Institutional and Community History

In the early part of 1947, a group of Catholic parents who earnestly desired to give a solid Christian Education to their children, decided upon a bold venture of founding a school to be managed by a Religious Congregation in due time. The school was known as the Immaculate Conception Academy. This noble endeavor was pioneered by the late Msgr. Vicente Gonzales, Mrs. Maria Ford, Mrs. Maria Diaz, Mrs. Aurora Salgado, Mrs. Candida Belo, Mrs. Carmen Consing, Mrs. Ramona Frial, Ex. Gov. Lodovico Hidrosillo and Atty. Santiago Abella Vito. 

In July 1947, five educators, four of whom were models and long experienced teachers in the public schools of Roxas City, began the pioneering work of educating the young citizens in the city. A nipa building at Rizal Street was erected and rented by the parents to accommodate the two-hundred eighty (280) Grades One to Four pupils. Later, the Patricio residence in Legaspi Street was also used. The public cooperated splendidly by giving material aid to the newly founded school. Mrs. Maria Ford and Mrs. Maria Diaz helped very much in extending financial assistance to the teachers. 

In the S.Y. 1948-1949, classes were opened for Grades Five and Six. The first batch of twenty-four (24) Grade Six pupils graduated in 1950. Enrollment increased which compelled some parents to seek financial assistance from Archbishop Jose Ma. Cuenco, Archbishop of Jaro to which Roxas City then belonged. They also requested for a Religious Congregation to take over the school. A year later, Archbishop Cuenco invited the Congregation of the Religious of the Virgin Mary (RVM) to administer the school. Rev. Mo. Ma. Andrea Montejo, RVM, the Superior General of the RVM Congregation made an ocular visit with S. Ma. Felisa Quintia, RVM, a native Capiceña, and S. Ma. Gertrudis Lim, RVM. The following year, S. Ma. Isabel Purificacion, RVM was appointed as School Administrator. These three (3) Sisters formed the first RVM Community in Roxas City. 

In June 1950, a complete Secondary Course exclusive for girls was opened. Classes began in another rented nipa house. Mrs. Elena Villareal and Mrs. Alice J. Argos joined the faculty line-up. 

Upon the recommendation of the Board of Trustees, and with the help of the late Msgr. Teodulfo Castro, a more appropriate site of the school was purchased through a loan from DBP and the construction of the semi-concrete building was started. On December 8, 1950, the new building was blessed. The school was named Saint Mary’s Academy of Capiz, in honor of the Blessed Virgin to whom the Congregation is devoted.

The Grade School Department was granted government recognition on July 1, 1949 while the High School was recognized on June 15, 1953 simultaneous with the Kindergarten Course. 

In 1955, S. Ma. Isabel Purification, RVM worked for the course Associate in Music for some talented students in piano, but later, because there were few enrollees, it was discontinued. 

In 1960, during the term of S. Ma. Dolores Verceles, RVM, a two-year Secretarial and Home Arts were applied for, and the name of the school was changed to Saint Mary’s College. But again, because of few enrollees, the two-year courses had to be phased out. Since then until the present, the school retained the name Saint Mary’s Academy of Capiz. 

In 1963, a bigger chapel was constructed to serve the spiritual needs of the growing school community. The increasing enrollment in the High School Department necessitated the construction of a three-storey building at the back of the Elementary Building in 1968 during the term of S. Ma. Esperanza Edralin, RVM

In 1972, Saint Mary’s Academy of Capiz celebrated its silver jubilee. The 12 stars on the crown of the Blessed Virgin’s statue, which symbolize Mary’s Virtues, connoted an added and special meaning to the SMAC community. They represented the 12 Religious Sisters, produced by the school as well as the eight ordained priests, one of whom became a bishop   , the Most Rev. Gabriel V. Reyes, DD. 

In S.Y. 1973 – 1974, St. Mary’s Academy of Capiz, through the leadership of S. Ma. Dolores Verceles, RVM ventured into accepting boys in its High School Department. The first batch of SMAC boys with 24 girls graduated in 1977. 

In November of S.Y. 1984 – 1985, Saint Mary’s Academy of Capiz suffered from a cyclonic typhoon “Undang” which destroyed partially the High School Building. The Administration, with S. Ma. Angelina Prado, RVM as Superior and S. Ma. Magdalena Monteza, RVM as Principal, tapped the parents and alumni for the repair of the facilities. 

