College of the Holy Spirit Manila

The College of the Holy Spirit Manila, or simply CHSM, is a Catholic institution founded and being run by the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit in Manila, Philippines.[1] Founded in 1913, College of the Holy Spirit Manila was established originally as Holy Ghost College through the invitation of then Manila Archbishop Jeremias Harty.[2] Located originally at Legarda Street, the present campus is now located in the historic Mendiola Street, inside the Malacañang Palace Complex. It is one of the schools which comprises the Mendiola Consortium (MC) for academic cooperation along with Centro Escolar University Manila, La Consolacion College Manila, San Beda College Manila, and St. Jude Catholic School.[3]

College of the Holy Spirit Manila
Dalubhasaang Espiritu Santo sa Manila
Facade along Mendiola Street
Former names
Holy Ghost School (1913–1965)
MottoVeritas in Caritate (Latin)
Motto in English
Truth in Love
TypePrivate Research Non-profit Basic and Higher education institution
EstablishedJune 17, 1913
(107 years and 226 days)
Religious affiliation
Roman Catholic (Holy Spirit Sisters)
Academic affiliations
Mendiola Consortium, PAASCU CEAP SSpS Educational System
PresidentDr. Wynna Marie Medina
PrincipalDr. Ofelia Balubar, LPT
(Acting Principal, Basic Education)
DeanDr. Lourdes Samson
(Dean, College and Graduate School)
DirectorCynthia Lorenzo-Picazo (Finance Director)
Address
163 E. Mendiola St
,
San Miguel, Manila
,
Metro Manila
,
Philippines

14.598112°N 120.994383°E / 14.598112; 120.994383
GenderAdmission restricted to girls (until 2005)
Co-educational (since 2005)
Websitehttp://holyspirit.edu.ph

Initially the school admitted only girls but in 2005 started admitting male students for the high school department and the following year for the college department when the Nursing program decided to accept male students.[4] The college offers academic programs for high school, undergraduate courses, post-graduate degrees and short-term certificate programs. The undergraduate programs include course in Arts and Education, Business, Fine Arts and Health Sciences. Post-graduate courses include master's degree in Business Administration, Business Administration for Health Professionals, Tourism and Hospitality Management, Guidance and Counseling, and Special Education. The school also offers professional courses in Special Education, Caregiver Program and Women Leadership.[5] Starting in the 2013 school year, it also opened two new short courses in Digital Arts and Gerontology.[6]

In 1957, College of the Holy Spirit Manila became one of the founding charter member of the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU) to ensure the quality of education. Since then, the college undergoes voluntary accreditation. And the last March 6–7, 2013 the college was re-accredited.[7] CHSM was granted Level III re-accreditation status for arts, sciences and business programs by PAASCU with five years validity until 2018, which deviates to the normal three-year validity.[6]

As a SSpS school, for 98 years it was administered by SSpS religious sisters. On June 11, 2011, the SSpS Philippines North Provincial Leadership entrusted the administration of the school to its alumna Dr. Felina Co-Young, making her the first lay woman president of the college.[8] The SSpS sisters remain in the school as heads of different administrative departments and as instructors.

The school is set to cease operations in 2022, citing challenges faced with private education exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

History

The foundation of the College of the Holy Spirit Manila was through a mistaken response to an anonymous letter with a five-dollar bill. The SSpS sisters in Tayum of the province of Abra, Philippines thought it was from then Manila Archbishop Jeremias Harty, and thus sent a letter of gratitude to the Archbishop. The prelate responded that it was not from him but, pleased with the sisters, he invited them to start a free school for the poor street children of Manila.[9] During the period, Archbishop Harty was calling religious orders to establish Catholic schools in Manila to preempt the spread of Protestantism in his archdiocese. Finally, after a year of stay in Tayum, Abra, the pioneer Sisters moved to No. 663 Legarda Street[10] in Manila to establish the Holy Ghost School on June 17, 1913, as a response to the invitation of the Archbishop.[9]

Holy Ghost College

Five SSpS sisters were sent to a small house in Manila to start the second school of the congregation in the Philippines. Sisters Heronima, Sebastiana, Ludwiga, Laetitia and Gerena gave the nickname Holy Ghost College for their foundation, the Holy Ghost College (HGC).[11] Dubbed by their benefactor Archbishop Harty as "the poorest children of Manila," he donated several furniture for the use of the school.[10]

At the start of the school, it had 23 primary school pupils enrolled in the first semester and during the second semester it grew to 93 students.[11] American Governor-General of the Philippines Francis Burton Harrison through the Division Superintendent of Schools granted Government Recognition and Permit to Operate in 1915.[10] As years went on, enrollment increased such that the Sisters need to rent the neighboring house for them to hold classes. In 1919, there were a total of 274 grade-school pupils.[11]

