Historical Development

Through the active and selfless parish priest of Dalaguete, the late Fr. Ruperto Sarmiento, St. Mary's Academy came to birth in 1925. It started as a school for girls where Doctrina Christiana was taught. Fr. Sarmiento believed that the inculcation of Catholism in the young minds of his parishioners who were the potencial leaders of the church in the community was very important. Many youngsters came including boys who were taught catechism and the 3 R's.

After several years of success, a strong need was felt in the parish to expand the teaching of the school by opening primary and intermediate classes. After consultation with some prominent families in the locality, Fr. Sarmiento invited the Hermanas de Caridad, the Missionary Sisters who run the Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion in Cebu City. The sisters arrived and took over the administration of the school on April 26, 1933. The pioneer sisters were Sor Francisca del Toro, Superior, Sor Teodora Ruivivar and Sor Eliza Rubi. Spanish, Religion, piano and vocational education were taught by the Sisters and lay teachers. The school was named the Annunciation Institute. When war broke out, the school was temporarily closed.

During the Japanese occupation, the school buildings were used as seminary for the major seminarians under the Rector, Rev. Fr. Alfonso Saldaña, CM but this was short-lived when the rector was fatally shot by the guerillas from the mountains.

Liberation came. Efforts were made to revive the school. With an enrolment of 200 students, the doors of the school were opened in June 1946 to the public school students since the public school building was burned. Mr. Simeon Bajarias was the principal. Doctrina Christiana was still a part of the curiculum.

In his earnest desire, Fr. Sarmiento solicited the help of the Archbishop of Cebu to have the school run by an congregation. Consequently in July 8, 1946, Rev. Mo. Emilia Romero, RVM with Mo. Natividad Gabor and Mo. Emilia San Pedro arrived at Dalaguete. Rev. Mo. Romero then the General Procurator of the Congregation was commissioned to inspect and observe the condition of the newly proposed RVM school. The sisters were temporarily given a room in the convent where they stayed for three days until July 11 while the school was being prepared for occupancy.

With the arrival of Mo. Paulina Gallardo on July 21, 1946, The RVM Congregation took over the management of the school, which started a complete high school course. Mo. Paulina was the Superior/Directress from 1946 to 1952. It was during her administration that the school expanded and the Junior Normal Course was started. On the second semester of 1947-1948, the first year BSE Course opened. Primary and intermediate grades were opened in June 1948 and the Liberal Arts Course in 1949.

Mo. Trinidad Vidal succeeded Mo. Paulina as Superior and Directress from 1952 to 1955. The college courses were closed in 1956. On the same year, Mo. Consuelo Calle was appointed Superior with S. Ma. Luz Mercado as Principal. Mo. Crispina Asuncion followed for the next three years as the Superior. Enrolment went down to 80 in 1957-1958 that the General Council thought of closing the school. In 1959 Mo. Consorsia Artes was assigne Superior of the school. Notable improvements were made. Enrollment gradually increased. The last project of Mo. Artes was the annex Building which was inaugurated on March 27, 1965.

In 1970, after a series of typhoon, the old building was heavily slashed and Mo. Flora Nini, the Superior that time was given the task of rebuilding the heavily damaged school. The construction of the building was made possible through the generous help of benefactors and friends. This was the old administration building and the Sisters's residence. At the celebration of its Golden Annivaersary in 1975, the school was headed by Rev. S. Ma. Del Carmen Yap as Superior and Principal.

In 1977-1978, the enrolment of the school was down to 265. The income of the school could hardly pay the monthly salary of the teachers. Julio Cardinal Rosales, who was able to look for funding for the school, subsidized St. Mary's Academy yearly but for a period of time only.

Enrolment though was increasing in the year 1979-1982. In the 1989-1990, the RVM Congregation started subsidizing the school again. In 1992-1993, the Parish Pastoral Council, the PTA officers and the Alumni Association officers joined in supporting the school financially and helped in campaigning for increase in enrolment.

In 1992-1996, with S. Ma. Fe Saluta, RVM as Superior and Principal, an increasing trend in the enrolment was observed. There were many improvements during her assignment in what is now the SMA Elementary Building. Construction of a two-classroom building took place. With the extra money, a three door comfort room, Our Lady of the Lourdes grotto, a flag pole, a school lavatory and a school stage was built. In 1996-1997, Computer education was started. Toward the end of the school year, a new guardhouse and a computer building were constructed.

in 1997-1998, S. Ma. Stella Suico, RVM assumed office as Principal with S. Ma. Mila Ortega, RVM as the Guidance Counselor/CL Coordinator. S. Ma. Emma Dasal, RVM was installed as Superior/Econome. On September 13,1997, a general PTA meeting was called to discuss the proposed new RVM School building. The agenda also included the following: unified school name - from Annuncation Academy to St. Mary's Academy of Dalaguete, Cebu; unified school uniforms for techers and students and a unified school hymn.

