SAINT AUGUSTINE'S SCHOOL

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SISTER SCHOOLS OF SAINT AUGUSTINE’S SCHOOL UP IN 1912

 

No words could express the appreciation of parents for the fine education the Sisters were giving to their children. The Sisters, indeed, endeared themselves to the hearts of the pupils as well as those of the townspeople. The Catholic education of the young in the town proper was assured, but there were the barrios, where about two-thirds of the population dwelt, too far to benefit from the services of the Sisters. While helping the priests with their apostolate among the adult population in the barrios, the Sisters came to realize the number of boys and girls who grew up without any education. They then had a great desire to start school also in the barrios.

 

In June 1912, the work of the education of the barrios was inaugurated in

* St. Peter School, Dardarat,

* St. Louis School, Bitalag and

* St. Joseph School, Becques

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Classes were started the year after in 1913 in the other barrio schools of

* St. Miguel School, Salvacion,

* St. Marguerite School, Garitan,

* St. Adeltrude School, Ag-aguman,

* St. Vincent School, Ambalayat and

* St. Paul School, Cabugbugan

 

The last barrio school built was

* Sta. Maria School at Tallaoen,

put up by Fr. Renato Verlinden, CICM, during his first term as parish priest (1959-1962).

 

Early each day of the week, trained teachers would go to the barrios riding in a cart pulled by a carabao. At that time this was the sole means of transportation.

 

The Sisters regularly visited the barrio schools to encourage the teachers and at the same time to check on the schools’ conditions. On June 6,  1916, right after breakfast, Sr. Marie Vincent and Sr. Marie Altrude left Tagudin on horseback. To reach the distant  barrio of Ambalayat, they had to cross the Amburayan River. This presented no problem when Sr. Marie Vincent crossed with Mother Marie Louise in April. During the dry season, the river bed was only a gully with a trickle of water finding its way among the boulders. But from May to October, seasonal rains were filling the gully with impetuous  waters.

 

The Sisters did not think the river could be so treacherous early in the rainy season. However, when they crossed, the  rushing stream frightened their horses.  They fell and were dragged along into whirlpools and wild currents. Warned by their shouts, a peasant rushed to the spot. But he witnessed helplessly how the Sisters were carried inexorably further down. A rescuing party set out at once. Slowly, after midday, the body of Sr. Marie Adeltrude was recovered, and two hours later, that of Sr. Marie Vincent. The injuries indicated that the Sisters had struggled before drowning. The whole population of the town and the barrios came up for the funeral and burial in the cemetery along the sandy coast.

 

After the war, the remains of the two sisters were transferred to a tomb sunk in the pavement of the parish church. The slabs bear the names of these Belgian Missionaries—the first of their congregation to die while Bringing the message of God’s love to a small settlement lost in the multi-island mission of the Philippines.

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SAS DURING AND AFTER WORLD WAR II

 

During the Japanese occupation (1942-1945), the school reopened its    elementary department. Calisthenics in Japanese commands, counting and Nippongo (Japanese Language) were subjects to added to pre-war         curriculum. In 1945, when the liberation of the Philippines took place, teachers and parents had to flee to the evacuation centers at the foot of the Cordillera Mountains.

 

During the latter part of the liberation period (1945-1946), the school   resumed classes in its elementary department. Classes were conducted in private houses near the school compound because the classrooms the school, together with the town plaza were used to accommodate soldiers who were wounded in the fight at Besang Pass. Tagudin particularly the SAS buildings and grounds were commandeered as Base Hospital of the USAFIPNL.

 

In 1946, the school opened its high school department. A 6-month typing and stenography course was offered to the third and fourth year students in 1950; however, this course was cancelled in 1962 because of some restrictions coming from the Bureau of Education.

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PIVOTAL DECISIONS

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After World War II, the Sisters were reluctant to re-open these barrio schools because of great losses. However, negotiations between Fr. Rafael Desmet, CICM and Rev. Mother Donatiana, ICM ended favorably and the work in these sister schools of SAS in the barrios were resumed.

