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December 3: St. Scholastica’s
College was founded in a small residential house in Tondo by
five German missionary sisters: Mother Ferdinanda Hoelzer,
OSB, as Sister Prioress, and her four companions Sr. M.
Petronilla Keller, OSB, Sr. M. Crescentia Veser, OSB, Sr. M.
Winfrieda Mueller, OSB and Sr. M. Alexia Ruedenauer, OSB, a
novice.
The school opened for the first three
grades and the first Holy Mass was celebrated by the Apostolic
Delegate in an improvised chapel. The enrolment was eight (2
boys and 6 girls) from well-to-do families and some 50 boys
and girls in the “Free School” in a windowless wagon-shed.
December 24: With the help of
Archbishop Harty, the German sisters left their little home in
Moriones Street and moved to San Marcelino to accommodate the
increasing number of enrollees. On the same year, they opened
the High School Department.
The Conservatory of Music was opened under
Sister Baptista Battig, OSB, a famed concert artist before her
convent days, who pioneered music education in the country.
All seven grades were offered; enrollment
was up to 51 with 20 boarders; Sister Baptista started giving
piano lessons.
Sr. Willibalda, St. Scholastica’s College’s
first officially designated Directress began her term and
directed the school for the next thirty years. Together with
her co-workers, they set high scholastic standards that gave
the school a reputation for excellence.
The enrolment had increased to 66 for SY
1909-1910.
The Sisters filed an application to the
government for the purpose of obtaining the first recognition
of their institute. Government recognition was soon granted
and the school was given the title “college.”
At this time also, the pupils began to wear
uniforms: white blouse and blue skirts made of Canton linen.
All Scholastican students proudly wear their uniforms, in
white and blue, in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary up to the
present day.
The enrollment had increased to 91 by SY
1910-1911.
First concert of Sister Baptista was held;
piano lessons went from 7:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon; 1:00 – 7:00
p.m. Sister Baptista’s concert was a great success and many
piano pupils flocked to her.
January 14: St. Scholastica’s
College was granted a corporation title with trustees who were
members of the “St. Benedictus Missionschwestern
Genossenschaft, Tutzing, Ober-Bayern, Germany” – Sisters
Ferdinanda Hoelzer, Baptista Battig, Willibalda Schrader,
Leonarda Schmid and Alexia Ruedenauer.
The school had to expand its physical
plant. Archbishop Harty offered a piece of land in Singalong
district. Before transferring to the new site, the governor
general granted the school permission to issue a liberal arts
degree.
Memorable in the annals of the school was
the baptism of three Moro Scholasticans. The three aged 12,
14, 15 years, children of a German father and a native
Mohammedan mother, were very eager to be baptized. They
attended religious instruction diligently. Both parents
initially refused to have their children baptized. The
Scholasticans stormed heaven and fervently prayed to Our Lady
for them. On the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the
longed-for permission arrived. Baptism was administered by
the Bishop of Zamboanga, Msgr. Michael O’Doherty.
December 8: While still in San
Marcelino, 15 little children received First Holy Communion
while all the Sodalists joined them with their General
Communion.
January 15:
When still in San Marcelino, the school was granted government
permission to issue diplomas at the successful conclusion of
the High School.
June: Granted permit to offer
commercial secondary course.
January 6: Feast of the Three Kings
- the official opening of the new college. Archbishop Harty
celebrated a Solemn High Mass. In his homily, he addressed
the Sisters with joy for their success cited with gratitude
and challenged the students with the responsibility of being
“the cornerstones and pioneers of this institution.”
March 12:
The first commencement high school exercises were held in the
new site of the school in Singalong Street. Archbishop Harty
was present to award personally the diplomas of the two
graduates: Trinidad Lacson (Sister Mechtilde, OSB) and Adelina
Gurrea. Their fellow students honored them with a flourish of
piano, violins, cymbals and drums.
March 16: The first
commencement exercises of the commercial secondary course were
held. The school had four graduates: Maria Cajucom, Maria
Luisa Medina, Remedios Montelibano and Purificacion Tempongco.
The Conservatory of Music acquired its
house when the school grounds were expanded through the
purchase of a lot “with a wooden house” at the Singalong
side. The house was originally intended for the Free School
but improvements were made and the Archbishop called it “St.
Cecilia, a Temple of Music.” It housed 14 pianos which were
“active at the same time” throughout the day. Learning to
play other musical instruments as violin, guitar and others
was also offered.
Sister Baptista presented her first
graduate to the public when Patrocinio Garcia played classical
pieces and the “Concerto in E minor” by Chopin, accompanied by
the Philippine Military Orchestra. She obtained the Music
Teacher’s Diploma. More graduation concerts would follow.
St.
Scholastica’s College graduated its first batch of A.B.
graduates: Adelina Gurrea, Paz Gloria and Maria Agoncillo.
As early as 1912 it became apparent that
the San Marcelino compound was once more getting too small for
the growing student population. The Archbishop made a
property along Singalong available. Gradually, preparations
were made, construction began, opportunities for adjoining
lands taken, and in 1920 – again on Christmas Eve – St.
Scholastica’s College entered what would be its home on 1532
Pennsylvania Avenue (now 2560 Leon Guinto Street).
The year was also a time of transition
for women. Students were exposed to new ideas about women’s
rights and their place in a western-influenced society.
St. Scholastica’s College understood her
mission to be that of grounding women in competence and truth.
The High
School unit introduced its non-formal secondary curriculum
with 20 girls and 12 boys enrolled
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HISTORY