(Editor’s note: The history of Colegio San Agustin – Biñan was published in 2005 from the souvenir book entitled, “Eagle Pride 20 years: Colegio SAN Agustin – Binan 1985 – 2005”)
On June 17, 1985, Colegio San Agustin- Biñan started its operation with 646 pioneering pupils, 290 of whom are preschoolers. During its first year of operation, the school offered Junior Kindergarten up to Grade III. Sixteen faculty members and staff started the partnership with parents in the molding of the minds of the children entrusted to them. A sense of understanding, familiarity, togetherness, sharing, companionship and love and the words of Saint Augustine have become the lighthouse for all the journeys ahead.
More rooms, more students, added years, wider horizon – these characterized the year that came.
In response to the needs of the pupils, the school continued to expand its structure and improve its curriculum. Fueled by the achievements received in academic and co-curricular activities, total enrolment peaked to 790 in the academic year 1992-1993. Thereafter, appropriate control measures were introduced to effectively manage the growing student populace and sustain the upgraded standards of instruction. Strict screening procedures were likewise implemented, both for the admission of students and for hiring qualified faculty members.
Grade School Department
Due to insistent demands of parents, the Grade School Department opened grades IV to VI on the school’s second year of operation. Its first graduation was held in 1987 with 50 graduates. From then on, there was marked increase in its yearly enrolment.
On March 2, 1987, government recognition was granted the Grade School by the Department of Education, Culture, and Sports (DECS). On April 26, 2002, the department was granted its certificate of accreditation by the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities (PAASCU). The Federation of Accrediting Agencies of the Philippines (FAAP) attested its certification of accreditation to Level 11 for having satisfactorily met the standards and fulfilled all the requirements of the association. The department is committed to maintaining its standards and to further strengthening its curricular and co-curricular offerings. The PAASCU re-survey visit is scheduled for October 2005.
Its classrooms were formerly located in the first building which is now the newly constructed Sto. Niño Hall. Then, they were moved to the second building, the Rada Hall. With the increase in enrolment, the first floor of the Urdaneta Hall, which is the High School building, is now occupied by some of the Grade School classes. All Grade School classrooms are fully air-conditioned.
In 1992, the Department was champion in the Mathematics Teachers Association of the Philippines (MTAP) DECS Competition, Regional Level and 3rd Place in the National Level. The year 1994 witnessed the Grand Finals Champion of the Battle of the Brains. In 1997, the department, for the first-time qualified in the First World Primary Competition held in Hong Kong having passed the rigid training and qualifying examination given by the Mathematics Trainers’ Guild (MTG). Since then, the department has been consistent in sending contestants to this prestigious international competitions bringing home medals and certificates. The Department also won in both national and international sports and co-curricular competitions.
At present, the CSA Grade School Department enjoys the prestige of being a premier institution in the locality. It vows to continue providing the youth a truly Filipino-Augustinian education.
High School Department
Colegio San Agustin-Biñan formally opened its door for secondary education on its third year of operation in the academic year 1987-1988. There were 126 students in all including the second year. Government recognition was granted to the High School Department on January 4, 1989. By the academic year 1989. 1990, with all year levels completed and the public trust gained, the department has consistently maintained a population doubling each year.
The academic year 1989-1990 was a fruitful and rewarding time for the department when it reaped honors and awards both in regional and national competitions. In November 1989, the Augustinian Herald staffers, the official student publications of the department, won in the Regional Secondary Schools Press Conference. As if there were no thirst quenched, the school won in Caltex-Department of Science and Technology (DOST) competition. Several awards too were won in Mathematics Training Guild of the Philippines (MTG) both individual and group contests. Moreover, for three consecutive years, 100% of students passed the NCEE.
It was in this year too, that the first student government was inaugurated, clubs were also formed, aimed at training leaders. Debating, Dance, Dramatics Homemakers, Community Service, Power Training, Music and Arts, Photography, Teatro Alitaptap are but just some of these. Several other firsts took place: JS Prom, CAT Graduation, and then came of course the first graduation on March 31, 1990 and the seniors proudly marched to their commencement exercises. The eagles continued their might and mostly now known and reaping honors in their own chosen fields.
This had continually motivated the department to soar greater heights by bettering its services, improving its facilities, strengthening its faculty, and regularly reviewing its curricular offerings, thus with its avowed thrust of excellence, it took bigger steps by voluntarily submitting itself to PAASCU accreditation. On November 11-12, 1999, the preliminary visit was slated. On April 3, 2000, the department received with joy the news of a successful survey and was given a Level I status for a year. The formal survey visit was made last October 11-12, 2001 and the department was granted a Level II status for three years by the Federation of Accrediting Agencies of the Philippines (FAAP) having received the results on April 4, 2002. A resurvey visit was already scheduled in October 2005.
Inspired by its new status, the High School Department braved through economic crisis, affirmed by its population remaining stable-incessant infrastructures, and continuous faculty upgrading through graduate studied, seminars and training. that were never hampered. The onset of the Restructured Basic Education Curriculum (RBEC) in the academic year 2002-2003 sent CSA into studying its present Considerations were looked into for AY 2003-2004 and paved the way for the implementation of a modified curriculum with strengthened Mathematics subjects, additional English course by offering Speech for first year students; Christian Values Education and Ethics (CVE & E) was improved with the integration of Revitalized Homeroom Guidance Program; while Arts completes the components of MAPEH. Research Methods, offered in the fourth year level, remained a highly commended subject.
CSA-Biñan High School Department will keep burning the lights aflamed by its Patron Saint Augustine and Saint Nicholas of Tolentine, soaring higher and better each time for the fulfillment of its vision and mission.
College of Arts and Sciences
Coinciding with the centennial celebration of Philippine Independence, Colegio San Agustin- Biñan opened its College Department in the academic year 1998-1999. The school offered 12 courses in its initial year of operation. Nine were baccalaureate degrees and three were associate courses, Government permits were granted separately for the two sets of courses on December 18, 1997 and June 11,1998 respectively.
The first five courses approved were (1) AB major in English, (2) BEEd, English and Math, (3) BSEd, English and Math, (4) BS Computer Science, and (5) 2-year Computer Secretarial Course. The second set included (6) BS Biology, (7) BS Psychology, (8) BS Tourism, (9) BS Foreign Service, and (10) BS Hotel and Restaurant Management. Ladderized or associate courses were (11) Associate in Computer Technology and (12) Diploma in Tourism. In the academic year 2002-2003, the College Department focused solely in offering 6 major courses.
Government recognition was granted by Commission on Higher Education (CHED) on October 19, 2001 for BS Foreign Service, BS Psychology, BS Tourism, BS Hotel and Restaurant Management, and BS Computer Science. Government permit was granted on June 26, 2001 for AB Communications, a new baccalaureate course which was started in the first semester of 2001.
Another set of courses, which included BS Information Technology, BS Accountancy, and BS Business Administration majors in Management Accounting and Marketing Management were opened by first semester of AY 2003-2004.
Promoting national interest in consonance with its educational and apostolic goals, the college commits itself to the pursuit of academic excellence, spiritual transformation and moral upliftment towards the realization of its avowed thrust and motto: Virtus et Scientia.
