History of Saint Agustine Diocesan Academy

HISTORY OF SAN AGUSTIN DIOCESAN ACADEMY

 

The San Agustin Parochial Academy Foundation (Nueva Ecija) Inc., formerly known as Luzon Central Institute, is located in the heart of the town of Jaen, Nueva Ecija occupying a total land area of 7, 849 square meters.

            As Luzon Central Institute, it was established in 1948 by Mayor Bartolome N. Garcia who acted as Director of the school until his death in 1954. After almost being closed because nobody wanted to manage it, Rev. Fr. Pedro O. Balagtas took over, transferred the school to the San Agustin Church compound and named it San Agustin Academy. Mainly through his efforts, the school managed to get back on its feet with the help and financial assistance from civic-minded people in Jaen who agreed to be stockholders of SAA. Since then, the school has been under the ownership and supervision of the Diocese.

            July 1956, the Bishop of Cabanatuan transferred Father Pedro O. Balagtas to Sto. Domingo Nueva Ecija and sent Father Artemio O. Pascual to manage the school. After eight long years of service a call for substitution was ordered and Rev. Fr. Macario Lacap was assigned temporarily to manage the school from Nov. 1964 to January 1965. It was in January 1965 when Msgr. Ernesto D. Lumanlan started to manage the school and after 23 years, Rev. Fr. Francisco M. Mercurio took over from 1988 – 1995. In the same year, the good Bishop Sofio Balce assigned Fr. Miguel B. Adriosula to be the Director of the school.

            It was during the time of Rev. Fr. Miguel B. Adriosula that San Agustin Academy became San Agustin Parochial Academy Foundation (N. E.) Inc.,as per SEC registration last February 19, 1998. By May 15, 1998, Elementary Education and Vocational Technology Courses specialized in Computers were established. In accordance with the TESDA Board Resolution 98-03 dated January 23, 1998 the San Agustin Parochial Academy Foundation (N.E.) Inc. (TVET Institution) was granted provisional authority to offer the program in Two-Year Computer Science, Programming, Secretarial and Technician. The Augustinian Missionaries of the Philippines came after the six-year term of Rev. Fr. Miguel B. Adriosula.

             The partnership between the Diocese of Cabanatuan and the Agustinian Missionaries of the Philippines for the management and operation of SADA, was established last December 1, 2001.  Sr. Florecita R. Neri, AMP, was assigned as School Directress and Sr. Dolores Salamisan, AMP as Finance Officer. A seminar-workshop on the school’s Vision and Mission was held in summer of 2002 to set the school community’s orientation and direction.

           The Board of Trustees approved the resolution to change the name of the corporation to San Agustin Diocesan Academy, on July 09, 2002; the new name was registered with the SEC in May 5, 2003.

            The terms of office of Sr. Florecita R. Neri, AMP has ended last March 30, 2008.   The AMP term of office was extended by the Diocese for another three(3) years. Sr. Gilda S. Villador, AMP, was assigned as School Directress.

           Last March 30, 2012, the AMP term of office has ended. The Diocese of Cabanatuan thru the Bishop, appointed for the first time a Lay Director in the person of Irene C. Capinpin, Ph. D.  to continue the management and operation of the school.      

           The SADA personnel together with the representatives from the group of students, parents and community leaders (stakeholders) revisited the Vision –Mission of SADA last May 20, 2013.  A joint resolution adopting the new vision mission statement was signed by the Stakeholder’s representatives last May 28, 2013, the new vision-mission statement of SADA is “Transforming Lives for God and Society”.