Our Heritage

St. Peter's Institute and St. Peter's Academy

Category: Built Heritage
Sub-category: Education
Barangay: District 1-29 (Poblacion)
Other Name: St.Peter's College Of Ormoc
Ownership: Administered by Benedictines Sisters/ Order of St. Benedict
Location: Approach: Access to all vehicles
Usage: Past: Old School Present: School (St. Peter's College of Ormoc)
History: Little did the Ormocans realize, at the turn the century, that from a humble and unpretentious beginnings, the St. Peter’s College of Ormoc—Leyte’s oldest Catholic School—now stands as a bulwark of Christian education on this side of the Philippines. Caught in a capsule is the history of St. Peter’s College of Ormoc: 1914 -Rev. Fr. Ismaek Cataag founded and established the Colegio de Nuestra Guadalupe under the management of the Sisters of the Cartilla (kindergarten) and complete primary. 1926 - The complete intermediate course was added to the curriculum. The school sported a new name: St. Peter’s Institution. 1928 - The year’s strong typhoon completely destroyed the imposing San Pedro building. The school finances took a nosedive. Only Fr. Ismael’s Cataag tenacity and undaunted courage brought the school back on its feet. 1930 - The five pioneer Missionary Benedictine Sisters took over the administration of the school in 1930 upon the invitation of the founder, Rev. Fr. Ismael Cataag. The complete secondary course was offered and in 1931, St. Peter’s Academy turned out its first five high school graduates. 1931 - On January 2, a typhoon destroyed the school building. It was rebuilt during the course of the year. 1942 - Japanese occupation. High school classes were suspended. Primary and intermediate classes continued. 1944 - The Battle of Ormoc Corridor razed St. Peter’s Academy to the ground. Fr. Ismael died from shrapnel wounds in Mahilawum, Bobod Hills in Patag on December 26. 1945 - Post Liberation classes were held in makeshift structure constructed through the help of the American Liberation forces in Ormoc. 1947 - A modern 16-room building was completed through the efforts of the Sisters aided by Msgr. Manuel Mascariñas, Bishop of Palo, and by Ormocanons who gave both, moral and financial support. 1948 - The school was duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 25, 1948. 1950 - A new two-story building opened on the eastside of the school campus, it housed the administration offices and served as the Sister’s cloister and chapel. In July of the same year, St. Peter’s Academy threw its door open to first year normal college students. 1956 - St. Peter’s Academy acquired a new lot and residential house in Lopez Jaena Street. The upper floor was for the music department, while the ground floor served as offices and armory of the SPA-PMT and ROTC Unit. 1957 - The boy’s high school building including a built-in-stage and social hall was constructed. 1965 - A four-story college building, Sts. Peter and Paul wings, zoomed to welcome the Education, Liberal Arts, Commerce, Secretarial, and Vocational students. 1966 - Birth of St. Peter’s College of Ormoc, offering five collegiate courses. 1970 - Organization of the Guidance Department. 1971 - The L- shaped four-story wings (St. Benedict and St. Scholastica) intended as high school annex to the 1966 building rose to their full height. A couple of years later, this annex was shared with the graders. 1972 - The first group of three hundred CCF children was grafted into the St. Peter College f Ormoc family tree. Some years later this was disaffiliated. 1975 - The 1974-1975 earthquakes in Zamboanga and Cotabato hastened the decision of the administration to let the 28 year old grade school and high School wooden building built in 1947 gave way to a gymnasium. 1981 - Sale of the St. Peter’s College compound along Aviles Street (now Ormoc Centrum), which was a partial solution to the financial difficulty of St. Peter’s College of Ormoc. 1982 - The blessing of the sister’s new convent on October 12. The construction was made possible by the largesse of Don Poten and Doña Tanitig Larrazabal. 1983 - The Diocese of Palo was elevated to an Archdiocese, consequently raising St. Peter’s College of Ormoc to archdiocese level. The bachelor of Secondary Education (BSE) revised curriculum with majors in English, Mathematics and General Science was approved by DECS. A one year General Clerical Course (GCC) was recognized. 1985 - The construction of a new concrete school canteen. 1989 - Diamond Jubilee year of St. Peter’s College (1914-1989). The third and fourth floors of St. Scholastica’s wing were extended to accommodate the high school library (3rd floor), college library (4th floor), two classrooms and a computer laboratory. The libraries in St. Paul’s wing were transformed into classrooms and a Grade School faculty room. A long stretch of pergola with a cemented sidewalk was constructed. This move of the PTA founded an echo in the project of the student governments of the grade school, high school and college, which was the cementing of school ground. 1990 - The St. Benedict Socio-Pastoral Center started rising near the piano house and began taking in and graduating six months after, 27 less privileged men, women, and out-of-school youths from the Dressmaking and Tailoring courses. By then, it had completed a seminar hall, a spacious sewing room and acquired 32 sewing machines. On November 3, Typhoon Ruping came and blew off the pergolas, which were newly constructed in out of the school campus. It also destroyed some classrooms. But in no time the PTA restored the damaged sheds and the administration had the classrooms repaired. 