College of the Holy Spirit - Manila is located at 163 E. Mendiola St., Manila

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

From a small group of 20 girls and 4 boys on the first day of school, June 17, 1913, the student body had grown to some 4,000 girls when it had the elementary and high school departments.

Eighty-six years later, from a school of kindergarten, the school has expanded into a college, ever seeking to adapt herself to the changing needs and demands of the time, but ever anchored in the unchanging love of the Triune God. At all times, she seeks to form young women who are truly human and committed to the care of creation, professionally competent, critically conscious, stimulated to action towards the building of communities.

Holy Ghost College was established in 1913 as a primary school by Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit in response to the invitation of then Manila Archbishop Jeremias Harty. Dedicated to the holy spirit, its motto, VERITAS ET CARITAS, (Truth and Love), later re-stated as VERITAS IN CARITATE (Truth in love) has permeated its existence and growth through the years.

Further expansion took place in 1926 when the college department was opened with a two-year course, Associate in Arts. In 1928, three Bachelor’s degree programs were offered: Liberal Arts, Preparatory Law, and Education.

In 1932, two more courses were added: the Bachelor of Science in Home Economics and Bachelor in Fine Arts, followed by the Bachelor of Science in Commerce and the Secretarial course in 1936. Two years later, in 1938, the Master of Arts in Education was offered. This was, however, interrupted by World War II, and has not been revived since then. In 1944, Bachelor of Music was offered with various majors through the years: piano, organ, violin, marimba, voice, etc.

In 1950, with the offering of new courses, the five major academic departments were formed, namely, Liberal Arts-Education, Home Economics (later changed into Nutrition and Dietetics), Fine Arts, Commerce, and Science.

During the 50’s there was a need among private schools to maintain desirable standards of collegiate excellence, higher than the minimum required by the Bureau of Education. Such concept of accreditation was defined more concretely by the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) through the voluntary accreditation movement, spearheaded by eleven CEAP colleges, among which was the Holy Ghost College. Thus, in 1957, HGC had its first survey visit for accreditation and became a charter member of the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities (PAASCU).

The Science Department opened three more courses in 1963: the Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology, Pre-Nursing, and Pre-Medicine.

During the celebration of the Golden Jubilee in 1960s, the College made major curricular changes. Some degree programs were phased out while new major fields in the basic academic programs were introduced.

On April 5, 1965 the school’s name "Holy Ghost College" was changed to College of the Holy Spirit of Manila.

On August 9, 1975, the College of the Holy Spirit signed an agreement with San Beda College, La Consolacion College, and Centro Escolar University, forming the Mendiola Consortium (MC). The Consortium sought to foster closer collaboration and greater sharing of resources among the academic sectors of the four schools. Under this scheme, students and faculty would have relatively easier cross-enrolment procedure and sharing of facilities, among others. Since then, the MC has become alive and dynamic through the concerted efforts of the member schools.

One of the strategic decisions of the past was the gradual phase out of the grade school and the high school departments, starting in 1979 and ending in 1985. Such a decision was an answer to the government move of decongesting the Mendiola area, and converting it to Malacañang Park. Though the plan did not materialize with the change of government leadership, the phase out gave the College more space to accommodate the increasing number of tertiary students.

The, 1980’s ushered in more changes. Such changes took place in response to world and national events, which created new demands on the academe by industry. This "response-ability" to emerging situations has shaped, not only the curricular programs of the College, but has led to the redefinition of its Vision-Mission and priorities in the succeeding years.

Some things, however, remain. Among the ones that alumnae find striking when they come back are: the grotto, the bowers, the classic beauty of the acacia and narra trees on campus, and the pleasant shade of the mango trees planted by the students On Arbor Day in 1922. The students still wear the white uniform designed by Mother Edelwina in the 1920’s. The school logo and the school motto remain alive and challenging.

PRESENT TIMES

Inspired by its present thrust, which is "The Spirit of Community Impels College of the Holy Spirit Manila to Mission" and in living out the ideals of Fr Arnold Janssen, CHSM aims at the total formation of authentically Christian citizens who are humane and committed, professionally competent, and critically conscious.

