HISTORY

Adapted from the Book: “The Congregation of the Augustinian Recollect Sisters (AR) Past and Present” by Sr. Bernardita Villamor, AR Pages 14-15

          By 1933, Sta. Rita College in Manila had sufficient personnel educationally qualified to run the schools. Among these young Sisters were Sor Pilar Lucero de San Jose and Sor Rosario Rosales de San Luis Gonzaga. They visited the Father Vicar Provincial, Reverend Leoncio Reta, in charge of the San Nicolas Province in the Philippines. They manifested their desire to expand the Congregation to the province of Negros Occidental. He, having been a missionary in Negros for many years, was interested and approved the idea. Reverend Mother Presentacion de San Jose sent two sisters to Negros to explore the possibilities. They brought a letter of recommendation to Reverend Father Manuel Gomara, OAR, the parish priest of San Carlos.

          Arriving at Negros in 1933, they surveyed the parishes of Negros. The town of San Carlos was chosen. Reverend Father Manuel Gomara transmitted their request to build a school to the Father Provincial in Manila. So on July 18, 1933, three sisters, Sor Asuncion as a Superior, Sor Pilar as Directress and Sor Mercedes de la Sagrada Familia as classroom teacher, were sent to San Carlos as pioneer sisters. They stayed in the house of Doña Eusebia Broce Vda. De Vicente and at the same time held classes there. They were able to organize a kindergarten for about 200 children. They taught Catechism as well as reading and writing.

          In 1935, knowing that the people were friendly with the Sisters and interested in the administration of the school, the Intermediate course was opened. The Recreational house of Don Andres Menchaca was adjacent to the dormitory of the Sisters and interns. Reverend Father Gomara arranged for the adjustment of the Recreational house to be used for the classes. Also, the residential house adjacent to the school was rapidly renovated to accommodate a chapel, a dining room, a receiving room which was used for piano lessons on school days and a dormitory.

          In 1936, with the increase of enrolment, the first year of the high school was opened. A temporary building of three rooms was constructed to house the first and second year high school classes and laboratories. The extension of the recreational house was converted into a Home Economics Department for intermediate and high school. At the opening of the school year Sor Remedios de Sta. Bernardita assumed piano lesson teaching. She replaced Sor Magdalena Salgado de Sta. Teresita, who was transferred to another house.

          Every year, the enrolment increased because additional courses were offered. The Sisters planned to build a three-storey building to house all the courses. There were difficulties in acquiring the land which belonged to the Church, but the Bishop, Monsignor Casimiro Lladoc came to terms, signed a lease with them for fifty years, to be renewed by both parties: the Diocese and the Recollect Sisters.

          In 1938, the four-year general high school and Home Economics were completed and recognized by the Bureau of Private Education. Special courses in dressmaking and cutting were offered under the management of Sister Paz de Sto. Niño. At the closing of the school year diplomas for different courses were distributed. The public enjoyed and applauded the well-prepared program. In the month of July of the same year the Normal Department was opened. But the short-lived new building was razed to the ground during the Second World War.

          Sor Carmen de la Sagrada Familia was the Mother Superior during the war years 1941-1944. During those years of uncertainty she proved herself equal to the task demanded by the situation. During the war almost everything was destroyed.

          In 1945, through the guidance of Sor Carmen de la Sagrada Familia the kindergarten, elementary and general secondary courses were resumed. In 1946, Mother Carmen de la Sagrada Familia had to leave for Manila, since she was elected Superior General. In 1947, the two-year Junior Normal Course (ETC) was opened by Sor Amanda de la Virgen del Carmen, the next Superior. In 1950, Sor Mercedes de la Sagrada Familia undertook the construction of a one-storey building for the high school department. Another annex building was added to the main building. In 1953 Mother Rosario de San Luis Gonzaga succeeded Sor Mercedes as Superior. She constructed an additional building.

          In May 1955, a two-year Liberal Arts Course, a six-month Dressmaking Course, and a one-year collegiate Commerce Course (BSC) were opened. In 1958, due to teachers’ demand from the public schools, Mother Superior opened the third year of the four-year collegiate Normal Course leading to the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. A permit was applied for the fourth year of the same course. Because of the demand of the public school teachers, the combined Home Economics and B.S.E.ED. courses from first to fourth year were offered in 1961. With the increase of student population the construction of a two-storey concrete building was completed on August 28, 1961.

          The next decades marked the expansion of CSR with the offerings of more Programs such as Master of Arts in Education (1981), Midwifery Course (1995), Bachelor of Science in Computer Studies and Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (2004), Caregiving (2004), Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management (2022).As per mandate of the Department of Education, the Senior High School was offered since 2016.

          Due to a fire which razed the Elementary building on 12 April 2001 the Basic Education Department was then transferred to Barangay 1, Big Tibuco San Carlos City from the school year 2002-2003. During pandemic, CSR continued to deliver quality education through online modality with the gradual limited face to face classes.

          To mark the 90th anniversary of CSR, a groundbreaking ceremony of a new building at the Tibuco campus was held on 12 October 2023. This was God’s way of consoling the school community after the devastating fire of the main building on 14 August 2023. The College Department was temporarily housed at the Basic Education Education of the Tibuco campus before the completion of the new building at the same campus. After one school year, the remaining buildings of the main campus were utilized by the Senior High School and some Tertiary level Programs. The blessing of the new building, named “Talangpaz Building” at the Tibuco campus was done on 8 September 2025.

          Ritarians have continued to manifest resiliency in moments of prosperity and adversity with the guidance of the Patroness of Impossible Cases, Saint Rita of Cascia.