HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

SAMAR COLLEGE opened its doors on July 1, 1949, styling itself under the name of its famous predecessor – Samar Junior College. Its main building was located at the very heart of Catbalogan – at the corner of San Roque Street and Allen Avenue – while the normal training school was situated at the intersection of San Roque Street and Mabini Avenue. The incorporators were to embark on a journey "to fill the long cherished dream of every progress-loving Samareño to have a college that would not only supplement the work of the local public schools but at the same time offer educational opportunities above the high school level."

The Samar College along Mabini Avenue in Catbalogan, Western Samar

The 1950s saw Samar College’s emergence not only as a hub of academic excellence, but as a sports and cultural center, as well. In the ‘60s, the School administration building was transferred to its present site, marking May 4, 1966 a red-letter day for its inauguration. The Board of Trustees continued to be under the reins and able stewardship of dynamic Mrs. Fernandez. Then Gov. Esteban Piczon was installed as the vice chair of the policy-making body, which was beefed-up by the entry of educators in the molds of Castor Pacoli, Sr., Sixto Salazar, Pia Astilla, Jesus Japzon and Delfin Reynaldo.

The period came to be described as one of the most memorable decades where every graduation exercise saw the publication of the Coral to chronicle the school’s momentous events and to highlight other co-curricular activities. On the other hand, the school organ, the Samar Collegian, provided a forum for the intelligent discussion of issues and concerns and was handled then by a scholarly group whose members knew the importance of synergistic relationship with the administrators.

The ‘70s mirrored for Samar College the upheavals going on outside the school’s confines. Its students rode on waves of general discontent and dissent pervading those years. The protests were aimed not at whether the school was deficient neither in its management nor at how its officials were dealing with the welfare of the students. Rather, the students were vocal against the imposition of Martial Rule which affected greatly their economic and academic lives. They wanted to prove that greatness comes from participating in the struggles of history and oppressed people.

In the middle of the turbulent decade, Mrs. Fernandez bowed out of service from the school to give way to other trustees who were equally full of zest and fervor in maintaining the quality of education pursued and upheld at that time. In 1976, Astilla was voted as the new Chairperson of the Board of Trustees. She applied her brand of leadership in infusing timely adjustments to cope with the dynamism of the Philippine educational system. She was an old hand in the game who practiced to the hilt what she gained from experience as a first-rate educator.

The ‘80s saw the changing of command of the school. Present Board Chairman and School President Fidelindo G. Fernandez accepted his nomination that fitting day of February 21, 1984, ushering in an era of vigorous and innovative educational reforms. Mr. Fernandez proved to be a hands-on executive who brought his corporate wealth of experience to pragmatic application in the academic world.

The ‘90s saw Samar College in a shower of bounty. The Administration building got an enviable face-lifting – a new Reserve Officers Training Corp. (ROTC); the PMT and Medical Clinic building was turned-over to their happy occupants; and two precious awards for excellence were received from the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) Regional Office VIII on December 15, 1995. Likewise, student–teacher’s performance in the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) was an anticipated annual event for jubilation. The decade is very much still with the institution and is best left for another chronicle five years from now. One thing is clear though – Samar College refuses to stagnate; it always attunes itself to the demands of the times.

PRESENT TIMES

The start of the new millennium paved way to the further development in the institution’s curricular offering. When technology development became evident, Samar College followed the global trend; hence, there saw a need for the inception of the College of Information of Technology (CIT) in 2001. The College was conceived to provide quality instruction to students since it envisions individual to become globally competitive Information Technology practitioners.

The Bachelor of Science in Information Management adopts versatile strategies to equip the students with the ability to conceptualize, design, develop, implement and maintain information system.

The College of Liberal Arts (CoLA) amplifies its horizons that 10 years from now, it sees itself as a quality training center on the academe that aims to provide quality instruction and proficiency on humanities, social sciences, applied and pure sciences, cultural arts, language arts, literature and other professional disciplines. The Liberal Arts Department offers AB English Language and AB Social Science under the existing curriculum. Filipino Language, Economics and Literature are proposed new fields and Political Science and Public Administration are programs to be worked out.

