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HISTORY OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA ACADEMY
Gen. MacArthur, Eastern Samar
Urged by Very Rev. Father Uldarico Villasin, then parish priest of Gen. MacArthur, and confirmed by the late, Msgr. Miguel Acebedo, then bishop of Calbayog, two sisters from Assumption College in Guiuan, were sent to MacArthur in 1949. They would open a school to prevent the start of a Protestant school in this town. For the first two years, OUR LADY OF FATIMA ACADEMY was affiliated to Assumption College.
No building was found to house the Sisters. Finally, Mr. Ambrosio Navidad offered two-thirds of his house for the Sisters’ residence. They rented the place for 16 months until the new building built on the church lot was finished. The new two-story building was good for the Sisters’ quarters, for the four classrooms, the library and laboratory and an office.
The newly organized town of MacArthur had 8,000 people, including the miners of the Elizalde Mines who gave the Sisters free hospitalization, food, medicine, free transportation and 100 gallons of paint. The school on the other hand, had the initial population of 200 students who helped carry stones, sand and wood to minimize the labor wages. The town people also helped as well as public school children contributed one peso each in 1949.
During the early years of the foundation, the two pioneer Sisters, Mother Ma. Rebecca Kiunisala and Mother Ma. Milagros de San Jose (God rest their souls) labored much by teaching many subjects. By this way they earned money for the improvement of the house and school. The catechize every Sunday at the Mines, and led the choir at the mass. They left nothing for themselves; they only had enough for bare sustenance. The little that they earned went to the construction and the purchase of equipment so as to cope with the Bureau requirements and have a school worth its name.
Better days came for Mother Concepcion, the next Superior and also to Mother Ma. Flora Nini, but for Mother Obdulia Adre, the blow came unexpectedly. Work in the mines stopped in 1957. Low enrollment ensued and is consistent till now.
In all these years no money could be given to the diocese. School money is barely enough for maintenance and operation of the school, i. e, salaries, repairs and purchases of facilities proper to upkeep and growth of an institution.
The Sisters had been taking the initiative of resorting to fund campaign in order to go ahead with the improvement of the mission school. This almost yearly affair, with in the recent year is being sponsored by the Parents’ Association, had helped a lot especially the destructive CLARING in 1966. Beauty contest, benefit dances and plays had been undertaken to solicit the help of the parents, loyal Alumni and cooperative students. Mrs. Irene Japson, Mrs. Pilar Sunglao, Mrs. Corazon Acosta, Mrs. Cristina Fe, Dr. Irene Salazar Carbon, and a host of other benefactor-Alumni gave their share of cooperation in building OLFA as it stands now.
In 1972 the walling alongside the public street was finally cemented.
There were different activities in the year 1973 – 1974, third year of the administration of Sister Obdulia, RVM. One of them was the preparation for the Silver Jubilee and Homecoming of OLFA Alumni. There were candidates from every class for the Jubilee King and Queen.
For this significant affair, the front ground within the walls was cemented. There was a contest among classes and the students worked for their candidates. The cubic meters of gravel and sand they put in were counted as votes. The teachers and parents were much involved in this undertaking and there were days of “Pintakase” for all parents.
March 29-30, 1974 were real days of Jubilee, marking the 25th year of OLFA. The Alumni Association was the host of the affair, while the Jubilee King and Queen were Anselmo Ty Jr. and Rosalinda Japson.
For the same Homecoming and Jubilee celebration, they organized the Alumni Association; Attorney Samilo Barlongay was elected as the President. In the same general meeting, they made a resolution to have the Manila Residents from MacArthur (GMMSRO) grant full scholarship to deserving students at OLFA every year. Up to the present year, there are four of these students enjoying the privilege.
In 1977 the Parents’ Association sponsored the Miss Alma Mater Drive for the much needed repairs and facilities for the school. The parents and the alumni here and abroad responded to the call for financial assistance at school operation.
From this year up to the present, there have been only two Sisters assigned every year since other mission areas have to be taken care of the Congregation.
In the school year 1980 – 1981, a new two-story building arose beside the stage. It houses the armory and the CAT Office.
A year later the Sisters managed to solve the problem of water shortage. They constructed a stand for a big tank for rain deposit.
The next pair of Sisters remedied the flooding of the front area just before the entrance to the classrooms. They elevated this portion so that the children would not enter with wet feet. They also painted the classroom walls white so as to have a better lighting for the children.