In 1998-1999, S. Ma. Severiana Jocelyn D. Jerusalem, RVM replaced S. Ma. Stella Suico, RVM as Principal while S. Ma. Mila Ortega, RVM and S. Ma. Emma Dasal, RVM remained in their respective posts. Kindergarten classes were started. The vacant room on the second floor left wing of the school building was renovated and converted into the T.H.E. room. On Easter Sunday that same year, an alumni homecoming was made possible through the efforts of Dr. Ensoñacion H. Alcantara, the alumni President. The purpose was to raise funds for 350 chairs. Marriage enrichment program was also starte this year.

In 199-2000, S. Ma. Felisa Macabidang, RVM took over the p;ace of S. Ma. Mila Ortega, RVM while S. ma. Jocelyn D. Jerusalem, RVM remained the Principal and S. Ma. Emma Dasal, RVM the Superior/Econome. Fom June to December, 350 new chairs were acquired through the initiative if the Alumni Association headed by Dr. Alacantara. New sets of comfort room were also constructed at the back of the school building with the supprot of the PTCA President, Mr. Benjamin Liston.

From Annunciation Academy, the school was renamed to St. Mary's Academy of Dalaguete. With her new name came new faces, new RVM sisters. S. Ma. Felisa Macabidang, RVM was replaced by S. Ma. Trifina Zulita, RVM as the new CL Coordinator. Because of the increase of nursery and kindergarten students, S. Ma. Rachel Emila, RVM arrived to help the school. With the efforts of S. Ma. Emma A. Dasal and S. Ma. Severiana Jocelyn D. jerusalem, still the principal, SMA was able to hold successfully her Diamond Jubilee Celebration last December 10, 2000. Significant developments during this year were the acquisition of ten new computer units now packed with secondary storage memories; the kindergarten room now with its own comfort room was swapped with the Science Laboratory; and the school not just acquired a new name - it also acquired a new look. The basketball court now has its own cover.

The year 2001-2002 saw the school with new sets of administrators. S. Ma. Myrna B. Querol, RVM replaced S. Ma. Severiana Jocelyn Jerusalem as the Principal. S. Ma. Emma Dasal was replaced by S. Ma. Emiliana Roma, RVM. S. Ma. Rachel Emila remained the single soul to witness the insidious unfolding of the new SMA High School building.

Because of old school building was so much been in a dismal and dilapidated condition, S. Myrna Querol and S. Emiliana asserted that the old school be renovated. Acting no more than just prudence they had seen the worst consequences if the second floor would collapse upon hapless heads of students on the ground flor. With the staggering amount spent on renovations, there was also a staggerin increase in the number of enrolment. That same year, Rev. Mo. Clarita Balleque, the RVM Mother General, visited the school building to tell everyone that starting August 2001 the construction of the new building would commence.

In 2002-2003, the elementary department was re-opened. Grades 1 to 4 were offered. The Kindergarten classes were separated into two to facilitate learning. The high school department saw additional first year section and additional teachers and non-teaching personnel.

Last July 13, 2002, no less that the Archbishop of Cebu, His Excellency Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, together with Rev. Mo. Clarita Balleque and Hon. Ronald Allan Cesante, Mayor and SMA alumnus,led the people of Dalaguete in blessing the new high school building. Currently the high school department occupies the new building and the elementary department takes over the old SMA building.

The school year 2003-2004, saw the school changing her top administrators. S. Ma. Myrna Querol, RVM was still the Principal. S. Ma. Lilia Malimit, RVM arrived as Econome and S. Ma. Raymunda Cañada, RVM, the new Christian Living Coordinator. Together with the new econome, the Sister Principal made some more improvements: Grade 5 was opened and a new gatekeeper for the elementary department was hired; in the high school, additional computer units were purchased and library acquisition was doubled; a collapsible stage was donated by PMSC; the school canteen was well deserved Formica-topped tables; a guard keeper and an all arround handyman cum utility man were hired.

With the bridging program of the DepEd, during the ST 2004-2005, St. Mary's Academy boasts with an all time high enrolment nearing 700. Two additional teachers were hired: one for grade school because of the Grade 6 offering and one for high school because of the increase of students. The high school now has 11 sections. This year also, S. Ma. Felisa Macabidang, RVM returened again as the CL Coordinator.