Colegio San Agustin – Bacolod

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 founders of the Catholic faith in the Philippines, arriving in 1565 with Miguel López de Legazpi, the first Governor-General of the Philippines.

Colegio San Agustin – Bacolod is a Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU)-accredited institution, bearing a Level II accredited status in the majority of its academic programs.

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 officially became Colegio de San Agustin de Bacolod; the school offered kindergarten, elementary and high school education.

Construction of the first building 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 and Secretarial. CSA-B is the first school in Bacolod to offer the technology courses Chemical and Mechanical Engineering, Chemistry and Medical Technology.

The school's student population doubled after the College Department opened in 1964, and the administrators had another four-storey building constructed in early 1969. Inaugurated during the Christmas season of that year, this 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. Construction of the school gymnasium began in 1975 and was completed two years after; this edifice was destroyed by a fire in 2014. A new gymnasium is currently under construction. In 1987 a building intended for the Basic Education Department was completed. In the 1990s, the school's name was simplified to Colegio San Agustin – Bacolod. The structure housing the College of Engineering was completed in 1998. In 2003, the Sto. Niño Early Childhood Learning Center campus was inaugurated. This is now called the CSA-B Villa San Agustin Campus (VSAC).

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

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.
 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 – pop and jazz singer
 Boyet Fernandez – 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
 John Iver Solidum III – National Awardee, 2002

Augustinian administrators
 Fr. Andrew P. Batayola, OSA – President
 Fr. Eusebio B. Berdon, OSA – VP Augustinian Formation, Religious Affairs and Mission
 Fr. Bernardo B. Coleco, OSA – VP Finance and Administration
 Fr. Tito D. Soquiño, OSA – VP Student Affairs and External Relations
 Fr. Ian Ragodon, OSA – General Services Director
 Fr. Melitito Pocholo Visda, OSA – Campus Minister / Chaplain
 Fr. Romanico O. Cañon, OSA – Regent, Non-Teaching Personnel
 Fr. Patrick Paul de Castro, OSA – Property Custodian
 Fr. Noli Detoyato, OSA – Catechetical Coordinator

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

References

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

Category:Augustinian schools
Category:Educational institutions established in 1962
Category:Catholic elementary schools in the Philippines
Category:Catholic secondary schools in the Philippines
Category:Schools in Bacolod
Category:Catholic universities and colleges in the Philippines
Category:Universities and colleges in Bacolod