In 1946, the Most Reverend Miguel Acebedo, DD, Bishop of Calbayog and Very Reverend Simeon Desoloc, then Parish Priest of Borongan, established St. Joseph’s High School for Boys and girls in Eastern Samar. A year after, the most Reverend Bishop Acebedo decided to turn over the management of the school to the Congregation of the Religious of the virgin Mary(RVM), whose founder Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo was the first Filipina to establish the first Filipino congregation for women. It may be said that the decision to accept the administration of St. Joseph College was taken in a missionary spirit - given the fact that Borongan then was remote as the prospect of a school that will financially support itself.
The Superior General, Rev. Mo. Ma. Andrea Montejo, RVM, appointed three pioneering sisters namely: S. Ma. Candelaria Clemente, RVM-Superior; S. Ma. Socorro Alvarez, RVM-Principal and S. Ma. Nieves Copin, RVM-Treasurer, to administer the newly established school. They arrived in Borongan on June 30, 1947. the Sisters were housed in the rented Macguire building which served both as the Sister’s residence and the school. Upon the arrival of the Sisters, the enrollment swelled so that it became necessary to open a high school department in the school year 1949-1950, while the Sisters were still renting the Macguire house. In the year 1950, the high school building was constructed on the church lot.
There was a felt need for grade school teachers in the province and St. Joseph’s College then offered the Normal Course. To provide a laboratory for the training of teachers, the elementary department was put up in 1951. In the same year the elementary department building was constructed in Taboc, Borongan. In 1952, the school was elevated to a college status offering the following courses: Associate in Arts (A.A.), Elementary Teacher’s Certificate (E.T.C.), Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (BSEED), and Bachelor of Science in Education (BSE).
In the school year 1962-1963, upon the instruction of Bishop Reyes the high school was divided into boys’ and girls’ departments. The boys occupied the school building while the girls occupied a portion of the residence of Mr. Alex Basada, Sr. which was rented by the Sisters.
In January, 1964, a lot was bought by the Sisters near the Seashore (Baybay) to serve as a site for the new building. The first wing of the proposed school building was rapidly erected and on August 23 of the same year the elementary classes were transferred to the new building, even though it was not completely finished.
Upon leaving the Basada Building, the students occupied the rooms in the Borongan Cathedral High School which were vacated by the elementary grades. In July 1965, another wing of the new school building by the seashore was started, and soon the high school department could occupy the new rooms of the first constructed wing.
On May 1, 1966, the new building was blessed by Msgr. Simeon Desoloc. Some parts of the building still needed completion then. But the joy of having a new building did not last long. On May 16, fifteen days after the solemn blessing, a very strong typhoon “Claring” swept down a big part of the new building but the Sisters were able to repair the damage in less than a years time.
The appointment of a new bishop, Most Reverend Godofredo pedernal, DD, brought back the boy’s department to its former set up. He negotiated with the RVM Sisters for the return of the boy’s department, which took effect at the opening of the school year in June 1969.
An increase in enrollment was noted in school year 1970-1971 in both the high school and college departments. However, due to to some uncontrollable factors, the elementary and college departments were closed in May, 1971. At the opening of classes on July 6, 1971, the school operated as St. Joseph’s High School.
A greater tragedy than typhoon “Claring” hit the school in July 21, 1971. Two weeks after the opening of classes, the entire building in Baybay was reduced to ashes in less than three hours. Only the deep faith and unwavering trust in God of the Sisters and the entire school community sustained them in this great tragedy. From July to December 1971, classes were held in the main building. Meanwhile, S. Ma. Socorro Alvarez, RVM, the Superior-Directress had the building in Taboc, formerly occupied by boys’ division before the reintegration with the girls, repaired. In January 1072, the high school classes were transferred in Taboc. The library and the laboratory remained in the main building.
The closing then of the college department had a big impact on the entire province of Eastern Samar, since ST. Joseph’s College was the only college offering academic courses in the province. Parents started petitioning for the opening of the college department particularly those who could not afford to send their children to other places for college education. The missionary spirit of the congregation and their commitment to the Congregation to apostolate, motivate the higher superiors of the Congregation to reconsider their petition. The courageous and persevering efforts of S. Ma. Diega Agcopra, RVM, then Superior-Directress of St. Joseph’s High School made possible the reconstruction of one wing of the destroyed building. The other two wings were totally demolished. In school year 1982-1983, S. Ma. Diega Agcopra, RVM obtained the permit to to operate the first year of the following courses: Bachelor of Science in commerce (BSC) and Two-Year Junior Secretarial Course (JSC). In school year 1984-1985, the college department got the government recognition for the two-year Junior Secretarial Course. Finally in June 1986, full government recognition was granted for Bachelor of Science in Commerce and Bachelor of Science in Education. the school has regained its former status the college status.
