From 17 to 757 and still counting

SAMAL, Bataan – Set to celebrate its 55th founding anniversary in December of this year, the St. Catherine of Siena Academy of this town was established in January 1960 by the Rev. Fr. Conrado Ma. Quiambao, with the assistance of Mr. Roman Valenzuela, to become a secondary school where Christian values and discipline are instilled among its students.

With only 17 high school students when it started its operation in 1961, today SCSA has 31 preschool students; 188 in grade school; 538 in high school; and 40 highly qualified and dedicated members of the faculty ready to implement the K-12 curriculum.

That Saint Catherine of Siena Academy occupies a prominent place in the academic history of our Province is an understatement. With its high profile graduates who occupy distinguished positions in the government and in the private sectors, truly SCSA has been doing an excellent job in shaping the Filipino youth, the Bataeños.

From its maiden year of operation, Fr. Quiambao has imprinted into the academy his character, which is synonymous to discipline. SCSA became a school of discipline where students had that rare but exciting experience of learning the game of “hide and seek” with the Fr. Director, who really believe in the teachings of the Books of Proverbs, “The rod of correction gives wisdom but a boy left to his whims disgraces his mother” and “Withold not chastisement from a boy, beat him with the rod, and you will save him from damnation.”

In response to the spirit of the times, Fr. Victor C. Tadeo, who succeeded Fr. Quiambao after his death in March 1977, gave freedom to the students only to discover that many of the Catherinians preferred the discipline of the founder.

The following principals took turns at the helm of SCSA: Mrs. Rosalina Magpantay (1967-69), Mrs. Josefina Saldaña (1969-71), Mr. Arcangel dela Fuente (1971-73), Miss Corazon Abella (1973-77), Mr. Tomas Carabeo (1977-78), Mrs. Felicidad Rubiano (1978-79), Mrs. Corazon Atienza (1979-82), Mrs. Viviana Magpoc (1982-84) and Mrs. Amalia Capili-Ponce (1984 up to the present).

SCSA is called by the Diocese of Balanga to widen its vision and share in the threefold purpose of Catholic Education: to proclaim to the students the Gospel of Jesus Christ (KERYGMA); to enable them to experience fellowship in the life of the Holy Spirit (KOINONIA); and to prepare them to a life of service to the Christian community and the entire human race (DIAKONIA).

It is only by sharing in the total mission of the Church that SCSA becomes a true Catholic Educational Institution. As such, its operation and progress deserve to engage the joint participation of families, teachers, and various kinds of cultural, civic, and religious groups in performing a unique and invaluable work for the Church.

We at 1Bataan look forward to your next founding anniversaries with an earnest prayer that you will have grander and more meaningful celebrations, all for the Glory of God.