St Joseph College of Cavite
St Joseph College of Cavite, Inc. is a Roman Catholic learning institution located in San Roque, Cavite City, Philippines. It was established in 1945 and is run by the Augustinian Recollect Sisters. The first opening of classes was on July 2, 1945. The first school building was then known as the St. Joseph Institute, and in 1947, it was renamed to St. Joseph College. Today, St. Joseph College of Cavite, Inc. offers education from Preschool to Graduate School. History. During the early post liberation days of 1945, the late Msgr. Pedro Lerena was the parish  priest of San Roque Church in Cavite City. He looked for an opportunity to propose his plan to the Very Reverend Mother Rosario Rosales, then Superior General of the Congregation of the Augustinian Recollect Sisters, of having a Catholic school in the City of Cavite. The Superior General of the Congregation of the Augustinian Recollect Sisters sent the very first group of Sisters: Sr. Ma Celina Magcauas, as the Superior-Principal, Sr. Caridad Salazar and Sr. Margarita Ponce, as her companion. They were led by Sr. Ma. Celina Magcawas as their local community superior. The sisters rented an old two -story house on a lot directly across the street at the back entrance of the San Roque Parish Church and near the sea in a quite residential section of the city. On July 2, 1945, classes were opened and this became the first school building and known as the Saint Joseph Institute. Inauguration was made in the presence of Very Reverend Mother General Rosario Rosales and a group of Sisters. From its humble beginnings as the St. Joseph Institute, it was renamed St. Joseph College in 1947. The Augustinian Recollect Sisters take turns in managing the school. The school’s  expansion in buildings and program offerings is in response to the needs and aspirations of the people in the community. An additional baccalaureate program was added at a time when hotels and restaurants were beginning to operate in the suburbs as a result of expatriates moving into the province due to the opening and development of an export processing zone in the nearby town of Rosario. The school administrators have initiated several innovations; one of which is the construction of a mock hotel that will house the HRM students for their practicum. A building for the grade school department was  also built after the construction of the simulation hotel. Apart from that, the school has already managed to have the school chapel renovated and all the classrooms air conditioned. Additional laboratory materials were also purchased for the various laboratories of the high school and college, while the Skills Laboratory of the Institute of Health Sciences has been upgraded to keep up with the demands of the nursing program. The Learning Resource Center or the library is continuously acquiring newly published books to help students in their assignments and requirements. Computers with internet access have also been provided to all laboratories  and offices. St. Joseph College is currently offering Preparatory Education, Elementary, High School, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Diploma in Midwifery, Bachelor of Elementary Education, Bachelor of Secondary Education (Major in Science, Mathematics, and English), and Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management. It also has a Master of Arts in Education and Master of Arts in Nursing program offerings. The Basic Education, Elementary and High School, is PAASCU Level I accredited; while the College of Education and HRM and the Institute of Health Sciences are in the process of accreditation. Philosophy and Objectives. St. Augustine's Philosophy of  Education. Education is man’s journey of knowing God who is the Eternal Truth and of loving Him who is the Eternal Good. To achieve this goal, man journeys restlessly in faith according to the example and teachings of Jesus Christ and through reason which is his natural gift from the Creator. In this concrete, Augustinian education aims to accompany young men and women who can integrate Faith and Reason in their personal lives in order to arrive at whatever is true and develop moral values to enable them to live in harmony with others. Through the guidance and example  of parents and teachers, the Augustinian pupils or students must become increasingly aware of their responsibilities to fellowmen and readily contribute to the building of just and human society where the Filipino people can journey together towards God. Philosophy and Aims of Education of the Augustinian Recollect Schools. Encouraged by the whole philosophy of Catholic education according to Vatican II, he Augustinian Recollect schools aim at preparing the youth for Christ-like living through the fullness of Christian personality and at making them capable of giving themselves with the greater generosity to various forms of service for neighbor, so as  to attain happiness and achievement which springs from true love. It endeavors to develop in the youth, ideals and skills requisite o the maturing of their Christian personality so that they can bring a warmer love to the Home and to the Larger Community- the Church and the world. The intellectual and moral formation of every student is based essentially on the teachings of Holy Mother, the Church.