Our Lady of Caysasay Academy

Our Lady of Caysasay Academy
Motto	Veritas et Amor
Motto in English	Truth and Love
Established	1945
Type	Catholic
Director	Rev. Fr. Ricardo Panganiban
Location	Taal, Batangas, Philippines
Hymn	OLCA Alma Mater Song
Colors	Green and White

Our Lady of Caysasay Academy (OLCA) is a Roman Catholic educational institution located in Taal, Batangas, Philippines.

History

When the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing founded St. Scholastica’s College in Manila in 1906, they had just marked their Silver Anniversary as a religious congregation. In 1885, Pope Leo XIII gave his permission and blessing to the foundation of a Benedictine Missionary Congregation of Fathers and Sisters founded by Reverend Andres Armrhein of Beuron. Seeing the need for Sisters to help in the mission work of the Fathers, Father Armrhein started the Sisters congregation in Reichenbach in 1885, with four young women to spread the faith in other lands. When years later, the sisters had so increased in number that their congregation was made independent from that of the Fathers. The first Mother General elected was Mother M. Birgitta Korff, O.S.B.

Within 25 years that the Mother General held her position, the Motherhouse was transferred to Tutzing, Germany. In 1955, the Generalate was transferred to Rome but the convent of Tutzing remained the Motherhouse. During those 25 years, the congregation labored in Africa, in spite of repeated native insurrections which more than once resulted in the martyrdom of the Sisters. It likewise answered urgent needs and requests from the Bishops in Brazil and in the Philippines. In 1906, the first group of Sisters arrived from Tutzing and was welcomed by the Archbishop of Manila into his diocese. Since that time, the Sisters have established schools in most parts of the islands.

The Benedictine Sisters as war evacuees came to Taal in 1945 and lived in a borrowed house. The Sisters with Sister Caridad Barrion, OSB, taught piano, Math and other subjects and ran a Kindergarten school. After the war, they were asked to return at the invitation of Bishop Alfredo Versoza, then Bishop of Lipa to run a school. After much consultation, the Mother Prioress and her councilors decided to accept the offer. Sister Superior Agnella Mayer, OSB, was asked to found the school with the help of Sister Caridad Barrion, OSB, and Sister Liboria Kampinan, OSB. The school was first named St. Martin’s Academy.

Bishop Versoza who was then staying at St. Bridget’s College, wanted the school to be named in honor of the Blessed Mother, Our Lady of Caysasay. Thus, renaming it as Our Lady of Caysasay Academy. The Good Shepherd Sisters of St. Bridget’s College delivered the books that were first used. They were also the ones who transported the Benedictine Sisters on April 15, 1945. Rev. Fr. Mariano Lasala, the parish priest of Taal that time was still in the convent which he generously vacated the next day for the use of the Sisters.

Cleaning the dilapidated convent and preparing for the opening of an elementary school were the first principal tasks of the pioneers who were later joined by a good number of Sisters. The kindergarten equipment and supplies of the erstwhile St. Scholastica’s convent became assets in the old convent. Despite poverty and other difficulties brought about by the war, the Sisters continued to carry on their apostolate. The concerned people of Taal, some of whom were relatives of the Sisters took care and helped the Sisters in times of need.

After several years, a high school building was erected under the administration of Sister Hyginia Peralta, OSB. This was later converted into the grade school building when a twelve-room high school building was constructed. A convent was also built for the Sisters who lived there while administering the school. With the student population increasing every year, several annex buildings were built. Through all those years, from OLCA’s founding in 1945, the Benedictine Spirit and Motto Ora et Labora served as the inspiration and guide to every child, parent and teacher who entered its portals.

When the school celebrated her Silver Anniversary in 1970, she had the first two lay principals in the persons of Ms. Mercedes Anorico (HS 1958) for the grade school and Miss Tita M. Alcazar (HS 1961) for the high school department.

The grade school department was co-educational from the start while the high school was exclusive for girls. Starting 1983, boys were accepted in the high school department. The first batch of male graduates numbered only 28.

On its 48th year, on April 27, 1993, OLCA took a different course of history. The Benedictine Sisters through Mother Prioress, Sister Pia Lansang, OSB turned over the school to the Archdiocese of Lipa in the presence of Auxiliary Bishop Most Rev. Salvador Q. Quizon, who represented Archbishop Mariano Gaviola. Sister Grace Ancheta, OSS, the Mother Superior of the Oblates of the Holy Spirit, the new community of sisters who teamed up with OLCA’s first Priest Director, Rev. Father Carlo Magno C. Ilagan, witnessed the turnover ceremony in a simple paraliturgical service. The Oblates of the Holy Spirit (OSS) assisted the Director from 1993 to 1996.

The Community of the Missionary Catechists of the Sacred Heart (MCSH) was invited to assist in the school administration and religious formation in 1996. Sister Mary Regina Conti, MCSH was appointed Assistant Directress.

Since then, OLCA has soared to new heights. Notwithstanding the challenges, the school was able to continuously improve the facilities and upgrade teachers’ competence in order to meet the increasing demands of students in acquiring not only academic excellence but also spiritual, physical and social growth. Through open and trusting relationship with parents, the school earned the strong support and active participation of the School Home Association (SHA) and some concerned alumni.

As the school celebrates its 60th Founding Anniversary, Rev. Fr. Ricardo A. Panganiban, the School Director, Mrs. Tessie P. Hernandez, the Grade School Principal, and Miss Gloria L. Reyes, the High School Principal, welcomed 512 pre-elementary, 1480 elementary and 1240 high school students.

With dynamism and passionate commitment to TRUTH and LOVE, OLCA administrators, faculty, staff and maintenance personnel continuously aim to produce men and women of character in the service of the Church and the society.

Notes

See OLCA Official Website www.olca.edu.ph