Mendiola property

As the school opened the secondary (high school) department, there was a need for expansion. Thus, the 12,000-square-meter present campus located on the intersections of E. Mendiola Street, J.P Laurel Street, and C. Aguila Street was bought on July 7, 1920.[11] With the buildings already constructed, the school was moved to the Mendiola property on March 25, 1922.[12]

In 1924, HGC became the Provincial Motherhouse of the SSpS congregation in the Philippines[12] until it was finally moved in Poinsettia Street, New Manila, Quezon City in 1945.[13]

The first batch of high school students graduated in March 1924.[14] On April 2, 1925, the college department started when it was given government recognition to operate[10] with a two-year course, Associate in Art.[14] In 1928, three Bachelor's Degree programs were offered: Liberal Arts, Preparatory Law, and Education.[15] In 1932, it added BS Home Economics and BA Fine Arts and, in 1936, BS Commerce and the Secretarial Course. Two years later, the Master of Arts in Education was introduced in 1938.[16]

During the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in 1941, the school operation was interrupted when the Japanese Army requisitioned some of the school's buildings. When schooling resumed in 1943, the classes were crammed in the remaining buildings and some neighbor houses.[17] In 1944, Bachelor of Music was offered with various majors through the years: piano, organ, violin, marimba, voice, and others. After the war, new buildings were constructed as student population grew more: Elementary Building (1947), Paraclete Auditorium (1948), Canteen (1949), College Building (1956), College Building-Annex (1961–62), the College Library Annex (1964), New Elementary Building (1966), and the College Cafeteria (1970).[17]

The college department continued to offer new courses. Thus, five major academic departments were formed in 1951, namely, Liberal Arts Education, Home Economics (later changed to Nutrition and Dietetics), Fine Arts, Commerce, and Science.[15] During the 1950s, maintaining that there was need for a higher level of collegiate excellence than that required by the Bureau of Education, 11 Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) institutions, HGC being one of them, spearheaded a voluntary accreditation.[18] Thus, in 1957, HGC underwent its first survey visit for accreditation and became a charter and founding member of the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU).[19] The Science Department opened three more courses in 1963: BS in Medical Technology, Pre-Nursing, and Pre-Medicine. During the celebration of its Golden Jubilee in 1963, the college made major curricular changes. Some degree programs were phased out while new major fields in the basic programs were introduced.[20]

Impending closure

In a statement dated November 22, 2020, the school has announced that it will cease operations at the end of the academic year 2021–2022, with non-graduating students (Levels K to Grade 11, and 1th to 3th Year College) no longer admitted on that academic year. In a letter to the community dated October 28, 2020, Sr. Carmelita Victoria of the SSpS congregation cited K-12 curriculum policies by the government, free tuition in local and state-run institutions, and increased salaries of public school teachers as the challenges being faced with private education, which are further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.[21]

Organization

In line with the congregational decision of lay empowerment and consistent with the liberating education thrust of the College of the Holy Spirit, Administration adopted participatory management in 1991. Three clusters (Academic, Internal and External Relations, and Administrative) made up the President's Council of ten (10) members in 1991–94. The reorganization in 1995 increased the participation of middle managers through the academic and non-academic offices/councils. The 16 members of Academic Council was composed of nine (9) area chairpersons and the Dean of Academic Affairs who was ex-officio chair. In 1997, the Non-Academic Council (later named Administrative Council) was organized to serve as a clearing house for the various concerns of the student services and support offices.

Global studies

CHSM's network in the global village was initiated in 1989 with the Culture and Language Program of Seirei Women's Junior College, Akita, Japan. In 1995, International Education Specialist, College of the Holy Spirit and the Swiss Association Hotel Management School of Le Roche, Switzerland forged a Memorandum of Agreement "One-Year Study Abroad Program" for BSHRM students. For two successive years, students went to Switzerland (4 in 1995 and 5 in 1996). In 2000, BSHRM students also participated in the Practicum Program in Australia.

In 1998 CHS, Inter-Ed and College of St. La Salle in Montreal agreed to offer a "One-Year Study Abroad Program" for Fine Arts Students of the College of the Holy Spirit. In 1999, the President's Council reviewed the functions and the scope of responsibilities of the Dean of Non-Academic Affairs and decided that the title Dean of Non-Academic Affairs be changed to a more appropriate title—Dean of Administrative Affairs, the functions of which would include student affairs. In 2003–2004, the Board of Trustees approved the re-creation of the Office of the Dean for Student Affairs.

In 2003, practical training of CHS students from different disciplines, HRM, Tourism, International Studies and Communication Arts was facilitated by First place Inc. Second and Third year students take their summer work and study program in the United States. This was further enhanced by the signing in March 2005 of a Memorandum of Agreement between the CHSM President and the presidents of four other schools: University of the Philippines (UP), San Sebastian College, St. Paul College and Philippine Women's University (PWU) with the Swiss Education Group for students to undertake training in Montreux Institute, Montreux, Switzerland.

