History

The Roman Catholic education in Bais starts with the establishment of Sacred Heart Academy. Sacred Heart Academy was borne out of the desire of five residents of Bais, a doctor and four ladies who are all of Spanish descent, to maintain and educate the youth in the Roman Catholic Christian education.

Before Sacred Heart Academy, a public school, the Bais Elementary School, provided basic education to the children of Bais. Roman Catholic education was only for those who can afford to send their children either to St. Paul’s College of Dumaguete or to Catholic Schools in the Province of Cebu.

With this scenario, the Founders, Sra. Cecilia Montenegro, Sra, Antonia Teves, Sra. Maria Vicente, Sra. Josefa de Guia, and Dr. Eladio de Guia, a former Director of San Juan de Dios Hospital, established the Sacred Heart Academy in 1947. thus making Sacred Heart Academy a “Legacy of Roman Catholic Education of Bais City”.

Standing from left to right; Sister Gregoria, OSA (Directress), Mother Rosario, OSA (Superior), Mr. Eladio de Guia, Sister Ambrosia, OSA and Sister Nieves, OSA. Sitting from left to right; Sra. Antonia Teves, Sra. Josefa de Guia, Doña Cecilia Montenegro and Sra. Maria Vicente.

At the start, Sacred Heart Academy rented a Bahay Bato at the corner of Gomez and Mabini Streets. The school was administered by the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres. A year later, the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres were transferred to Cebu, and Sra. Josefa de Guia contacted Mother Evangelista of the Congregacion de Hermanas Terciarias Agustinas de las Islas Filipinas, to manage the school. So officially, Bishop Casimero Lladoc, invited the Augustinian Sisters of Our Lady of Consolation to come to Bais to managed the school. Today, the school is still run by the Augustinian Sisters of Our Lady of Consolation (ASOLC).

The Founders donated an area, and raised funds to construct an 11-Room, 2-Story building. After two years of renting Bahay Bato, the school transferred to its current campus at corner, E.C. Villanueva and Aglipay Streets. Mrs. Josefa Teves Escaño, related that she donated a lot to SHA as part of the current campus by swapping her real state property with an area, to where the current Convent of the Roman Catholic Church is located. A total of 29 students were the first graduates of Sacred Heart Academy in 1951.

Mother Rosario delos Angeles, Mother Superior of the Augustinian Sisters from 1948-1963, and Administrator of Sacred Heart Academy, from 1948-1968, developed fully the Sacred Heart Academy (SHA) school plant, its program of instruction, and established extension community services in Bais Barangays. Additional buildings were constructed to accommodate more students, and to house a library, chapel, offices, science laboratory, and mini-theater. Today, a total of six buildings, forming a square fence of the campus rises to second and third floors. These are being used as classrooms, and other academic uses of LCC personnel and students. Mother superior delos Angeles also hired faculty members from prominent universities in Manila to teach at SHA.

In the early years, community organizations were established to strengthen the Roman Catholic Community, like the Christian Neighborhood Community, which is about living the Gospel in the school, home and community. This is currently replaced by the Basic Ecclesial Community with the same purpose. Cooperative was also introduced to the students and the community in the early days.

Sister Salvacion Vera who replaced Mother Superior delos Angeles, administered the school from 1969-1989. During her administration, SHA offers a few College Programs, when it was permitted by the then Bureau of Private School to open 2-Year Liberal Arts, and 2-Year Secretarial Science Courses, in addition to 6-months studies in Vocational Courses, such as typing, stenography and dressmaking.

The Guidance Office and Home Economics now HM Laboratory were also established during her term. Student co-curricular activities were also enhanced at this time, by establishing the Drum and Bugle Corps, and the Student Affair Council.

Sr. Leah Causin (1986-1989), opened the facilities for the use of cause-oriented groups immediately before Martial Law. She also leads a fund-raising campaign for the construction of an additional 2-story building.

Sister Ermelinda Sales the school administrator from 1989-1995, added another 2-story building, which later was called St. Augustine Building. St. Augustine is the Patron Saint of the College and other La Consolacion Schools.

St. Augustine Building built in 1994 houses the Grade School

Computer education from Grade IV to High School was offered during Sr. Ermelinda Sales administration. In addition, administrative and supervisory training for faculty, attendance in conventions, and seminar workshops on teaching methodologies, were also allowed. Students were exposed to national and international gatherings, like the World Youth Day, and other religious and co-curricular conventions and seminars. During her term, enrollees rose from 500 to 1,176.

