HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

Atty. Rodriquez served as director and principal during the school’s early years with only four teachers serving thirty-four students: twenty-four in first year, five in second year, three in third year, and two in fourth year. The four teachers then were Dr. Jose Dimaculangan, Dr. Juanito Umali, Mr. Pedro Luanca and Mr. Benigno Hernandez. An old but serviceable building owned by Isidro Lazaro was leased to accommodate the four regular classes.

By July 1948, an increased in enrolment required Mr. Eulogio Oliva’s residence for additional classes. Evening classes were also held to give many working students the opportunity to study and finish high school education.

The Eastern Mindoro College at Bagong Bayan II in Bongabong, Oriental Mindoro.

In November 1956, school buildings were constructed on a two-hectare land owned and shared by one of the incorporators, Paula Tengco Lazaro. The next school year, classes were moved to the present site at Barangay Bagong Bayan II with Juanita P. Agaran, principal.

After the death of Dr. Angel Rodriguez in 1964, his wife Aurelia Limson Rodriguez took over as president. During her short term, additional classrooms were constructed.

In January 1967, Benigno Hernandez was elected president. Acquisition of additional four lots expanded the school site. And as the academy grew, it accommodated college programs. School year 1967-68 marked the opening of courses in the Liberal Arts as the Bureau of Private Schools granted permit. Forty-three students enrolled in the first semester; while thirty-five during the second semester. The following school year, permit was also granted to operate for the Secretarial course. By 1969, Asuncion Mantaring assumed presidency.

On August 20, 1970, Eastern Mindoro Academy became Eastern Mindoro College after the administrators filed the amended Articles of Incorporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

By 1978, permits were granted to offer Commerce and Education courses. Evening classes were also offered to give government and private sector employees the opportunity to pursue other college degrees. Through the 80’s, annual enrolment of both high school and college departments reached over the thousandth. Eduardo N. Nicol and Patricio F. Fojas served as the deans of the College Department, consecutively while Candido F. Fetalvero, former office clerk, was appointed College Registrar and later, high school principal. Meanwhile, Mrs. Asuncion Mantaring’s twenty years of service ended in 1988. Succeeding her was Mrs. Victoria de Guia Goño.

The 90’s marked physical transformation of EMC as Goño initiated and consistently pursued renovation and construction of facilities, acquisition of equipment such as computers, laboratory instruments including a stellar telescope, and other office gadgets. Also, salary of employees and benefits have been upgraded and provided.

Another breakthrough was the opening of the Elementary Department in June 1996. EMC’s enrolment doubled. Thus, a full swing operation of multi-level educational system.

In 2001, masteral programs were made available for EMC faculty members through consortium with one of the leading university in Manila. To upgrade teachers and ensure their continuous efficiency, College Dean Eleanor A. Elauria and the administrators initiated the program though it was shortlived.

By January 2004, DepEd monitoring team evaluated the school’s implementation of FAPE-ESC (Fund Assistance for Private Education – Educational Service Contract) Program.

As a result, EMC received Outstanding rating on Administration and Student and Faculty Services; Very Good on Faculty, Curriculum and Instruction, and Facilities; Above Standard on Mission and Goals, School Plant and Equipment, Faculty & Staff, Instructional Programs, Students Services and Performance Indicators. Hence, an overall rating of Above-Standard and Outstanding.

On its 60th Founding Day, EMC’s Alumni Association headed by the vice-president herself, organized a Grand Alumni Reunion. Together with renowned professionals who graduated from the institution, Agnes Limson Guevara initiated the construction of the college gymnasium.

On June 20, 2006, after more than eighteen years of leadership, Mrs. Goño passed on the presidency to Honorio F. Pastor.

PRESENT TIMES

The Eastern Mindoro College today functions not only as an educational catalyst with its surrounding locality but also as a significant pillar of growth and development. For in the past, it already served as a feeder of competent workers both in the government and private sectors through its graduates. Still, at present this institution continues to strengthen holistic development of youth and the community in general through its linkages with local and national agencies in order to fulfill its mission and goal.

The school administrators believe that this institution has its own limitless way of public service. Its primary aim: to know, study, guide, seek all that has been learned and keep this knowledge viable to have it studied for thought and to add to what has been learned.

As a non-sectarian private institution, EMC has a unified goal for its college, high school and elementary departments: to produce morally, emotional, intellectually and spiritually upright citizens.

Its declaration of vision and mission emphasizes the significance of the individual learners being molded with ethical values, enriched with academic competence, well-developed in talents and skills that will promote their Christian and Filipino identity.

Through the years EMC has produced competent enterprising men and women who made names locally and abroad. To mention a few, the present NBI acting director Nestor Mantaring, Rafael "Popoy" Cusi, an internationally-acclaimed painter; Carlos Gabuco, nationally-renowned-painter; Julius Garcia, recipient of international award for business; and Dr. Miguel Garcia, former DepEd regional director. To continue this scenario, the institution is determined to expand its programs for the other learning opportunities, offer more courses in the college, and enrich the three-level curricula with computer-based lessons.

Since the high school is its major department - having the most population - EMC’s programs balance both academic and extra-curricular tasks. Students have always been encouraged to participate in annual journalism workshops and competitions, pop-quizzes, math olympiads, science fair, YMCA leadership training, musical and sports activities.

More often, they bring significant if not outstanding awards which add to the merits of the school, the teachers and the students themselves. Similarly, both elementary and collegiate activites are geared towards the pursuit of excellence.

More specific activities which students participate are the bands - the elementary and the high school, the Rondalla, the Taekwondo and the regular monthly convocations highlighting significant cultural activities as well as educational performances.

Presently, EMC offers the following programs and degrees: Pre-school Education, Elementary curriculum, High School curriculum, Bachelor of Arts major in History, Bachelor of Elementary Education with specialization in General Education and Pre-School Education, Bachelor of Secondary Education with majors in Social Studies, Filipino, Mathematics, English, Biology, Physics and Computer Education; Bachelor of Science in Commerce majors in Management, Entrepreneurship and Banking and Finance; and Associate in Computer Secretarial.

Honorio Pastor, defines his clear agenda: to establish more strongly the mission of the school and continue pursuing excellence in the academic aspect of the institution as well as building stronger ties with the community it serves. Working hand-in-hand with his wife, Dean Nelcy Mantaring-Pastor who has just retired from a DepEd post in Oriental Mindoro, Mr. Pastor starts his team with reorienting his subordinates, aiming at redefining school policies and hopefully, enriching faculty effectiveness with programs appropriate to their needs.