School year 1983 – 1984 from the annual Fund Campaign again, the school bought two new sewing machines fro the Practical Arts Classes. The classrooms were improved by replacing with jalousies.
The incoming year would saw the stage improved and be made convertible for classroom use. The GMMSRO offered help to the school. The parents, cooperative as they have always been, were willing to support the Catholic School in spite of the increase of the tuition for they knew that this additional expense comes back in terms of better learning for their children.
To this day of writing, after 32 years of graduating senior students, 1,148 have passed the portals of OUR LADY OF FATIMA ACADEMY to look for their careers and life-work and take their places in the community where their training would take them, here in the country and abroad.
School year 1984 – 1985 peered new faces in OLFA Administration. Sister Ma. Eufrocina Claridad, RVM was the replacement of Sister Martha Agbat, RVM. The change in the administration ushered changes in school activities. Early in June an organization of Fatimian students formed the Fatimian Body Council to enforce the rules and regulations of the school. Homeroom program was designed to determine the student needs by conducting survey.
The Foundress Day in September stirred the ground for students’ potential activity in creativity. The most unforgettable event followed in October, the school celebrated her Coral Jubilee. The Bishop of Borongan, Most Rev. Nestor Cariño, D.D was the main celebrant in the Thanksgiving Mass. The November calendar was wiped away by Typhoon Undang. The great damage was unspeakable that onlookers were severely disgusted that school would go on. January ushered a seminar for teachers on the integration of values in the school curriculum, where teachers met the inimitable Sister Isabelita Riego de Dios, who facilitated in Palo, Leyte. March paved way to a series of recollection extending to the barrios, couple enrichment and marriage vow renewal which received enthusiasm and affection by the townspeople. Such efforts were collaborated by the Principal, Miss Tambor and the Parish Priest with some student leaders. School year 1984 – 1985 was a fruitful one despite the setback brought by the mighty Undang, but perhaps OLFA’s reverence and faith in God will keep her alive.
The summer of 1985 gave a new look to the Armory and CAT Office. The building was painted blue and yellow.
The School Year 1985 – 1986 witnessed the celebration of the Marian Year. A number of activities were launched to enable the students to experience the said celebration with greater depth and meaning. Also, to interiorize – in their lives the Marian objectives: CONVERSION, OFFERING and REPARATION through the intensified penitential Rosary and value-oriented challenges. Marian Exhibit, Marian Quiz, Songs and Verses for Mary Contest, Madonna Drawing contest climaxed the closing of the Marian Year.
The students, teachers and Sisters’ involvement didn’t limit only to school’s calendar of activities. They joined as NAMFREL Volunteers and PRAY-ERS during the two most significant events of the country’s history…. SNAP ELECTION and UNBLOODY REVOLUTION.
The Homeroom parents showed interest in helping out the school’s plan, i.e., to have a new OLFA school building. MISS ALAM MATER Contest was conducted to solicit donations. The joined effort of everyone was evident in the success of the affair. The coronation and program was made possible through the cooperation of the students, teachers and the administration. The amount collected reached to 20,000.00
A faculty Spiritual Development Program was conducted every Thursday and was facilitated alternately by the three Sisters.
There was a little adjustment made in the year’s school calendar due to the suspension of classes, one week before the SNAP Election and one week after. In mid- November, a new Sister, S. Mayflor Saluba, RVM was added to OLFA Religious Community. The timetable for this school year was carried. So too, the program such as Homeroom and FBC were still implemented. These were started only last year. Indeed the school year ended with memorable events to look back and to live by.
School year 1986 – 1987 started with a welcoming gesture to OLFA’s new administrator, S. Ma. Estrella P. Querubin, RVM. She was the replacement of S. Ma. Eufrocina Claridad, RVM.
Few days after the opening of classes news of the approval to construct a new school building from Rev. Mother Ma. Assumpta David, RVM, Mother General of the congregation was received by the Sisters.
The information was disseminated to Parents, Alumni and Students during the PTA General Assembly. Positive response from them to help the financial problem of the school gave a hopeful vision that the building will stand before the school year is finished.
August saw the first streak of the realization of the dream when on the 28th of the said month, a laying and blessing of the corner stone was officiated by Fr. Lesme Afable, Parish Priest of Gen. MacArthur. The presence of the sponsors, alumni, parents and students added life to the affair.
The Sisters presently assigned are: S. MA. GENEROSA GRANA, RVM, S. MA. ESTRELLA P. QUERUBIN, RVM and S. MA. MAYFLOR SALUBA, RVM.
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