HISTORY
LA CONSOLACION COLLEGE of Caloocan City formerly St. Joseph Catholic School (Caloocan) had its humble beginning in 1932. It was founded by a group of civic-minded citizens in Caloocan with the desire of helping the poor who could not afford to send their children to school.
In 1940, the corporation entrusted the entire management and administration to the Augustinian Sisters of Our Lady of Consolation through Mother General Consuelo Barcelo, OSA. This was the last foundation that Mo. Consuelo did before she died in 1940.
The school was renamed St. Joseph Academy (SJA). The pioneer sisters assigned in managing the school were the ones who started to organize classes from Grade I to Grade III.
The sisters thru Rev. Mo. Sor Ma. Pilar Prospero, OSA exerted much effort in petitioning the permanent use of the church lot occupied by the school. Thus, Archbishop Gabriel Reyes and Monsignor Pedro Abad granted the sisters’ request for the use of the lot.
When the Americans came in 1945, the sisters accommodated more students wanting to avail of the Augustinian education in spite of the precarious facilities. The students were contented with the improvised tents offered by the American soldiers as their school rooms.
School year 1956-1957 saw the construction of a concrete three-storey building which housed the administrative office, the laboratory, the library and a number of classrooms.
On March 14, 1958 a few days before the school’s 18th Commencement Exercises, a big fire razed the whole school to the ground. The three-storey building was reconstructed in June 1958.
In 1963, Archbishop Rufino Caridnal Santos gave the Deed of Perpetual Use of the Lot to the Sisters through Sr. Aurora de la Virgen Maria, OSA.
The three-storey building expanded with the construction of the fourth floor and the gymnasium.
In 1969, St. Joseph Academy was renamed La Consolacion School in honor of the Congregation’s Patroness, Our Lady of Consolation.
In the 70’s the school community witnessed the growth in the institution’s different programs and physical plant like the renovation and construction of additional classrooms through the leadership of Sr. Ma. Gliceria Cajoles, Directress Principal of Grade School and High School Departments.
The 80’s ushered in the adoption of the Catholic School System Development (CS-SD) for all school constituents and was highlighted by the Congregational Evaluation Visit (CEV). During the school year 1984-1985, the school underwent the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU) Preliminary Survey. In the same year the St. Joseph Academy – La Consolacion School SJA-LCS Alumni association spearheaded a General Homecoming.
The School Year 1986-1987 effected tremendous improvements through the efforts of Sr. Ma. Gerolinda C. Tingson, OSA and the “LCS-K Community of Friends”. The creation of different centers and offices was realized to serve the clientele better.
In 1987 both the grade school and high school programs were granted Level II Status by PAASCU.
The school initially offered short-term courses in Computer, Tourism, Secretarial and Food Trade, but in the latter part of the 80’s saw the birth of the first Catholic College in the 2nd District of Caloocan City offering four-year degree courses such as BSE and BEED with Values Education as major.
In 1990 the school celebrated its Golden Jubilee, followed by Congregational Evaluation Visit that culminated with PAASCU Re-Survey visit for both the grade school and the high school departments.
The DECS recognized other four-year degree courses: Tourism, Secretarial and Hotel and Restaurant Management, in 1992.
Hence, the following year, in 1993, saw the construction of the College building named after St. Augustine, the very same year when the school adopted a program to answer to the call of the times, the Free Adult Night High School (FANHS).
Two years after, the grade school and the high school departments were granted a five-year accreditation by PAASCU, 1995.
The succeeding years saw both the creation and expansion of vital offices.
In 1998, the school community welcomed a new President and Dean of the College, Sr. Francisca P. Montesa, OSA and the appointment of the Executive Vice President, Sr. Ma. Celina V. Geaga, OSA to improve further not only the curricular and the co-curricular programs but also the entire school operations as concretized by the reformulation of the school’s vision/mission. The intense implementation of the different programs and services and the marked improvement in physical plant were also made.