In 1997, Sr. Brigida Baniquet, the Principal and the School Coordinator, together Sister Providencia Taton, led the celebration of the school Golden Jubilee, which culminated in a ground breaking rite for another school building.

Sr. Rosalinda Bayla took over as Principal from 1998-2002. During her time, SHA figured prominently in both academic and co-curricular activities. Sr. Teresita Azanes who took over the management from 2002-2007 was able to finance and construct another 3-story building, and which is now housing the high school library, science laboratory, school clinic and the Audio-Visual Room.

The Founders donated an area, and raised funds to construct an 11-Room, 2-Story building. After two years of renting Bahay Bato, the school transferred to its current campus at corner, E.C. Villanueva and Aglipay Streets. Mrs. Josefa Teves Escaño, related that she donated a lot to SHA as part of the current campus by swapping her real state property with an area, to where the current Convent of the Roman Catholic Church is located. A total of 29 students were the first graduates of Sacred Heart Academy in 1951.

Mother Rosario delos Angeles, Mother Superior of the Augustinian Sisters from 1948-1963, and Administrator of Sacred Heart Academy, from 1948-1968, developed fully the Sacred Heart Academy (SHA) school plant, its program of instruction, and established extension community services in Bais Barangays. Additional buildings were constructed to accommodate more students, and to house a library, chapel, offices, science laboratory, and mini-theater. Today, a total of six buildings, forming a square fence of the campus rises to second and third floors. These are being used as classrooms, and other academic uses of LCC personnel and students. Mother superior delos Angeles also hired faculty members from prominent universities in Manila to teach at SHA.

In the early years, community organizations were established to strengthen the Roman Catholic Community, like the Christian Neighborhood Community, which is about living the Gospel in the school, home and community. This is currently replaced by the Basic Ecclesial Community with the same purpose. Cooperative was also introduced to the students and the community in the early days.

Sister Salvacion Vera who replaced Mother Superior delos Angeles, administered the school from 1969-1989. During her administration, SHA offers a few College Programs, when it was permitted by the then Bureau of Private School to open 2-Year Liberal Arts, and 2-Year Secretarial Science Courses, in addition to 6-months studies in Vocational Courses, such as typing, stenography and dressmaking.

The Guidance Office and Home Economics now HM Laboratory were also established during her term. Student co-curricular activities were also enhanced at this time, by establishing the Drum and Bugle Corps, and the Student Affair Council.

Sr. Leah Causin (1986-1989), opened the facilities for the use of cause-oriented groups immediately before Martial Law. She also leads a fund-raising campaign for the construction of an additional 2-story building.

Sister Ermelinda Sales the school administrator from 1989-1995, added another 2-story building, which later was called St. Augustine Building. St. Augustine is the Patron Saint of the College and other La Consolacion Schools.

Three-Storey Mother Consuelo Building (2006) with High School Library, Science Laboratories, School Clinic and Audio-Visual Facilities. 

The Transition: Beginning of A New Era and Third Millennium

In June 15, 2006, the former Sacred Heart Academy was converted into a full pledge College under the Association of Schools of the Augustinian Sisters of Our Lady of Consolation. So Sacred Heart Academy became La Consolacion College of Bais City, and henceforth adopted the educational system of LCC schools nationwide through the initiative of Sr. Teresita Azanes, OSA.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved the school application for a change of name from Sacred Heart Academy to La Consolacion College of Bais City, Inc. The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) later approved the school’s application to open tertiary level education under the new name.

La Consolacion College of Bais City or LCC- Bais, officially opened on 13, June 2007 with courses for Bachelor’s Degrees in Elementary and Secondary Education, Information Technology, Hotel and Restaurant Management, Office Administration and Associate in Computer Technology.

The decision to become a College comes at an opportune time when the need for professionals has become global in scope and is increasing rapidly because of the socio-economic and political situation in developed and industrialized countries. Despite the existence of a state university in Bais City, La Consolacion College has developed a niche of its own as a school with affordable rates and quality education, and the only Christ-centered religious school in the City; thus producing graduates, who are Christian-oriented, morally-upright, environment friendly and academically innovative.

Sister Carmeli Marie Catan (2008-2016), became the first President of LCC- Bais. Sister Carmeli prepared for the 2008-2009 school year with a series of seminar-workshops to orient and train its faculty and non-teaching personnel for College administration. The school year opened with an increased enrollment from 750 to 1,012. Teachers were trained on new teaching strategies, like the Outcome-Based Education (OBE) and required them to use such strategy in both Basic and College departments.