The College of Business Administration and Secretarial (CBAS) envisions a truly independent and productive citizenry that will enable to stand the change of time using their potentials and entrepreneurial skills to be at peace with the demands of the present social and economic needs of the nation, particularly in the island of Samar. It strives to provide the community with committed leaders and entrepreneurs inspired and guided with attitudes and principles in their quest for a better quality of human life and acquire ethical values and possess a thorough understanding and appreciation of corporate social responsibility. The department offers a common foundation of knowledge through a core cluster of general and business courses through educational programs that will prepare students for careers that can create decent living and provide avenues for the exercise of responsible leadership and citizenship. The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration offers Majors in Banking and Finance, Management, Legal Management and Management Accounting. For Associate in Computer Secretarial (ACS), a two-year course offers Shorthand and Computer Technology as fields of specialization.

The College of Education (CoEd) aims and is committed to produce highly motivated, committed and competent teachers who are critically aware of the objective realities of life and are socially involved in the cultural transformation of the nation. It offers the courses Bachelor in Elementary Education and Secondary Education with majors in English, Filipino, Social Studies, Physical Sciences, Biological Sciences, and Mathematics.

True to its claim as an institution that provides relevant education to Samareños, Samar College took yet another leap when it was granted to conduct and operate a five-year Law course leading to the degree of Bachelor of Laws (LI.B) in accordance with the pertinent provisions of the Higher Education Act of 1994 effective collegiate year 2002-2003.

On the other hand, the SC Graduate School is committed to the attainment of the academic excellence and through relevant instruction in research, as well as the innovation of alternative ways of learning that would ultimately improve the quality of life of its clientele in their peculiar ecology. It envisions graduate to be competent, effective and innovative leaders in their respective fields of endeavor who shall blaze the trail in the continuing search for the truth towards the enlightenment and empowerment of Samareños in their journey to genuine and fulfilling liberation. The SC Graduate School offers Master of Arts in Education with Majors in Reading, Communicative Language Learning and Filipino.

The institution adds another feather to its cap when the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) through a Temporary Permit No. 13, series of 2006 allowed the opening of the Criminology (BS Crim) course under the College of Criminal Justice Education with 134 students as pioneering batch for circular year 2006–2007. BS Crim was first conceptualized way back in December 2005, starting as part of the planned linkage with a state-run University of Eastern Philippines (UEP). The idea failed to materialize due to some technical and procedural obstacles; hence, the proposed linkage was categorically junked.

However, its primary proponents did not waver in their efforts to open the program for SC, since they believed there is a need for such educational program that can develop highly competent, efficient and effective police workforce whose service to the community is of global standards. Hence, with a consensus reached with the top level management and through the concerted efforts of the primary proponents, CoLA Dean Dr. Banillo Gabon, and School Registrar Grace Navaja, the course was literally conceived a priority program for the institution. This could not have been possible without the concurrence of the College President Fernandez and School Administrator Fidencia Oral.

As part of its community extension service, SC provides relevant activities that cater to the social needs of its clientele such as literacy, health and sanitation, clean and green and leadership training programs through its National Service Training Program (NSTP).

Committed to the transformation of the students into enlightened, competent and productive citizens Samar College emerges not only in the academe but in Culture and Arts, as well.

The RAYHAK Dance Troupe consistently represents the Samar province in the annual regional celebration of WOW! Philippines in Intramuros, Manila. This year, MASKARA, the campus repertory and the Pastoral Choir were conceived to harness the different talents of the students in the Performing Arts.

In the field of campus journalism, The Samar Collegian, the official campus paper, has been considered one of the outstanding school publications in the region since 2004, gaining various recognition in the yearly Regional Tertiary Press Conference. "Reflections", its premier Literary Folio, debuted in September 2005 and won the Best Special Publication Award in December of the same year, with its staff writers gaining individual recognition in various fields of journalism. At present, the publication takes another step higher as it continuously provides a wide variety of journalistic and creative writings beneficial to the development of the well-being of its studentry and the community.

With its present Board comprised led by Mr. Fernandez, Samar College, in its current status as an institution of academic excellence, is doing its best to maintain its glorious standing today and beyond.