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From 1974 to 1979, after more than 50 years of service, these barrio schools were given up one after the other and painfully turned over to the government not because of lack of enrolment or poor standard but because of financial constraints.

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SAS SCHOOL BUILDINGS

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News of the Christian education given by the Sisters reached far and wide. This led to large number of enrollees for the succeeding years. There was a need, therefore, to construct more buildings to cater to the growing needs of the children.

 

The “Los Dos Camarines” was built north of the belfry by Fr. Octavo Van de Walle, CICM in 1918. This building served to house the classrooms of the Junior Normal School, when Fr. Mauricio Van Overbegh built the rectory, east of church, in 1921.

 

During his term as parish priest of Tagudin (1924-1932), Fr. Honorato David, built a second floor of the “Los Dos Camrines” and the building  west of the church which was popularly called “Hidden Beauty”. These two buildings and the Sister’s convent served to house the elementary and high school departments of SAS before World War II.

 

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Fr. Carlos Desmet further improved the “Los Dos Camarines” in 1952. He replaced the original stone walls with cement and wood. When Fr. Alberto Van Overbecke returned to Tagudin as parish priest (1962-1966), his first project for SAS was the construction of a lean to annex, south side of the “Los Dos Camarines”. Next he built the school building in south of the church.

 

The construction of the once stately U-shaped 20-classroom building northwest of the Sisters’ convent started in 1952 with its west wing completed. Its south wing followed because of soaring enrolment; its north wing was finished  in 1962. The 6-classroom building south of the Fathers’ convent was constructed by Fr. Jamie Quatannens in 1970. The three additional classrooms annexed to it were  put up by Fr. John Anthonissen in 1988.

 

Realizing the dire necessity of a school gymnasium for socio-cultural programs and as grand shed to protect students from rain and the heat of the sun during P.E. classes, Fr. John Anthonissen put up the covered court in 1989 with some assistance from the Parents’ Association of SAS (PASAS).

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A PALL OF GLOOM AND GRIEF AT SAS

 

On the night of March 16, 1992, the 11-room building near the parish belfry which was originally called “Los Dos Camarines”, was razed to the ground by a fire of mysterious origin. Almost two years thereafter, on the night of October 2, 1994, the stately U-shaped 20-classroom building 

situated northwest of the Sisters’ Convent, all went up in smoke, again because of a fire of suspicious origin.

 

Both tragedies caused a giant pall of intense and traumatic shock, gloom and grief to all student, teachers and parents who believe shares in the sublime vision and mission of the school.

 

Saint Augustine’s School is still waiting for its right to truth and justice relative to the two tragedies of its school buildings.

 

But through the years, “despite trouble, despite pain”, Saint Augustine’s School remains faithful and true as expressed in her school hymn, “SAS ever onward”, as she rises from falls and marches ever onward to            accomplish its mission.

 

Saint Augustine’s School is committed to the task of bringing about a transformative and liberating education into the community she serves. To appreciate better the role that she plays as an educational institution, as a school of discipleship, let us trace her roots and have a glance at the manifold and significant changes that have shaped Saint Augustine’s School to what she is today.

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MULTIDIMENSIONAL SERVICES

 

The reputation of the medical skills of the Sisters has preceded them. It came to Tagudin much earlier than their landing. With Fr. Carlu’s request to give that social service to the people, since the good priest himself had that intense interest to care for the sick, the Sisters opened the health  clinic the day their arrival. This has become the school clinic. That was in the morning of June 22, 1910, when they found a crowd of people in quest of nursing aid, medication and advice right at their doorstep. Daily after classes were over, the Sisters including Mother Foundress,  would go to the homes of the poor and the sick and bring healing and material help to them while comforting them and raising their hearts to God who so      completely filled their own.

