‘Small is beautiful’: San Lorenzo College of Davao, Catholic School

FORMER CBCP President Abp. Jose Palma, DD in the 400th year commemoration of Catholic education in the Philippines said in 2012: “Many of our heroes and significant personages in the church and country are a proof of this (Catholic Education). It is not an exaggeration to say that it laid the foundations of education in our country.”

As early as 10 years old, Francis Gian Abuloc of Sr. San Vicente GKK in Talomo already knows what he wants in life, that is, to become a Catholic doctor someday.

But, being enrolled in a non-Catholic school for six years, his mother, Mildred decided to pull him out and then take him to where she works as a School Registrar. The thought of her son’s ambition to help others as a medical Catholic practitioner, yet seeing him not anymore oriented with the basics of the Faith such as the “Sign of the Cross,” made her finally transfer him to San Lorenzo College of Davao.

The San Lorenzo College of Davao located at Lorenzville Homes, Ulas, Brgy. Talomo, Davao City, a school founded by San Lorenzo Ruiz Socio-Economic Development Foundation, Inc. and was run since 2002 by a former priest, Mr. Emmanuel Zipra was donated to the Archdiocese of Davao last May 1, 2015.

The Archdiocese of Davao is now managing it with the Board of Trustees being spearheaded by the archbishop of Davao himself, Abp. Romulo G. Valles, D.D.

Valles said: “We are so happy with its turn-over. The original plan of the Foundation is to put up a very Catholic school on its own…that’s why they named it San Lorenzo; it is also near San Lorenzo Parish. We are happy to have an added school. It is an added opportunity especially for kids to earn education.”

BOT secretary Fr. Russell Bantiles adds, “…it’s a welcome development because it means we are now boosting more, improving more in our mission of evangelization especially in providing Catholic education with the young.”

Msgr. Paul Cuison, current BOT Treasurer quips, “San Lorenzo gave us the idea that we can have small schools in the city. We are losing kids to Protestant-owned schools.” According to Msgr. Cuison, there is a potential as far as evangelizing the youth is concerned in that one-hectare donated lot in Talomo to the Archdiocese of Davao. “Small is beautiful,” he said.

In an interview with the School Principal Jennifer Carreon, she shares, “The school is recognized already by the Department of Education (DepEd). So, it means that it is entitled to branch out, thus, we have one branch in Tacunan. We don’t also need to apply for a yearly permit. Before the turn-over last May 1, several meetings were held. Financial reports are being fixed, as no drastic move is planned from old to new management this year, however, papers for the one-hectare donation are being prepared because there is a desire to put up a school building near the highway.”

Though, a certain decrease in enrollment was observed due to transition, the principal is optimistic that “when they (parents) see something improved, then enrollment will increase.”

As of press time, the school has 197 enrollees from preschool, kinders 1 and 2, grades 1-6, 7-8 with one section in each level and with a maximum number of 25 students per class. “My hopes include more facilities, infrastructure, and enhancement of instructions as we start to sell the school as a Catholic institution. As one of the pioneering teachers, I am very happy along with my 27 faculty, staff and 5 working scholars with this development,” ends Ms. Carreon. (Cheryl Vilog, Janin Langoy with reports from Jofaye Falgui & Krysha Nismal)