At the onset of the year 2000, in oneness with the celebration of the Great Jubilee, the school welcomed a new Principal for Basic Education, Sr. Ma. Lina R. Despojo, OSA.
The year 2000 witnessed the tremendous preparation of the school not only in terms of physical plant but also in all areas of operation. Some of the highlights for this year are the dissemination of the revised philosophy and objectives to all the school constituents, and the implementation for the Faculty Development Program to equip the teachers with the necessary skills to carry out their respective plan of activities for their subject areas.
In SY 2001-2002, the grade school and high school departments were granted PAASCU re-accreditation for a period of five years. The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) program offering in the College Department was recognized by CHED.
Furthermore, the Multi-Media Computer Laboratory was opened to the public; one of its outstanding features is the free Internet access which was maximally used by students from all year levels.
In terms of physical plant area, major repairs/ renovations of the different offices such as the principal’s office, libraries, clinic, guidance center, MRBIOCFI Center, stage and the mini hotel lounging area, music room, and chapel. Rewiring of all electrical installations in the whole building were undertaken.
In 2003, The LCC-Caloocan community took part in the historic launching of the causes for the beatification of the Congregation’s foundress, Mother Consuelo Barcelo y Pages.
In school year 2004-2005, LCC-Caloocan became the first private school in the National Capital Region to be a recipient of the Outstanding School Paper Adviser Award given by the Department of Education. The adviser also bagged for the school the Outstanding School Paper Adviser of the Philippines Award in the same year.
The Caloocan City government cited LCC-C as an Outstanding Educational Institution during the city’s 43rd Founding Anniversary.
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) became a part of the college department’s program offerings.
In the same year, all the sectors from the administration, teaching, non-teaching personnel, students, parents and alumni joined the Kick-Off Celebration of the school’s 65th Anniversary.
In year 2005-2006, Sr. Puri Alma S. Peña, OSA was appointed as Basic Education Principal.
The following year Sr. Puri Alma S. Peña, OSA became the new President and Dean of the College. The school community adopted a newly formulated Philosophy and Objectives aimed at forming an Augustinian Christian Filipino whose commitment to faith and country, leads a holistic life equipped with Passion for Christ and Compassion for Humanity as manifested through love of, concern for and service to others, especially to the least of God’s people.
On January 31, 2009 in accordance with the Memorandum Order Number 32, Series of 2006 of the Department of Education (DepEd), the Federation of Accrediting Agencies of the Philippines granted the LCC-C Grade School Program Level III Re-Accredited Status for having satisfactorily met the standards and fulfilled all the requirements of the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU).
On the other hand, PACUCOA candidate status was granted to BSBA / BSTM / BSHRM programs of the College Department on October 11, 2010 until 2012.
As LCC-C celebrated its 70th year in 2010, the entire community painstakingly continued to strive harder and do better in their pursuit of evangelization and academic excellence through benchmarking and demonstration teaching.
The MRBIOCFI has made alliances with different non-government and government agencies to reach out to Caloocan’s poor by adopting barangays as venues of the School’s Outreach Programs. Livelihood and feeding programs are only two examples of the noteworthy endeavor of the school.
LCC Caloocan marked a milestone in its history as the whole institution celebrated the blessing of its new Our Lady of Consolation (OLOC) building on September 5, 2011. The new edifice provided convenient access to nearly all student services especially the three (3) libraries, internet and science laboratories, registrar, finance, instructional media center and the rest of the student services offices. Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez, Jr. led the blessing of the new seven-storey building.
On April 3, 2013, PACUCOA LEVEL I accredited status was granted to BSBA / BSTM / BSHRM programs until 2016 and PAASCU granted the Grade School Department and High School Department a five-year clean slate accreditation status, respectively.
