SPCIS centennial marks life of service
By Rosario A. Lazo

The Centennial Jubilee Year of St. Paul College of Ilocos Sur (SPCIS) celebrates the life and mission of the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres in the province and the birth of Paulinian education in llocano culture. This mission started when Mother Candide Cousin, Principal of the Extreme Orient, approved the invitation of Msgr. Dennis Dougherty on Jan. 11, 1905, for the sisters to educate young girls and nurture and strengthen the Catholic faith of the Ilocanos who have become the recipients of Paulinian education.

On June 5, 1905, seven Sisters arrived in Vigan to start the institution of learning mainly for young girls. They were led by the Superior and Foundress, Sister Marthe de St. Paul. With her were Sister Julia de Benoit des Remedios, Sister Suzanne de Sacre Coeur, Sister Gilbert Andois, Sister Theophane de la Croix Fleury , Sister Josephine Rappeport, and Sister Madeline Lau. These pioneers were tasked with elementary instruction, catechetical work and teaching music, painting, embroidery, and handicrafts. The Sisters, under Sister Marthe, worked for the recognition of the primary and intermediate grades. The government issued the certificate of recognition on March 17,1910, and the title Girls' College of Our Lady of the Rosary was incorporated to the school on March 11, 1911. Secondary education started in 1912. Among the first high school graduates were Francisca Meris (Sister Luisa, SPC), Modesta Claustro (Sister Modesta, SPC) and Benilda Mendoza, a social worker of Vigan. The school was incorporated as Rosary Academy.

The plan to open tertiary education in 1941 was prevented by the outbreak of World War II. However, in 1946, the school acquired recognition for the Junior Normal College. Because of this recognition, the school gained the name "Rosary Junior College." In 1948, a two-year liberal arts program was recognized. In the following years, three more courses were recognized: three-year Elementary Teacher's Certificate with Home Economics, four-year Bachelor of Science in Home Economics and four-year Bachelor of Science in Education. With the recognition of these courses, the institution became known as Rosary College. The one-year Collegiate Secretarial Course (CSC), the Elementary Course in Piano and the two-year Junior Course in Piano and the two-year Teacher's Course in Piano were recognized in 1950. The four-year Bachelor of Arts was recognized in 1952 and the four-year Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (BSEEd) was granted in 1958.

The college department was devoted to molding young professionals who aspired to become teachers. The college attracted more students. There was a felt need for expansion. A new building was built on a lot in Bantay, Ilocos Sur. This lot was acquired during the administration of Sister Virginie Marie, the local superior from 1955 to!959 and school directress from 1960 to 1966. The new building became the home of the Rosarians in 1968.

In 1971, Rosary College was reincorporated under the new name of St. Paul College of Ilocos Sur. SPCIS pursued academic excellence, Catholic formation and the wholistic development of the human person. Aside from its involvement in education, it has devoted time to the cultural development of Ilocanos through annual presentations of plays, operettas and concerts.

In 1978, the school started to admit male students in both high school and college departments. Sister Mary Nathaniel Rocero, SPC, the directress, led this endeavor and worked for vhe opening of a new college course, BS Business Administration. The school acquired government recognition for this course on May 12, 1980.

The centennial is a celebration of the blossoming of maturity. From 1982 to 2004, the expansion and construction of several buildings took place: the gymnasium, grade school building, high school library-laboratory, audio-visual room, grade school and college canteens, kindergarten building and the Pere Louis Chauvet Hall.

In 1997, the college department moved to the new building in Bayubay, San Vicente. The students were the last occupants of the old Spanish building found in the heart of Vigan. On lune 5, 2004, the building of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary was completed and became the new abode of college students.

The opening of more courses was granted by the Commission on Higher Education. Among them are ACS, BS Computer Science (1996), reopening of BSA, BS Information Technology, BS Nursing and BS Tourism. The high school department was permitted to offer Science Enriched Curriculum in 2001. The same department received its Certificate of Accreditation (Level 2) in 1996 and was re-accredited in 2004. It gained recognition in Region 1 as the first accredited secondary school. The elementary department gained Level 1 Accreditation in 2004.

The College Department has four Level 1 accredited courses: education, liberal arts, commerce and computer science. The first three courses were accredited in 2004 and the latter in 2005. These are the blessings of SPCIS during the terms of Sister Marie Celine Santos (1980-1990), Sister Lilia Therese Tolentino (1990-1994), Sister Macarius Lacuesta (1994-1997), Sister Maria Dina Alilain (1997-2002) and Sister Marie Celine again(2002- present). From lan. 11 to!5, SPCIS celebrated its centennial. A mass, held at the St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral Jan. 11, marked the launching of the celebration. It was presided by Msgr. Edmundo Abaya, archbishop of Nueva Segovia, with 27 concelebrating priests. The provincial administration of the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres, headed by Sister Zeta Caridad Rivero, representatives of the different SPC communities in the Philippines and religious of other congregations joined the people of Ilocos Sur in thanking God for His grace which made SPCIS the pride of the Ilocos region.

The old Spanish building in Vigan, home of many Rosarians and Paulinians, will never be forgotten. Within its halls, the Rosarians bloomed into fine young ladies who became leaders in the homes and in the community. A commemorative marker was installed so that these memories would be cherished. Sister Zeta and Dr. Clarita Real-Adora, president of the SPCIS Alumni Association, unveiled the marker that was blessed by Archbishop Abaya. The centennial logo, a symbol of the SPC sisters' life and mission for 100 years in Ilocos Sur, was blessed when the participants moved to the Bayubay campus.

The grand alumni homecoming brought back many alumni to SPCIS. The celebration started with a motorcade, followed by the viewing of exhibits at the Pere Louis Chauvet Hall, then a mass presided by Father Robert Somera and concelebrated by Father Alex Malcaba, both alumni. Msgr. William Antonio, rector of the Immaculate Conception Major Seminary, delivered the homily. The mass was followed by an agape and "Inniliw," an afternoon of music, songs and dances participated in by the best alumni performers.