ST. SCHOLASTICA'S COLLEGE MANILA

1 HOSPITALITY

                     I was nervous when I took my entrance exam and interview at St. Scholastica's College, Manila. I came from a public school, though I'm competitive and one of the top 3 pupils in school, I couldn't help myself feeling nervous. Ninety nine percent 99% of examinees came from prestigious private coed or exclusive girl's schools. St Scholastica's College is reputed to be the best girl's schools in the Philippines. The late former President Corazon Aquino was one of their famous alumnus. It is also one of the oldest girls schools run by Benedictine Sisters.

                     St. Scholastica's College, Manila is a catholic institution run by the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing. It is located in Singalong Street, Malate, Metro Manila. It was founded by five young German sisters: Mother Ferdinanda Hoelzer, OSB, Sr. Petrinilla Keller, Sr. Cresentia Veser, Sr. Winfrieda Mueller and Novice Alexia Ruedenauer on Deccember 3, 1906 at the request of Apostolic Delegate Msgr.Dom Ambrosius Agius and Archbishop of Manila Jeremiah James Harty, D.D. to give religious education to the poor children of Manila. It used to be located in a fishing village of Tondo in a small residential house. There were only 6 paying students and 50 non-paying students or scholars.

                       It moved to San Marcelino Street in Manila after a year which was later occupied by St. Theresa's College, Manila and where Adamson University now stands. The school was then housed in an old military barracks and on December 14, 1914 the college moved again to another site in Singalong Street  where it now stands. It was ravaged during World War II where all the school buildings were destroyed. They began reconstructing the buildings in 1946 that took them nine years to restore.

                     St Scholastica's College, Manila (SSC) initially offered elementary education. It is know to all as St. Scho and the students are proud to be called Kulasa. In 1907, they started admitting high school students and opened its collegiate department in 1920. St Scholastica's College pioneered the formal music education in the Philippines and opened the Conservatory of Music in 1907. Although an exclusive school for women, they started admitting male students in the Music, Fine Arts and Interior Design programs.
               
                      I'm thankful that they opened the high school department. And I didn't find it hard to adjust to my new environment. The Ate's (4th year students) who oriented us around school and school policies made us feel that we are one big family in school. They gave us welcome gifts and assurances that they will always be just around if we needed help, true enough they helped us in our academic and peer issues. My first year in St. Scho were filled with happy and fond memories. I would always be proud to be a KULASA, or a SCHOLASTICAN.