Side by side with the achievements are the devastating events. On November 4, 1984, a much stronger typhoon then “Claring”, typhoon “Undang” swept over Eastern Samar, destroying the two-story building in Taboc occupied by the high school students. The destruction was such that the building was beyond repair. For a year, classes had to be sheltered under a temporary makeshift building. At the opening of school year 1986-1987, the Parent’s Council and the Administration decided to leave the building in Taboc. The first year and second year classes were held at the main building while the third and fourth classes were held in Baybay. This arrangement caused much inconvenience to the teachers due to the distance between the two buildings. In August 1985, Rev. Mo. Assumpta David, RVM, Superior-General and her Council approved the construction of a four-story building in Baybay when S. Ma. Reinalda Sison, RVM was the Superior-Directress. the laying of the cornerstone for the new building took place on December 8, 1985 which was blessed by Very Rev. Conrado Balagapo, then Vicar General of Borongan. By the end of October 1986, phase one of the new building which compromise one-half of the entire building was ready for occupancy. On November 3, 1986 the high school classes transferred to the new building, while phase two is still under construction.
St. Joseph’s College began to move forward. On April 2, 1986 the college department had its first graduation of the four-year courses with the Most Rev. Nestor Cariño, DD, Bishop of Borongan as the main celebrant and preacher of the graduation mass.
However, two years later, the so-called main building of St. Joseph’s College, near the town’s Municipal Hall was razed to the ground in a conflagration that gutted the central district of the town of Borongan. The new building in Baybay became the Main Campus for both High School and College Departments
In 1990-1991, the remaining portion of the building, which was burned on July 6, 1971, was constructed into a student dormitory and canteen.
The clamor for elementary education was responded to with the opening of Grade 1 in 1993, adding one curriculum period every year. Also along time dream for the students to be given a better venue for assemblies, programs, seminars, meetings, conferences and shows became a reality on March 19, 1995 when the Mother Ignacia Gym was inaugurated and blessed.
The desire to address the needs of both the diocese and the province of Eastern Samar had readily brought St. Joseph’s College to open new courses. In S/Y 1996-1997, the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science was offered. On the same year, the Bachelor of Arts major in Philosophy was offered to provide a venue and curriculum for the academic preparation and formation of college seminarians of the Diocese of Borongan.
After a half-century of missionary commitment to Catholic Education, St. Joseph’s College today, enjoying full year after year. In the next fifty years, she commits herself once again to come out with young men and women who are Christian leaders that are maka-Diyos, maka-bansa, maka-tao, maka-kalikasan, and maka-dukha.
The effort to offer quality education continued. Unfortunately, due to the declining enrollment in the grade school, a resolution to gradually close the department was passed by the Board of Trustees. At the end of the S/Y 1999-2000, the grade school department was totally phased-out.
With the advent of the new millennium, the need to be competitive in all aspects of molding the youth’s dream, and to update/upgrade the total system of St. Joseph’s college became a zealous preoccupation on the part of the administration. While responding to the advancement of education and the challenge of the technology-oriented education, the administration shilled the cause of putting up a new computer laboratory for high school and college students in S/Y 1999-2000. To facilitate enrollment and systematize record keeping, a computerized Registration and Cashiering System was installed in the same year. the year 2000 brought an outstanding physical change to the main building of St. Joseph’s College. Painting of the 4-story building as well as the cementing of the campus was completed to contain Boronganon’s advocacy for changes in the school. Another significant feature realized is the construction of a Speech Laboratory housed in the fourth floor of the main building to enhance student’s communication skills.
In a simple ceremonial rite held on September 1, 2001, a brass mural of a Blessed Virgin Mary was installed on the façade of the new SMC building, thus officially renaming St. Joseph’s College to St. Mary’s College.
St. Mary’s College will leave no stones unturned nor evade the winds of change until she sees her mission and vision realized for the greater glory of God.
