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Our Lady of Fatima University: A continuing journey towards excellence
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HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
The year was 1967. Jose C. Olivares, a Chemistry professor-entrepreneur, and his son-in-law, Dr. Vicente M. Santos, founded the Our Lady of Fatima Hospital in Valenzuela, then still a municipality of Bulacan. The hospital immediately became the primary provider of medical and health care services for the people of Valenzuela.
Olivares, then a professor at the Ateneo de Manila University and the University of the Philippines, envisioned a dream for Fatima. He set his eyes in transforming the Our Lady of Fatima Hospital from a general hospital to a medical complex that will be a training ground for health care providers such as nurses and midwives. Thus, in 1973, the Our Lady of Fatima College of Nursing was established and in 1976, the fi rst batch of Nursing graduates garnered an unprecedented 100% passing average in the Nursing Board examinations.
The mid '70s saw a dramatic improvement and expansion in the institution’s facilities and infrastructures resulting to more curricular offerings. In 1979, Dr. Santos and his wife Juliet Olivares-Santos pursued the vision of their father even further by establishing the Fatima College of Medicine. Since then, the Fatima College of Medicine has made its mark in medical education by producing graduates who are consistent Medical Board topnotchers and highly respected medical practitioners.
In the '90s, as a response to the changing social and technological environment, the college engaged in new academic programs particularly in computer science, maritime education, and business while at the same time fortifying and improving its performance in the health sciences, which Fatima is known for.
In its journey towards academic excellence, the Our Lady of Fatima College received offi cial recognition by achieving accredited status to its Nursing, Physical Therapy and Dental Medicine programs by the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities- Commission on Accreditation. The Association of Schools, Colleges and University-AAI, more recently, accredited Fatima’s Graduate School. The Fatima College of Medicine is accredited by the New York State Board of Education and by the Illinois State Board of Education. The College of Maritime Education is ISO Certified 9002:1994 and is included in the Commission on Higher Education’s White List as a qualified provider of maritime education.
THE MAN WHO STARTED THE JOURNEY
"To dream the impossible dream, to fi ght the unbeatable foe, to bear the unbearable sorrow, to reach the unreachable star …
” These are words which aptly describe how one man started his life, lived it, and fi nished it well. This man is Dr. Vicente M. Santos – the man whose vision propelled the creation of what is now the Our Lady of Fatima University.
"To dream the impossible dream ..."
Fatima is a dream Dr. Vicing shared with his wife, Juliet Olivares. Born to a humble family in Hagonoy, Bulacan, he obtained his Medical degree at the University of Santo Tomas and eventually became an obstetriciangynecologist. His commitment to his profession and devotion to his parents compelled him to build the Our Lady of Fatima Hospital in 1967. The one dream realized led to another. In 1973, the College of Nursing was established. In 1979, the College of Medicine followed. Indeed, for this man, no dream was impossible.
"To fi ght the unbeatable foe … to bear the unbearable sorrow…"
Dr. Vicing fought a good fight, and he helped countless others to fight their own battles as well. Over 40 years of practice in his fi eld, he helped mothers win their battles by delivering over 96,000 babies to life, including his own children and grandchildren. Perhaps ,the biggest battle of his life was his fi ght against his lingering illness – a battle he fought valiantly until the end.
"To reach the unreachable star …"
His installation as the fi rst President of the University is a testimony that stars are not elusive after all. Dr. Santos pursued his stars unrelentingly and in the process, he himself has become a star for us to draw light and inspiration from.
As the whole Fatima community commemorates his First Death Anniversary on July 20, we pay respect to him whose vision led us to continue the same journey he started ... a journey towards excellence.
Today, we continue the journey. In memory of the 1st University President, Dr. Vicente M. Santos, two Paramedical Buildings in Valenzuela City (Padre Pio Hall and the San Vicente Building) and a Paramedical Building in Hilltop, Lagro, Quezon City will be inaugurated with a simple blessing spearheaded by the current University President, Juliet O. Santos, Ph.D.
Today, we continue the legacy of improving man as man...
PRESENT TIMES
The transformation of the college and the conversion to a university in December 2002 is indeed a long awaited fulfi llment of the pioneering dream of the founders of this institution. It has become obvious that the institution was becoming multi-disciplined while retaining our core subject: the HEALTH SCIENCES. The distinction, therefore, of BEING DIVERSE (VERSITY) WITH A UNIFYING CORE (UNI) seemed to fi t the current model of our educational philosophy and delivery.
In addition, the conversion to university status will assist Fatima in elevating its stature as a school of serious academic study and standing. While certainly not pretending to be a comprehensive university, our role is distinctive as we seek to be a specialized university: a university for the health sciences.
The installation of Dr. Vicente M. Santos as the First University President is a fi tting tribute to a quiet and simple man whose empowering commitment and devotion inspired and propelled the men and women of the college to move on from its humble beginnings to its special niche as a premiere educational institution. Indeed, through the years, the Our Lady of Fatima University has embraced the basic educational philosophy of “improving man as a man” and emulated the virtues of “ veritas etmiserecordia” (truth and compassion) in upholding the tradition of academic excellence.
More recently, the Commission on Higher Education, recognizing the “enormous contribution of the Our Lady of Fatima University in the growth and prominence of tertiary education in the country and the Asia-Pacifi c and its commitment through quality education, research and extension work” granted DEREGULATED STATUS to the Our Lady of Fatima University through CHED Resolution No. 393-2003 dated October 27, 2003.
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