1991 - The historic Ormoc Typhoon Uring struck on November 5 claiming 8,000 lives. Thirteen of the dead victims were from SPC, 3 from grade school, 7 from high school and 3 from college. It destroyed facilities equipment and records amounting close to a million pesos. 1992 - School year 1991-1992 saw the College Department of SPC taking in students for its new course. The Bachelor of Science in Accounting (BSA) was offered. 1993 - Renovation of convent chapel to give way to the AVR and Conference Room. The transfer of the Chapel downstairs provided opportunities for its use by the other members of the school community. SPC Guidance Department was chosen best guidance center in the Ormoc City Division. The high school department was a receipts of Science and Mathematics laboratory materials and teacher trainings worth half a million pesos from DOST-SEI-ESEP as one of the fifteen private secondary schools from all over the Philippines who were given such donations. 1994 – 80th Jubillee year of St. Peter’s College (1914-1994) SPC Grade School Department was awarded “Excellent Elementary Private School in Region 8.” Associate in Computer Science and Computer Secretarial Science were added as new courses in the College Department. 1997 - Blessing of the new four story-twelve room St. Hildegard building for the Grades IV and VI of the Elementary Department. SPC-ROTC Unit garnered the Best Unit in the whole Philippines. 1998 - Approval of the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science course by the Commission on Higher Education. The Grade School Department successfully passed the PAASCU Formal Accreditation. 1999 – 85th year of foundation of St. Peter’s College with the theme “For God’s Greater Glory Serve and Build Community”. 2002 - The High School Department successfully passed its initial PAASCU Accreditation. The Grade School successfully passed its second its second formal PAASCU accreditation for five years. 2004 - 90th Jubilee year of SPC. The college Unit tie-up with Sanctus Vincentius Scholarship Foundation (SVSF) –study now, pay later scheme. This was established with the aim of providing academically qualified young men and women of Ormoc and neighboring towns who are eager to obtain college education but have financial constraints. 2005 - 75th year of Benedictine presence in St. Peter’s College of Ormoc. Highlights: 1) the birth of St. Scholastica’s Village in Dayhagan; 2) acquisition of brand new school bus; 3) the high school successfully passed its formal PAASCU re-accreditation for five years. 2006 - Construction of the HRM Mini-Hotel offering BSHRM Course. 2007 – Highlights: 1) improvement of the Computer Science laboratory; 2) renovation of College Faculty Room and Dean’s Office by High School Class 1957; 3) the Grade School unit was granted another five years of accreditation by PAASCU. 2008 - Re-opening of the BSA Course. 2009 - A 4-storey building accommodating the AVR, Computer Laboratory, and six (6) classrooms annexed to the Grade School was completed. 2010 - The High School unit was granted another five years of accreditation by PAASCU. 2011 - Full CHED recognition was given to the Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management (BSHRM) course. 2012 - Full CHED recognition was given to Bachelor of Science in Accountancy (BSA) course. The Grade School unit was granted five years of PAASCU re-accreditation. 2013 - Nov. 8 – Typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan), considered the most powerful storm to make landfall in recorded history, devastated our school. Several properties, facilities and equipment were destroyed. 2014 - SPC celebrating 100 years of faithfulness in serving God, country and creation. A 4-storey building accommodating the College Unit was completed. Blessing of the new college building. 2015 - Grade school and high school fuses as Basic Education Department. Business and Registrar’s Offices are transferred to the ground floor of St. Peter’s wing. College unit occupied the new building. 2016 - Senior high school started offering academic tracks. Closure of the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science Today as St. Peter’s College of Ormoc poses proud of the record of her alumni, in all fields of achievements and endeavors with awe we pay tribute to: Rev. Father Ismael Cataag, man of faith and unshaken hope, SPC’s founder with a far reaching foresight; The brave trail blazers, the Sisters of the Computer de Jesus: The undaunted and indefatigable vanguard of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing, many of whom have already gone the great beyond for their untold sacrifices toils, and privations, which went long and loud in making St. Peter’s College of Ormoc what it is now. The past and present rank and file educators of St. Peter’s College of Ormoc. That in all things God may be glorified.
Physical Description: Interiors: L-shape, a four-storey building, gymnasium, sports ground, school canteen. Materials: Concrete made of hollow blocks, well furnish walls. Decorative Features: Lobby; framed pictures of the president of the school, the mission, vision of the schools other signages.
State of Preservation: Structural Stability: Checked and approved on bases of the building code. Threats: The old was replaced (light materials) for further used as it increase the volumes of students. Condition Description: New estabished school building, innovation of some areas.
Grading: High Significance: Add to the economic status of the city because of the influx of the students of the neighboring municipalities. Medium Significance: Catholicism and teaching as part of the religious beliefs. Aesthetic Significance: The existence of old building and newly established building.