The Kulasa Herring Box

The name Cer-Hil has always been identified with the St. Scholastica's Academy, Pampanga, it being the location of its vast campus.  But many generations of Kulasas studied in an older campus close to the San Fernando Public Market in Barangay Sta. Teresita.  That elegant school building still stands, but in a state of continuous decay.

The third Benedictine school in the Philippines, St. Scho began as the Assumption Academy in June of 1925.  This move was in answer to the plea of then parish priest, Monsignor Prudencio David for a Catholic school in his parish.  Five Benedictine sisters headed by Sr. M. Cresencia, O.S.B., the first Superior, were the pioneers of the school. During the early years, Assumption Academy was hosted by the Singian family in their residence.

The enrollment of Assumption Academy steadily increased and each succeeding year, an additional high school level was included to the growing numbers of the school.  So in March of 1930, the first eighteen high school graduates were presented by the Superior, Sr. M. Wimfrida, O.S.B.

As more young ladies had to squeeze into the "herring box," in the words of former principal, the late Ms. Luz J. Arceo, a bigger building was constructed in the poblacion, through the untiring efforts of its biggest benefactor, Monsignor David.  So in 1931, a new campus materialized in what is now known as the "old site." By 1938, the ownership of the school was turned-over to the Benedictine sisters.

When the Japanese Imperial Army invaded San Fernando during World War II, the building was sequestered together with a big number of structures in the town, and was used as a military hospital.  After the war, the Benedictine sisters, faced with the huge task of rehabilitating the school, were able to successfully re-open the school with pre-war enrollees returning to their Alma Mater.  Enrollment, in fact soared, because student from other towns also enrolled in the Academy.

Another edifice was added to the campus in 1950 in order to answer the need for a venue for music-lovers and other cultural presentations.  St. Cecilia's Hall was thus realized through the efforts of Sr. M. Fides, O.S.B.

By 1960, the Academy again had to expand, and new physical facilities were added to fill in the need for more classrooms.  In 1966, after forty years of existence, Assumption Academy assumed the name St. Scholastica's Academy to avoid confusion with the newly opened Assumption College (now the University of the Assumption) of the Archdiocese of San Fernando.  It was thus easily identified with St. Scholastica's College in Manila, the premier Benedictine school for women in the country.

But floods had already been a problem for St. Scholastica's Academy for the longest time.  With the growing number of students, and to avoid the disruption of classes due to these annual floods, St. Scho was moved to its present site in Cer-Hil.

With all that said, many may be wondering what has happened to the old site.  It is still there, and very much intact.  The structures are still recognizable, the seventy-year old school building and St. Cecilia's Hall, minus the beautiful music that once echoed through its walls.

Kulasas, should make moves to save the old site, a witness to the wonderful memories of their childhood years.  Being alumnae of a historic educational institution, they should fight for the preservation of their old home.  For decades, generations of Fernandina lasses studied in its historic halls.  And while it is still there, we must make sure it stays there for future generations to see, maybe this time, converted into a museum, cultural center, convention hall, or even into a bed and breakfast inn or a classy Kapampangan restaurant.

Historic preservation is a race against time.  And Kulasas should not wait for the time their own school becomes a heap of scrap materials.  Let it not, like the Abad Santos house, disappear into oblivion, simply a memory in pictures and grandmothers' tales.

Please send your comments or suggestions to ivanhenares@yahoo.com.

We would like to request those who will be using the information above, especially for publication, to properly cite the author and the Kapampangan Homepage.  The above column was published in Sun*Star Pampanga.