The CHSM, a ministry of the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit (S.Sp.S), is a dynamic catholic educational institution, committed to the formation of Trinitarian-centered communities through quality education.

In a culture rooted in the Trinitarian Mission Spirituality, characterized by excellence, respect for equality, uniqueness of persons, unity of purpose, constant communication, and mission, CHSM will offer innovative and technology-enabled programs founded on service learning to form competent and socially responsible citizens.

The educational philosophy of the College of the Holy Spirit (CHS) is based on the Philosophy of Catholic Education where discourses and teaching-learning processes are centered on the Triune God. The Trinitarian-based spirituality inspires the CHS education to form the students to know, love, and serve the Triune so that she participates in the creative mission of transforming today’s society.

Therefore, teaching in the College of the Holy Spirit is directed towards the full, total integral development of learners who think, judge and act in accordance with the right reason drawn from the enlightenment/inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to follow the will of the Father and the example of Jesus Christ through living out of the core values of the spirituality of Blessed Arnold Janssen, founder of the SSpS Congregation. These core va1ues are, deep faith in the Triune God, awareness of self and the world, mission consciousness, simplicity, perseverance and hard work, community orientation, and care for creation. These means values are directed towards the goal values of the Trinitarian-centered communities with the qualities of respect for equality, uniqueness, constant communication, unity of purpose and mission.

A basic principle is reverence for life and being. CHS education inculcates in the learner the idea that a great person is one who, despite her being in a world of diversity, emerges free, unique and authentic, ever conscious of the presence of the Triune God in her journey towards self-realization, in her commitments and social responsibilities, and in her mission as builder of life-promoting communities.

The philosophy is the basis for the use of pedagogy that is participatory, critical, values-oriented, interdisciplinary, student-centered, experiential, and research-oriented.

In summary, education in the College of the Holy Spirit, Manila is Catholic in nature, Trinitarian in inspiration, humane in approach and inter¬disciplinary in response.

General directions of the College of the Holy Spirit from year 1995 to 2020. In the next twenty-five years, CHS, committed to her Vision-Mission, will retain her position as a leading Catholic institution in the formation of persons in the service of God’s Reign and agents of change in Philippine society. As a resource for Church and nation, it will emphasize academic excellence, social responsibility, and spiritual formation. As an institution of higher learning, it will have the Catholic character, dedicated to the Holy Spirit, and rooted in Trinitarian spirituality. As a liberating agent it will strengthen its role in evangelization, social transformation, and upliftment of women and evolve a culture reflective of a critical awareness of, and openness to change, in a developing country.

While asserting its character as a Catholic institution, it will carry on its tradition of being Christ-centered in philosophy, authentically Filipino in culture, humane in approach, Socially conscious in generating action, community oriented in thrust, research based in decision making. It will continue to provide quality education and will maintain its leadership in the fields of medical technology, environmental science and biology, business and entrepreneurship, fine arts, foods and nutrition, hotel and restaurant management, social development, and teacher education.

Research at CHS will generate its contribution to the improvement of knowledge and skills and the various disciplines. The resulting technology transfer will, focus on the alleviation of poverty and the improvement in the quality of life of the Filipino families. The official language is English, while Filipino is adopted in the Theology, Social Science, and Community Service courses.

CHS education will raise the consciousness of students and enable them to think critically of the interrelationship between the theories and principles in the discipline and the reality of the society in which they live. Their action will be a synthesis of faith with their personal and professional life.

All sectors of the CHS community will form a basic ecclesial community that reflects on its action based on the ideals of PCP II. The welfare of employees will be addressed systematically and humanely through a Human Resource Development Program. The psycho-spiritual formation of all sectors is insured in the well-planned administrators, faculty, students, and support staff development programs. The physical facilities will be utilized, maintained, and upgraded according to emerging needs and available resources.

CHS belongs to the Rosary Province of the Congregation of the Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit and is one of the two schools operating at the tertiary level. It Will be a resource center for the SSpS school system, especially in the continuing professional education (CPE) of the faculty, leadership formation of students, and in networking for responding to issues along the thrust of Dialogue of Life with the Poor and the Care for the Earth.

(With contributions from Ardy Araneta-Batoy, CHSM Promotions & Information Officer).