The school celebrated its 75th Foundation Anniversary on February 9-13, 2015 with the theme: LCC@75: Celebrating God’s Grace in Her Diamond Jubilee. The entire institution conducted varied activities like motorcade, tiangge and booths, dinner and dance, intramurals, field demonstration, mini-fair, cheering competition, etc.
In the same year, LCC-C become the benchmarking venue of different schools like La Consolacion College-Deparo, La Consolacion College-Pasig, Malate Catholic School, La Consolacion School-Balagtas, Holy Trinity Academy-Sampaloc, Colegio Delas Hijas de Jesus-Iloilo and San Jose Academy, Navotas City.
In SY 2015-2016, Sr. Ma. Lina R. Despojo, OSA was assigned as President/Principal of the college. The institution had a significant preparation for the Senior High School in accordance with the K-12 Program for school year 2016-2017.
In February 2016, PACUCOA LEVEL II status for 5-year clean slate was granted to BSBA, BSTM, and BSHRM programs.
The following year, the new Vision-Mission-Goal statement was formulated to replace the one that had been used since 1998.
The year also ushered the implementation of the K to 12 program known as the “Senior High School” which the school offered with several tracks that would cater to the demands of the world’s market.
Through the leadership of Sr. Ma. Lina R. Despojo, OSA, major and minor improvements of physical plant and school facilities were conducted in SY 2016-2017.
The school celebrated its 77th Foundation Anniversary on February 6-9, 2017 with the theme: “LCC-C@77: Serving as Transformative Agent in the Communion of Communities”.
Most Rev. Bishop Pablo Virgilio S. David, D.D. was invited as the main Celebrant/Homilist during the Thanksgiving Mass on February 6, 2017. Varied activities like the anniversary logo-making contest, motorcade, bazaar, intramurals, field demonstration, cheering competitions, etc. were conducted.
In May, 2017, the High School Department was granted Level III PAASCU re-accredited status until 2019.
In the same year, the Basic Education Department welcomed its new BED Principal, Sr. Gemma P. Valenzuela, OSA. Likewise, La Consolacion College Caloocan Extension Services, Inc. formerly Mo. Rita Barcelo In/Outreach Community Foundation, Inc. (MRBIOCFI) successfully passed the Level I Accreditation of its community-based programs and services for children, youth, women, families and communites with a 100% passing rate as granted by the DSWD Standards Bureau.
The academic year was also marked with thanksgiving, heightened by the school community celebration of its 78th Founding Anniversary with the theme, “LCC-C Shines in Faith: Evangelizing and Empowering in Her 78 Endearing Years” on February 5-8, 2018 as an expression of the institution’s shared commitment to the realization of its Vision-Mission-Goal statements and core values.
On January 18, 2019 La Consolacion College Caloocan served as the venue for the launching of the Unified La Consolacion College-Northern Manila (ULCC-NM): The first ASAS Unified Schools System in the National Capital Region.
The Unification ceremony started with a Eucharistic Celebration officiated by Rev. Fr. Peter A. Casiño, OSA. It was highlighted with the Keynote Speech of Sr. Niceta M. Vargas, OSA ASOLC Superior General and messages from Sr. Maria A. Garcia, OSA, General Councilor on Apostolate and Sr. Emilia S. Lacuarta, OSA, ASAS Superintendent.
The acceptance of the symbol of unification by La Consolacion College Caloocan, La Consolacion College Valenzuela and La Consolacion College Novaliches communities was done successfully.
The entire school community celebrated the 80th Foundation Anniversary of La Consolacion College Caloocan with the theme: “LCC-C: Celebrating 80 Years of Joyful Mission for the New Evangelization” on February 10-14, 2020. Various activities were carried out leading to the culmination of the celebration attended by the entire school personnel, alumni, parents, ASOLC sisters, OSA priests and invited guests.
Today, strengthened by her new vision/mission and goals, LCC-Caloocan remains steadfast in bringing quality Christian education to many young people who seek to find a good foundation for their future and will continue to strive and be of service to its local and larger community.