A program of transformative education, which adopts a “Pastoral Approach” in the formation of its High School students was introduced. The College Department in order to meet government requirements hired faculty and lay administrators who are experienced teachers and holders of master and doctor degrees.

As a Catholic school, LCC- Bais gives primary importance to the spiritual life of students, faculty and personnel. Thus, Sr. Carmeli designed and renovated the Chapel of the Sacred Heart, to become the center of school’s spiritual activities, a concrete expression of its character as a Catholic School. Coinciding with the feast of Our Lady of Consolation, on September 4, 2009, the chapel was blessed with the presence of the heirs of the founders.

The Founders donated an area, and raised funds to construct an 11-Room, 2-Story building. After two years of renting Bahay Bato, the school transferred to its current campus at corner, E.C. Villanueva and Aglipay Streets. Mrs. Josefa Teves Escaño, related that she donated a lot to SHA as part of the current campus by swapping her real state property with an area, to where the current Convent of the Roman Catholic Church is located. A total of 29 students were the first graduates of Sacred Heart Academy in 1951.

Mother Rosario delos Angeles, Mother Superior of the Augustinian Sisters from 1948-1963, and Administrator of Sacred Heart Academy, from 1948-1968, developed fully the Sacred Heart Academy (SHA) school plant, its program of instruction, and established extension community services in Bais Barangays. Additional buildings were constructed to accommodate more students, and to house a library, chapel, offices, science laboratory, and mini-theater. Today, a total of six buildings, forming a square fence of the campus rises to second and third floors. These are being used as classrooms, and other academic uses of LCC personnel and students. Mother superior delos Angeles also hired faculty members from prominent universities in Manila to teach at SHA.

In the early years, community organizations were established to strengthen the Roman Catholic Community, like the Christian Neighborhood Community, which is about living the Gospel in the school, home and community. This is currently replaced by the Basic Ecclesial Community with the same purpose. Cooperative was also introduced to the students and the community in the early days.

Sister Salvacion Vera who replaced Mother Superior delos Angeles, administered the school from 1969-1989. During her administration, SHA offers a few College Programs, when it was permitted by the then Bureau of Private School to open 2-Year Liberal Arts, and 2-Year Secretarial Science Courses, in addition to 6-months studies in Vocational Courses, such as typing, stenography and dressmaking.

The Guidance Office and Home Economics now HM Laboratory were also established during her term. Student co-curricular activities were also enhanced at this time, by establishing the Drum and Bugle Corps, and the Student Affair Council.

Sr. Leah Causin (1986-1989), opened the facilities for the use of cause-oriented groups immediately before Martial Law. She also leads a fund-raising campaign for the construction of an additional 2-story building.

Sister Ermelinda Sales the school administrator from 1989-1995, added another 2-story building, which later was called St. Augustine Building. St. Augustine is the Patron Saint of the College and other La Consolacion Schools.

Mother Rita Building

The 1948 wooden two-storey structure was upgraded into a three-storey building, accommodating the College faculty room, HRM Laboratory, classrooms, the school cafeteria, College library, the Agriculture and Innovation Department (AID), Guidance, Research Office and Student Assistants Lodging Rooms. This is named after Mother Rita and the building is dedicated to God Our Father.  This building is a testimony in the continuing commitment of the Augustinian Sisters of Our Lady of Consolation to serve the Filipino in general and the people in the Province of Negros Oriental, in particular, in the pursuit of quality education.  The blessing and inauguration of this building on August 30, 2009 was officiated by the bishop of the Diocese of Dumaguete with the presence of the Board of Trustees.

The sisters’ residence is dedicated to the Two Hearts of Jesus and Mary. This was built during the administration of LCC School President, Sr. Carmeli Marie Catan, OSA under the leadership of Sr. Imelda Mora, OSA, Superior General of ASOLC. The blessing and inauguration of this building was officiated by Fr. Casiano Salac, Jr., on February 4, 2012.

Sister Carmeli Marie Catan, opened additional programs such as the BS Agribusiness and established a Farm Laboratory at Inday Pita Farm School, at Cantugot, Sab-ahan, Bais City.

In addition, she introduced the Open High School and the Senior High School Programs. The Open High School Program is now existing in several barangays.

It was also during the administration of Sister Carmeli Marie Catan, that the College’s Center for Planning, Research Extension and Publication (C-PREP) was established, producing among others the Research Manual, Long Term and Short-Term Development Plans, Research Journal, Faculty Development Plan as well as Farm Extension and Organizational Assistance to students and Parents of Agri-Business Students. The center proposed a new organizational structure for the College. This was revised during the term of Sr. Maria Corazon L. De Jesus, and is now adopted by the College. In 2016, Sister Carmeli was promoted as Superintendent of the Association of Schools of the Augustinian Sisters (ASAS).

