• 2006 Conceptualization of the offering Technical Skills Development Authority (TESDA) related courses to meet the emerging and changing need of the Industry. The following courses received Certificate of TVET Program Registration: Information Technology, Two-year Certificate in entrepreneurship, and Nominal Speech Power. Two Super Typhoons (Reming and Milenyo) during the two moths of September and November visited the country and did not spare the Province of Sorsogon. The typhoons left great damage to SLMCS leaving St. Vincent de Paul Building which houses the Basic Education Department totally unroofed and windows slabs broken. The Miraculous Medal Building, the Laboure Hall, The Basic Education Library and other school facilities were in total disarray. Equally damaged we the college building were undertaken. Reset of PAASU Re-survey visit to the Higher Education accredited programs was done.
• 2007 Change of nomenclature of Bachelor of Science in Commerce to Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. One year PC Operation NCII received Certificate of Program Registration.

SECOND RE-CONFIGURATION SCHEME OF THE EDUCATIONAL MINISTRY

• 2008 Pre-school, Elementary and the Basic Education Curricular programs received renewal of government recognition. The Visit of the DC Management Review and Mission Audit Team to Albay - Sorsogon cluster schools with the purpose of evaluating the current performance of the apostolate vis-à-vis Vision-Mission Louise de Marillac Foundation Inc. - Community Extension Services (LMFI-CES) Education for Life unanimously won first place in the National Literacy Award. Start of the DC Expanded Operational Development Program Plan.
• 2009 Transfer of supervision of St. Louise de Marillac School of Tabaco and the Colegio de Sta. Luisa Alternative Learning Center from A-S Cluster to the Caceres Merger as part of the DC Province redirection program. St. Louise de Marillac School of Bulan became supervised school of SLMCS and ST. Anthony Academy is being prepared for its integration to SLMCS. Additional TESDA short Term and nominal qualification courses were offered: One-year Certificate in Food Service Management; Six months Commercial Cooking NC II, Housekeeping NC II, Food and Beverage Service NC II. LMFI-CES Literacy Education for life received the distinctive honor as one of the two Philippine entries to the UNESCO international Literacy search. PAASCU third re-survey visit of the SLMCS Basic Education Department and the first re-survey visit of the Higher Education Department (Liberal Arts, Teacher Education and the Business Education Programs)
• 2011 Differentiated Elective subjects with the following programs: Marillac Technical Vocational Education, Marillac Special Programs in the Arts and Marillac Special Program in English and Mathematics were offered for the first time to the Grade 7 students. TESDA qualifications were offered to the Upper BED students as elective subjects. The Board of Trustee meeting dated January 28, 2011 unanimously resolved that the Corporate Life of St. Anthony Academy will no longer be extended beyond June 16, 2011 and with that, the Corporation will be dissolved. Pursuant to Article 10 of the Article of Incorporation, the assets of the corporation will be transferred to the Daughter of Charity and or St. Louise de Marillac College of Sorsogon.
• 2012 75 years foundation anniversary of St. Louise de Marillac College of Sorsogon Main Campus and the 60 years foundation anniversary of SLMCS Gubat Campus. Start of the re-training of Personnel for the k to 12 Basic Education Program. Increased in the number of personnel with TESDA National Certificate II and III (NC II & III) AND National TVET Trainer’s certificate (NTTC) in the SLMCS Main and Gubat Campus in the following TESDA qualifications: Commercial Cooking, Bread and Pastry Production, Food and Beverage Services, Front Desk Office Services, Housekeeping, Book Keeping, Tour Guiding, Carpentry, Masonry, Tile Setting, Horticulture, and Animal Production. Above-mentioned TESDA qualifications are offered to the Upper Basic Education, Higher and SLMCS Gubat Campus students.
• 2013 Government Recognition was granted to SLMCS to operate the BSHM ladderized (I-IV) program effective School Year 2013-2014 Became TESDA assessment center for the following qualification: Bread and Pastry Production NC II, Food and Beverage Services NC II, Commercial Cooking NC II and House Keeping NC II.