Colegio San Agustin – Bacolod

Former names	Colegio de San Agustin de Bacolod Casanova School
Motto	Virtus et Scientia (Latin)
Motto in English	Virtue and Science
Type	private, co-educational college
Established	1962
Affiliation	Augustinian (Roman Catholic)
President	Fr. Andrew P. Batayola, OSA
Administrative staff	approximately 350
Undergraduates	approximately 4,000
Location	Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines
Campus	Urban, 17,827 m²
Colors	Red for courage      Gold for victory
Athletics	NOPSSCEA
Nickname	Eagles
Mascot	Eagle
Website	http://www.csab.edu.ph

Colegio San Agustin – Bacolod (CSA-B) is a private, co-educational, Catholic institution of learning owned and administered by the Augustinians of the Province of Santo Niño de Cebu in the Philippines. It is located in Bacolod City, the capital of Negros Occidental province. The Spanish Augustinians were the first Christian religious order to enter the Philippines and begin its conversion to Catholicism.

Colegio San Agustin – Bacolod is a Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities-accredited institution, bearing a Level II accredited status.^[1]

History

The Augustinians acquired the Casanova School founded by Doña Soledad Locsin on August 9, 1961. On July 8, 1962, the Casanova School ceased to be and became Colegio de San Agustin de Bacolod. The broadened educational program envisioned by the Augustinian administrators paved the way for the school to offer kindergarten, elementary and high school education.

Construction of the administration building along North Drive and 20th Street commenced in May 1963; it was inaugurated later that same year. On July 19, 1964, the College Department opened with curricular offerings ranging from Liberal Arts, Education, Commerce, Secretarial and technology courses such as Chemical and Mechanical Engineering, Chemistry and Medical Technology, which were not being offered in other schools in Bacolod City at that time.

The school's student population doubled after the College Department opened in 1964, and the administrators built a four-storey building along 18th Street. Construction of this building began in early 1969 and it was inaugurated during the Christmas season of that year. This building, which is called the College Building, was then the site of the Grade School and High School Department, the Audio-Visual Center and some offices of the deans of the departments.

The school opened the College of Nursing in 1970, its most prominent alumna to date being singer Kuh Ledesma.^[2][3]

In the 1990s, the school's name was simplified to Colegio San Agustin – Bacolod.

Vision

An Augustinian academic and evangelizing community providing quality Filipino and Christian Catholic education.

Mission

Colegio San Agustin – Bacolod is a Catholic, Filipino, Augustinian school committed to fulfilling the mission of the Church by providing a well-rounded formation of the human person with respect to his ultimate goal; by developing moral and social values and love for country; and by fostering a community life characterized by "oneness of mind and heart on the way to God" anchored on the Augustinian motto "Virtus et Scientia".

Patron Saint

St. Augustine of Hippo as pictured during the Renaissance

The College is named in honor of the 4th century saint, St. Augustine of Hippo. Augustine was a key figure in the doctrinal development of Western Christianity and is often referred to as a "Doctor of the Church" by Roman Catholics. Two of his surviving works, namely "The Confessions" (his autobiography) and "The City of God", are regarded as Western Classics. Augustine is often considered to be one of the theological fountainheads of Reformation, because of his teaching on salvation and grace; Martin Luther himself also having been an Augustinian friar. Augustine was not a Biblical fundamentalist.

Other English-speaking Augustinian schools with the same patron include the University of San Agustin, Colegio San Agustin - Makati and Colegio San Agustin - Biñan in the Philippines, St. Augustine's College, Brookvale in Sydney, Australia, St. Augustine College Preparatory School, Richland, New Jersey; St. Augustine High School, San Diego, California; and Austin Preparatory School in Reading, Massachusetts - all three in the United States; St Augustine College in Malta, and Irish ones in Dungarvan, and New Ross.

Facilities

• The Sto. Niño building, constructed in 1987 to cater to an increasing number of students. It is named for the image of the Santo Niño de Cebu.
• The Engineering building, renovated in April 1992.
• The Adeodatus building, (known as the "Student Center") constructed in March 1996; named after the son of Augustine of Hippo.
• The Anselmo Polanco hall, constructed in September 1996; houses the Learning Resource Center and is named after the Blessed Anselmo Polanco, an Augustinian priest martyred during the Spanish Civil War.^[4]
• The Sta. Rita de Casia hall, constructed in April 1997. It is named after the Augustinian saint Rita of Cascia.
• The San Nicolas de Tolentino hall, in the Engineering building; constructed in August 2000 and is named after the Augustinian saint Nicholas of Tolentino.
• The Student Center was renovated into a circular five-storey building during the 2002–2003 school year; the CSA-B Park was unveiled in June 2003.
• The Early Childhood Learning Center, an extension campus of the school, opened in June 2003.

Notable alumni

• Kuh Ledesma^[2] – pop and jazz singer
• Boyet Fernandez^[5] – coach of the Philippine Basketball Association's Sta. Lucia Realtors
• Noli Locsin – Philippine Basketball Association Mythical Team awardee
• Erik Matti – film director

Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines

• Ma. Teresa J. Galido – National Awardee, 2001^[6]
• John Iver Solidum III - National Awardee, 2002^[7]

Augustinian administrators

• Fr. Andrew P. Batayola, OSA - President
• Fr. Eusebio B. Berdon, OSA - VP Augustinian Formation and Religious Affairs
• Fr. Bernardo B. Coleco, OSA - VP Finance and Administration
• Fr. Imman Noel A. Abellana, OSA - VP Student Affairs and External Relations
• Fr. Benjamin B. Gamos, OSA - General Services Director
• Fr. Tito D. Soquiño, OSA - Campus Minster / Chaplain
• Fr. Romanico O. Cañon, OSA - Sto. Niño Early Childhood Learning Center Administrator
• Fray Jose Z. Lopez, OSA - CSA-B Retreat House Administrator

See also

• Augustinian Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus of the Philippines
• Augustinian Province of Sto. Niño de Cebu, Philippines
• Augustinian values
• Colegio San Agustin - Biñan
• Colegio San Agustin - Makati
• La Consolacion College - Bacolod
• List of tertiary schools in Bacolod City
• Santo Niño de Cebu
• University of San Agustin

Gallery

• 
  The school, with the statue of its Patron Saint, St. Augustine of Hippo
• 
  The facade of the administration building, taken in 2002 during the College's 40th Anniversary
• 
  The Student Center

External links

• Official website
• Official website of the Order of St. Augustine
• Augnet: Reference website on St. Augustine and the Order of Saint Augustine

References