Some College programs were also accredited as Level 1 by the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation (PACUCOA).

Sister Maria Corazon de Jesus, OSA, took over as Second Term President in A.Y. 2016-2020. The current President of the College is Sr. Angelita J. Sagun, OSA.

The sisters’ residence is dedicated to the Two Hearts of Jesus and Mary. This was built during the administration of LCC School President, Sr. Carmeli Marie Catan, OSA under the leadership of Sr. Imelda Mora, OSA, Superior General of ASOLC. The blessing and inauguration of this building was officiated by Fr. Casiano Salac, Jr., on February 4, 2012.

Sister Carmeli Marie Catan, opened additional programs such as the BS Agribusiness and established a Farm Laboratory at Inday Pita Farm School, at Cantugot, Sab-ahan, Bais City.

In addition, she introduced the Open High School and the Senior High School Programs. The Open High School Program is now existing in several barangays.

It was also during the administration of Sister Carmeli Marie Catan, that the College’s Center for Planning, Research Extension and Publication (C-PREP) was established, producing among others the Research Manual, Long Term and Short-Term Development Plans, Research Journal, Faculty Development Plan as well as Farm Extension and Organizational Assistance to students and Parents of Agri-Business Students. The center proposed a new organizational structure for the College. This was revised during the term of Sr. Maria Corazon L. De Jesus, and is now adopted by the College. In 2016, Sister Carmeli was promoted as Superintendent of the Association of Schools of the Augustinian Sisters (ASAS).

Some College programs were also accredited as Level 1 by the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation (PACUCOA).

Sister Maria Corazon de Jesus, OSA, took over as Second Term President in A.Y. 2016-2020. The current President of the College is Sr. Angelita J. Sagun, OSA.

The Administration Building

At the first year of Sister Maria Corazon de Jesus administration, several improvements were added, like the renovation of the College Chapel, and School Plant improvement and upgrading. The school canteen was also upgraded and five new College Programs, namely the BS Biology, BS Management Accounting, BS Library and Information Science, BS Development Communication and BS Technical-Vocational Teacher Education were opened, after a Feasibility Study was conducted by the Planning, Research and Development Office.

Sr. Maria Corazon L. De Jesus, as President also brought into the College, the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) Special Assistance for Students and TESDA Scholarships Programs. In addition, most of Senior High School strand, such as ABM, GAS, HUMSS, ICT, STEM and Tech-Voc, Organic Agriculture NC-2, and Mechanical Rice Farm Machinery NC-2, were opened.

The Augistinian Community, bought for the College a lot in Sitio Calamisan, Calasgaan, Bais City, for Farm Laboratory use, thus replacing the Farm Laboratory at Inday Pita Farm School. Today, inspite of free College education in the state universities and colleges, such as NORSU Bais City, LCC is still on its way towards loftier dreams of producing Christian educated Baisanons and residents of the neighboring localities. For A.Y. 2019-2020 the LCC Enrollment total is 1963, the highest so far.

To enhance its quality education, the Sr. Maria Corazon L. De Jesus, OSA, President revised the College Grading System and prepared a progressive performance and evaluation criteria for faculty and staff. She also renamed the Center for Planning, Research, Evaluation and Publication into Planning, Research and Development Office.

To be in tune with Education 4 of the 4th Industrial Revolution, using technology as a means of education, the President introduces the Learning Management System (LMS), such as schoology and blended learning. In addition, to provide educational continuity during the COVID-19 Pandemic, the College adopted the Flexible Learning Management System (FLMS) and beyond the Covid-19 Pandemic.

By A.Y. 2021-2022, Sr. Angelita J. Sagun, OSA was added as a Chancellor.

Finally, it is to the credit of the founders and the Augustinian sisters in these over 70 years, that Sacred Heart Academy now La Consolacion College-Bais produced lawyers, doctors, engineers, teachers, public officials, executives and businessmen, certified public accountants, nurses, agriculturists, managers, priests and nuns in the service of the people, the country, and God.

Most of all, its graduates, and professional passed on to their children and grandchildren the Catholic values and virtues they learned from the sisters and the faculty of La Consolacion College (Revised by The Planning, Research and Development Office, 2022).

The renovated Chapel dedicated to the Sacred Heart with the images of Our Lady of Consolation and St. Augustine of Hippo.