John Paul College Humble Beginnings
Authored By: Dr. Marietta P. Cantos
“Growth will always involve pain and sacrifice. Good things in life do not come by easily. The joy that results, however, for those who invest and wait is indescribable.”
The John Paul College Story started at the conception of John Paul Montessori School, Inc., in January 1996, when the two educators – Drs. Julio and Marietta P. Cantos dreamed of putting up a children’s school that would cater to the education of the youth of Roxas. These two educators desired to revolutionize teaching methodology in rural areas to be at par with city education.
Struggling to realize this dream, Drs. Julio and Marietta P. Cantos presented the idea to Engr. Manuel and Mrs. Rosalina S. Andaya in February 1996. The latter who shared the same vision gave their full financial and moral support for this endeavor.
John Paul Montessori was officially born on June 03, 1996 when the Securities and Exchange Commission approved its existence as a corporation. JPMS used the house of Andaya and its former peoples’ quarters as the classrooms for the first CASA DEI BAMBINI de Roxas (Children’s House in Roxas). Initially, it offered only pre – school education consisting of Casa (Nursery), Junior Casa (Kindergarten), and Senior Casa (Preparatory)
In the next school year (1997 – 1998), JPMS started with its Elementary Department and offered Grades I – IV.
It was in the same year that the Elementary Department was granted Government Recognition for being able to comply with the requirements of the then Department of Education Culture and Sports.
The school year 1998 – 1999 was a significant school year for John Paul Family. It was brought in by the inauguration of the College Department and the High School Department which operated under the John Paul College Corporation. Its imposing twin buildings, depicting a blending of colonial and modern architecture, created an aura of elegance and intellectual awakening among the young dreamers of the South of Oriental Mindoro. It sprawled in a very spacious 3.5 hectare – land located at MG – Andaya Compound, Odiong, Roxas, Oriental Mindoro.
John Paul College offered Technical – Vocational courses approved by the Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in Agri – Fishery Technology (9 enrollees), Automotive Technology (13 enrollees), Hotel and Restaurant Management (21 enrollees), Computer Programming (67 enrollees), and Computer Secretarial (8 enrollees).
On the other hand, the High School Department started its programs for First Year and Second Year Levels. It was in the same curriculum year that John Paul Montessori added the programs for Grades V – VI and experienced a big leap when its Casa Department was granted Government Recognition.
The following School Year (1999 – 2000), JPC was granted permit to operate degree programs under the Commission on Higher Education or CHED such as Bachelor in Elementary Education (14 enrollees), Bachelor Secondary Education (Major in English and Mathematics) (11 enrollees), Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (9 enrollees), Bachelor of Arts in English Language (1 enrollee), as well as ladderized courses in Computer Science (25 enrollees) and Business Administration (17 enrollees).
Being a neophyte school did not hamper John Paul College to pursue its vision of reaching greater heights in the field of education. This was evidenced by the establishment of a tie – up with the National College of Business and Arts (NCBA Systems). John Paul College became the Center of Studies of Graduate Programs in Business Administration and Public Administration. This feat carved a niche for John Paul College being the First School in the South to Offer Graduate Courses.
Another “first” for JPC was its interconnection with the web by being hooked to the internet in October 2000.
Strengthening the many “firsts” and province wide “marked difference” of John Paul College from among the tertiary schools in Oriental Mindoro, JPC opened a tie-up with the Philippine Air Force, Air Reserve Command Headquarters 3rd Air Reserve Center at Fernando Air Base, Lipa City. The School maintains it until the present days because it brought honors to the school. Its ROTC graduates challenged the Air Force Cadets and Cadettes in the entire Philippines by garnering the top awards such as the PAF ROTC Cadet of the Year for the year 2003 that was won by Cadet Captain Samuel G. Rubias.
By the school year 2001 – 2002, JPC was able to accomplish the task of registering its TESDA Programs/Courses under the Unified Technical Program Registration and Accreditation System (UTPRAS).
This was complied by the school, an indicator that it “ensures the conduct of quality programs” and “prescribes full compliance with prevailing training standards.”
The following School Year, JPC was granted government recognition for the following courses: Associate in Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and Bachelor of Secondary Education (English and Mathematics). It was also during this year that it started offering TESDA Program – Certificate in Computer Technician.
The School Year 2005 – 2006 marked another great leap for John Paul College when it was granted permit to operate two (2) significant degree programs – Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering.
