Historical Sketch | Columban College in Olongapo C...

HISTORICAL SKETCH

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Columban College in Olongapo City is a Catholic Institution dedicated to serve the needs of the city and the surrounding provinces of Zambales and Bataan. This institution was first known as Naval Reservation Junior College, NRJC, which was founded in 1947 by Mr. Pedro Mendoza and of Mr. Dionisio Lindayag both of whom taught in Bulacan High School before the war. The initial efforts to establish a school was based on meeting the demands of U.S. Naval Base workers at Subic who wanted to continue their college education.

In 1961, the Lindayag Family passed on the school, NRJC, to the Columban Fathers and the name of the institution was changed to Columban College, Inc. The first Director of Columban College was Rev. Fr. Thomas L. Convery, SSC with Rev. Fr. Paul O’Malley, SSC as his assistant. The Columban Sisters were assigned during the school year 1962-1963 to assist in the administrative and the teaching programs of the College. In the same year the Parish of St. Columban was inaugurated with Rev. Fr. Paul O’Malley, SSC as its Parish Priest. In 1965 up to March 1975, Rev. Fr. John Curry, SSC, headed the school followed by Rev. Fr. William F. Sullivan, SSC, Rev. Fr. Edward Mckenna, SSC, Rev. Fr. Richard Cannon, SSC, and Rev. Fr. Vincent Lyons, SSC respectively. 

In 1983, Bishop Henry Byrne, SSC handed the administration to the Vincentian Fathers headed by Rev. Fr. Constancio S. Gan, CM, as Director and Rev. Fr. Justo G. Moro, CM as Treasurer, in order to continue its mission. Within a short span of time, the new administration made several substantial improvements in the physical set-up of the campus. Behind this progress was the adoption of new policies and guidelines to keep the school always ahead in its programs and management. 

The Daughters of Charity took over when the contract of the Vincentian Fathers expired in 1989. Sr. Stella O. Real, DC was the Director till 1993. The Daughters of Charity like their predecessors continued to work to pursue the goals, philosophies, objectives and the mission thrust for which Columban College exists. 

The year 1993 signaled a new direction for Columban College. The Diocese of Iba under Most Reverend Deogracias Iñiguez Jr., D.D., Bishop of Iba assumed administration of the school. Rev. Fr. Daniel O. Presto was appointed as the Director and later the first School President of the College. After 12 years of faithful dedication and commitment to his ministry, he was succeeded by Rev. Fr. Roland M. Almo, Ph.D and currently Msgr. Crisostomo A. Cacho, P.C.V.G. was installed as the Third School President on 26 June 2007.

The growth of Columban as a whole was influenced by the rapid urbanization of Olongapo City as it branched out in Bo. Barretto and Sta. Cruz, Zambales. New buildings and new circular offerings were added to meet the needs of the growing student population. To date, this institution offers educational program in pre-elementary, elementary, secondary, collegiate and graduate levels.