Reception

The college has received Level III Accreditation, the second highest possible level, from the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities (PAASCU). It was granted full autonomous status by the Commission on Higher Education of the Philippines in 2003. It received the National Consumers Quality Award as the Top Exclusive Catholic School for Girls in 2003.[22]

Alumnae

In the mid-1950s, the Alumnae Association was formed which supported the Holy Spirit pre-school in Maria Clara, Sampaloc, Manila, as well as other projects. In the mid-1980s, the outgoing Board of Trustees members of the CHS Alumnae Foundation who have been involved in community service for the resettled urban poor from Smokey Mountain (later relocated to Bulihan), organized the Paraclete Foundation, Inc., now on its 25th year. Alumnae in North America formed themselves into the College of the Holy Spirit North America Foundation (CHSNAF), which endeavours to assist the College to improve its facilities. Basic needs of the less fortunate, especially need for proper housing, has been responded to through Habitat for Humanity and "Gawad Kalinga". The local CHS Alumnae foundation as well as the different batches have always been supportive of the school and have recently launched the "Adopt a Scholar Project"-100 scholars for 100 years.

Notable alumni include:[23]

References
  1. "College of the Holy Spirit Manila".
  2. "College of the Holy Spirit Manila".
  3. "Centro Escolar University".
  4. Student's handbook. Manila: College of the Holy Spirit Manila. 2012. p. 6.
  5. Student's Manual. Manila: College of the Holy Spirit Manila. 2012. pp. 18–19.
  6. Young, Felina (June 10, 2013). "CHSM marks 100th". Inquirer. Retrieved June 14, 2013.
  7. "COLLEGE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT MANILA SUCCESSFULLY EARNS 5-YEAR PAASCU RE-ACCREDITATION". May 29, 2013. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
  8. Quismundo, Tarra (July 17, 2011). "This time, president wore graduation cap, lipstick". Inquirer. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
  9. Gamboa, Coylee (2011). Led by the Spirit, SSpS Philippines: A Journey of a Hundred Years 1912–2012. Quezon City, Philippines: SSpS Rosary Province. p. 40.
  10. HGC/CHS: Through 75 Years, 1913–1988. Manila: College of the Holy Spirit Manila Alumnae Foundation, Inc. 1988. p. 17.
  11. Gamboa, Coylee (2011). Led by the Spirit, SSpS Philippines: A Journey of a Hundred Years 1912–2012. Quezon City, Philippines: SSpS Rosary Province. p. 43.
  12. Gamboa, Coylee (2011). Led by the Spirit, SSpS Philippines: A Journey of a Hundred Years 1912–2012. Quezon City, Philippines: SSpS Rosary Province. p. 45.
  13. Gamboa, Coylee (2011). Led by the Spirit, SSpS Philippines: A Journey of a Hundred Years 1912–2012. Quezon City, Philippines: SSpS Rosary Province. p. 42.
  14. Gamboa, Coylee (2011). Led by the Spirit, SSpS Philippines: A Journey of a Hundred Years 1912–2012. Quezon City, Philippines: SSpS Rosary Province. p. 46.
  15. Student's handbook. Manila: College of the Holy Spirit Manila. 2012. p. 2.
  16. Gamboa, Coylee (2011). Led by the Spirit, SSpS Philippines: A Journey of a Hundred Years 1912–2012. Quezon City, Philippines: SSpS Rosary Province. pp. 46–47.
  17. Gamboa, Coylee (2011). Led by the Spirit, SSpS Philippines: A Journey of a Hundred Years 1912–2012. Quezon City, Philippines: SSpS Rosary Province. p. 47.
  18. Gamboa, Coylee (2011). Led by the Spirit, SSpS Philippines: A Journey of a Hundred Years 1912–2012. Quezon City, Philippines: SSpS Rosary Province. p. 48.
  19. Student's handbook. Manila: College of the Holy Spirit Manila. 2012. pp. 2–3.
  20. Student's handbook. Manila: College of the Holy Spirit Manila. 2012. p. 3.
  21. Bernardo, Jaehwa (November 22, 2020). "College of Holy Spirit of Manila to close in 2022". ABS-CBN News. Archived from the original on November 22, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  22. Official prospectus, College of the Holy Spirit, 2006.
  23. Alumni list, College of the Holy Spirit, 2006.
  24. Professor Emeritus Mari-Jo Ruiz, PhD to receive the Lux-in-Domino Award, Ateneo de Manila University, retrieved September 2, 2018
  • 2011 CHSM College Student Handbook
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