The same school year brought about a 50 % increase in it High School Population due to the Education Service Contracting (ESC) grantees by the Department of Education and Fund for Assistance to Private Education.
For S.Y. 2006 – 2007, many great developments occurred which catapulted the two schools to greater heights – positive increase in the number of enrollees both in the Secondary and College Departments. This was equaled by the construction of two new buildings, covered – walk and waiting sheds for students that offered an attraction to all Roxaseños and even adjacent towns’ residents.
The School Year 2007-2008 added a crown to the existing pillars of this institution when it was granted a tie-up with University of Rizal System (URS) under Graduate Education Mobile School (GEMS). It offered graduate program in Master of Arts in Education.
It was also granted permit to offer specialization in its Education course such as Filipino and Science. The same School Year saw the construction of its Criminology Laboratory and Engineering Laboratory which housed the most updated and sophisticated facilities for the said courses.
The following SY 2008-2009 created another great achievement for JPC in terms of infrastructures, population growth, athletics, culture and arts, student discipline and academic honors. JPC was also granted Government Recognition in its Bachelor of Science in Criminology course. It was also during this school year that the construction of its Multi-Purpose Gymnasium commenced.
The Curriculum Year 2009-2010 was as successful as the previous years due to the major infrastructures initiated by the JPC Administration, foremost of which is the MG Andaya Multi-Purpose Gymnasium—one of the biggest in Oriental Mindoro. The first graduation ever held under its new roof was that of Bacth 2010!
Administrative offices were also transferred on the right wing of the Multi-Purpose Gym such as the Finance Office, Registrar’s Office, Office of the Dean and Faculty Lounge. The academic aspect of JPC also gained a great momentum when its Civil Engineering Program was given Government Recognition and its first batch of C.E. graduates marched on the newly-constructed gym on April 2010.
JPC’s TESDA Department continued to flourish with its short-term programs in Housekeeping, Food and Beverage, Bartending, Commercial Cooking, Security Services and Contact Center Services.
JPC Family’s journey to success is almost complete… its destination just a mile away…
Indeed John Paul’s Metamorphosis is beautiful because it serves as a blueprint from which the lives of many human beings have been patterned, shaped, and molded. Thus, as the cliché says, “the legend that was John Paul continues…”
The John Paul College Story started at the conception of John Paul Montessori School, Inc., in January 1996, when the two educators – Drs. Julio and Marietta P. Cantos dreamed of putting up a children’s school that would cater to the education of the youth of Roxas. These two educators desired to revolutionize teaching methodology in rural areas to be at par with city education.
Struggling to realize this dream, Drs. Julio and Marietta P. Cantos presented the idea to Engr. Manuel and Mrs. Rosalina S. Andaya in February 1996. The latter who shared the same vision gave their full financial and moral support for this endeavor.
John Paul Montessori was officially born on June 03, 1996 when the Securities and Exchange Commission approved its existence as a corporation. JPMS used the house of Andaya and its former peoples’ quarters as the classrooms for the first CASA DEI BAMBINI de Roxas (Children’s House in Roxas). Initially, it offered only pre – school education consisting of Casa (Nursery), Junior Casa (Kindergarten), and Senior Casa (Preparatory)
In the next school year (1997 – 1998), JPMS started with its Elementary Department and offered Grades I – IV.
It was in the same year that the Elementary Department was granted Government Recognition for being able to comply with the requirements of the then Department of Education Culture and Sports.
The school year 1998 – 1999 was a significant school year for John Paul Family. It was brought in by the inauguration of the College Department and the High School Department which operated under the John Paul College Corporation. Its imposing twin buildings, depicting a blending of colonial and modern architecture, created an aura of elegance and intellectual awakening among the young dreamers of the South of Oriental Mindoro. It sprawled in a very spacious 3.5 hectare – land located at MG – Andaya Compound, Odiong, Roxas, Oriental Mindoro.
John Paul College offered Technical – Vocational courses approved by the Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in Agri – Fishery Technology (9 enrollees), Automotive Technology (13 enrollees), Hotel and Restaurant Management (21 enrollees), Computer Programming (67 enrollees), and Computer Secretarial (8 enrollees).
On the other hand, the High School Department started its programs for First Year and Second Year Levels. It was in the same curriculum year that John Paul Montessori added the programs for Grades V – VI and experienced a big leap when its Casa Department was granted Government Recognition.