 

Soon after SAS was opened, many serves as partners of the Sisters in teaching catechism in the barrios. Sewing and embroidery were taught in the convent in the convent, and a lace-making class was likewise opened under the able guidance of Sr. Marie Ignace. The lace products were sold mostly to the Americans and all funds raised were spent for the support and upkeep of the barrio schools. This lace-making project explains why, time was when Tagudin was famous for producing the finest lace  in the Philippines. Piano lessons were also taught in school and for many years piano recitals became yearly presentations eagerly awaited.

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JUNIOR NORMAL SCHOOL: HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT

 

In 1920, when Tagudin was returned to Ilocos Sur, after having been incorporated into the sub-province of Lepanto—Amburayan (Mountain Province) in 1907, Fr. Van Overbergh put up a Junior Normal School. This served as a training school for teachers and catechists until 1924. When this was converted into a high school in 1927, only first, second and third year classes were opened. From 1928-1929, Rev. Fr. Honorato David, who was the parish priest turned over to the Sisters, Saint Augustine’s School, which was offering first, second and third year classes only. At that time, Rev. Mother Marie Eugene was the Superior while Sr. Marie Laurence became the principal.

 

For Saint Augustine’s School, school year 1929-1930 was a pivotal year Sr. Marie Elise became the Principal with Sr. Marie Alacoque as helper in the high school. During the commencement exercises in March 1930, all fifteen (15) fourth year students were presented with a diploma.

From 1910 to 1940, SAS has been co-educational, but in 1941, two distinctive departments were created: one for the boys and the other one for the girls. In 1990, however, the school resumed a co-educational program under one administration where financial matters for the support of the school were a shared responsibility between the CICM Fathers and the ICM Sisters.

 

HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SCHOOL

 

1910             

Mother Marie Louise de Meester and three Sisters arrived in Farola, Tagudin on June 21, 1910.

On July 4, 1910, the Sisters started the Saint Augustine’s School.

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1912

Sister schools of SAS were put up in the barrios: St. Peter School at Dardarat (San Pedro), St. Louis School at Bitalag and St. Joseph School at Becques.

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1913                

St. Miguel School at Salvacion, St. Marguerite’s School at   Garitan, St. Adeltrude School at Ag-aguman, St. Vincent School at Ambalayat and St. Paul School at Cabugbugan were opened.

Sta. Maria School was put up in Tallaoen by Fr. Renato Verlinden during his term as parish priest in 1959-1962.

 

1922

Fr. Mauricio Van Overberg opened a Junior Normal as a training school for teachers and catechists.

 

1929 

Fourth year high school was opened for the first time.

 

1974-1979

Barrio schools were given up one after the other because of financial constraints.

 

1992

Burning of the 11-room building near the belfry on March 1992.

 

1994

Burning of the U-shaped 20-classroom building situated northwest of the Sisters’ convent on October 2, 1994.

 

2001-2002 

The ICM Congregation officially assumed total responsibility for the school.

 

2009

Lighting if the Centennial Torch to launch the Centennial of ICM-Philippines District and Saint Augustine’s School on June 17, 2009 in Tagudin.

 

2010

Celebration of the Centennial of ICM-Philippines District and Saint Augustine’s School

 

INCORPORATION AND GOVERNMENT RECOGNITION

 

Articles of Incorporation were filed at the Executive Bureau—Division if Archives, patents, Copyrights and Trade Marks on August 5, 1915. Amended Articles of Incorporation were filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 4, 1927. The latest amended Articles of Incorporation were filed on May 20, 2005.

 

Government Recognition No. 223, s. 1949 for the Kindergarten Course and No. 222, s. 1949-1950 for the Elementary Course was issued on June 20, 1949, effective July 1, 1949. Government Recognition was renewed.

 

Thus, with all the other ICM schools in the third millennium, Saint          Augustine’s School continues on the path of being in solidarity with the massive efforts of the Filipino people and other Third World countries to become co-shapers of their own destiny as they work towards education to justice, freedom, integrity of creation, solidarity and peace that         transforms, education that is based on justice, peace and solidarity in a world dominated by globalization.

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