The following School Year (1999 – 2000), JPC was granted permit to operate degree programs under the Commission on Higher Education or CHED such as Bachelor in Elementary Education (14 enrollees), Bachelor Secondary Education (Major in English and Mathematics) (11 enrollees), Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (9 enrollees), Bachelor of Arts in English Language (1 enrollee), as well as ladderized courses in Computer Science (25 enrollees) and Business Administration (17 enrollees).
Being a neophyte school did not hamper John Paul College to pursue its vision of reaching greater heights in the field of education. This was evidenced by the establishment of a tie – up with the National College of Business and Arts (NCBA Systems). John Paul College became the Center of Studies of Graduate Programs in Business Administration and Public Administration. This feat carved a niche for John Paul College being the First School in the South to Offer Graduate Courses.
Another “first” for JPC was its interconnection with the web by being hooked to the internet in October 2000.
Strengthening the many “firsts” and province wide “marked difference” of John Paul College from among the tertiary schools in Oriental Mindoro, JPC opened a tie-up with the Philippine Air Force, Air Reserve Command Headquarters 3rd Air Reserve Center at Fernando Air Base, Lipa City. The School maintains it until the present days because it brought honors to the school. Its ROTC graduates challenged the Air Force Cadets and Cadettes in the entire Philippines by garnering the top awards such as the PAF ROTC Cadet of the Year for the year 2003 that was won by Cadet Captain Samuel G. Rubias.
By the school year 2001 – 2002, JPC was able to accomplish the task of registering its TESDA Programs/Courses under the Unified Technical Program Registration and Accreditation System (UTPRAS).
This was complied by the school, an indicator that it “ensures the conduct of quality programs” and “prescribes full compliance with prevailing training standards.”
The following School Year, JPC was granted government recognition for the following courses: Associate in Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and Bachelor of Secondary Education (English and Mathematics). It was also during this year that it started offering TESDA Program – Certificate in Computer Technician.
The School Year 2005 – 2006 marked another great leap for John Paul College when it was granted permit to operate two (2) significant degree programs – Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering.
The same school year brought about a 50 % increase in it High School Population due to the Education Service Contracting (ESC) grantees by the Department of Education and Fund for Assistance to Private Education.
For S.Y. 2006 – 2007, many great developments occurred which catapulted the two schools to greater heights – positive increase in the number of enrollees both in the Secondary and College Departments. This was equaled by the construction of two new buildings, covered – walk and waiting sheds for students that offered an attraction to all Roxaseños and even adjacent towns’ residents.
The School Year 2007-2008 added a crown to the existing pillars of this institution when it was granted a tie-up with University of Rizal System (URS) under Graduate Education Mobile School (GEMS). It offered graduate program in Master of Arts in Education.
It was also granted permit to offer specialization in its Education course such as Filipino and Science. The same School Year saw the construction of its Criminology Laboratory and Engineering Laboratory which housed the most updated and sophisticated facilities for the said courses.
The following SY 2008-2009 created another great achievement for JPC in terms of infrastructures, population growth, athletics, culture and arts, student discipline and academic honors. JPC was also granted Government Recognition in its Bachelor of Science in Criminology course. It was also during this school year that the construction of its Multi-Purpose Gymnasium commenced.
The Curriculum Year 2009-2010 was as successful as the previous years due to the major infrastructures initiated by the JPC Administration, foremost of which is the MG Andaya Multi-Purpose Gymnasium—one of the biggest in Oriental Mindoro. The first graduation ever held under its new roof was that of Bacth 2010!
Administrative offices were also transferred on the right wing of the Multi-Purpose Gym such as the Finance Office, Registrar’s Office, Office of the Dean and Faculty Lounge. The academic aspect of JPC also gained a great momentum when its Civil Engineering Program was given Government Recognition and its first batch of C.E. graduates marched on the newly-constructed gym on April 2010.
JPC’s TESDA Department continued to flourish with its short-term programs in Housekeeping, Food and Beverage, Bartending, Commercial Cooking, Security Services and Contact Center Services.
JPC Family’s journey to success is almost complete… its destination just a mile away…
Indeed John Paul’s Metamorphosis is beautiful because it serves as a blueprint from which the lives of many human beings have been patterned, shaped, and molded. Thus, as the cliché says, “the legend that was John Paul continues…”