On its 40th year, in 1989-1990, the population of Saint Mary’s Academy of Capiz reached more than a thousand. The Directress, S. Ma. Juanita J. Coruña, RVM requested help from the Family Council to construct a covered walk from the main gate to the Elementary building. An exit road for vehicles during rainy days and a shed for those waiting for the children’s dismissal were likewise constructed through the generosity of the parents. The canteen was remodeled and a drinking fountain was installed. 

An annex of the High School Building was constructed in March 1990. The building accommodated three classrooms, the High School Library, the Science Laboratory, the CL and Guidance Offices. It was blessed on December 5, 1990. The sports facilities also needed improvement so a basketball court and a volleyball court were constructed in April, 1991 and 1993, respectively. A shed constructed for the players was eventually improved to accommodate the Mother Ignacia Skills Training Center, the Computer room, the PEHM and CAT offices. 

In connection with the institution’s thrust for the poor, Sitio Kalubihan was adopted in 1991 as its venue for the implementation of its Mother Ignacia Extension Program entitled “Sitio Kalubihan Socio-Economic and Evangelization Program”. A full time social worker was hired. Likewise, Capricho Elementary School, a public elementary school near Saint Mary’s became a recipient of the social concerns program of the Grade School Pupils.

Simultaneous with the improvement of the physical plant and its facilities was a self-survey of the areas of operation for the High School Department using the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU) guidelines. On February 15-16, 1993, a team of PAASCU accreditors visited the department. PAASCU issued its stamp of approval through a certificate dated August 30, 1993. One year preparation was given before the Formal Vsit in October 10-11, 1994 for which the department was granted initial accreditation for three years. 

Since the school’s population had increased in all levels, it necessitated a separate Principal for the Grade School Department. In S.Y. 1993-1994, S. Ma. Zenaida Sasil, RVM was appointed Principal of the Grade School. She was followed by S. Ma. Bernadette Suico, RVM in 1994. The physical set-up of the Grade School Department was also changed, giving it separate facilities from the High School Department like Library, Faculty Room and Computer Laboratory. Likewise, a Guidance Counselor was hired to fully serve the needs of the Grade School pupils. 

Saint Mary’s Academy of Capiz strives toward high technology education. In view of this, computer classes were offered starting S.Y. 1993-1994 from Grade IV to High School. In 1995, computer classes were given separately to each department from Grades One to Fourth year. A speech laboratory was provided for Grades Four to Six and all High School students.

The Kindergarten was not left out in the program of expansion and standardization. In the S.Y. 1990-1991, S. Ma. Judith Padilla, RVM was appointed as the Kindergarten Coordinator. In April 1992, the construction of the Kindergarten building started at the west side of the campus behind the high school building. It has six classrooms, a playroom, a learning center, an office for its coordinator, and a faculty room. It was blessed on November 30, 1992. A swimming pool was added to its facilities in the S.Y. 1996-1997. 

The RVM believes in empowering their lay collaborators to be partners in the education ministry. In October, 1995, the Board of Trustees appointed Mr. Miguel Mac Aposin as Principal of the High School Department. He was the first lay principal who administered the High School department from 1995 to 1998.

The teachers’ competence was proven when in S.Y. 1996-1997, the High School Department topped the Regional Achievement Test given to selected private secondary schools.

In S.Y. 1997-1998, the school celebrated its Golden Jubilee. The High School Department in particular underwent PAASCU re-survey visit on February 16-17, 1998 after which it was granted a five-year Level II Accreditation. 

The task of the Principal for both departments has become extensive due to the rapid increase of student’s population that she needed middle lay administrators to help her out meet her functions. In S.Y. 1998-1999, the Directress-Principal, S. Ma. Rosario Ricafrente, RVM appointed Ms. Mercedita Abas as Grade School Assistant Principal. Ms. Nida Abalayan was appointed as Kindergarten Coordinator in S.Y. 2000-2001. Mrs. Hilda Cruz was appointed as High School Assistant Principal in S.Y. 2001-2002. 

To offer more services to the people of Roxas City and the Province of Capiz, SMAC re-assessed its Community Extension Program. Since Sitio Kalubihan was already receiving regular assistance from the Roxas City Government, the SMAC Administrators and the Social Worker decided to scout for another area that is more in need of its extension services. In July 2002, Barangay Calumdum, Tiza was adopted by SMAC as the recipient of outreach programs for its High School Department and in November 2002, Barangay Dayao was also adopted as the recipient of the outreach programs of the Grade School Department.

Apart from the two aforementioned adopted barangays, SMAC, through the RVM Sisters, the Fourth Year High School students in coordination with the SMAC Social Worker also gave catechetical services to the students in the nearby public schools, the North Tanque Central Elementary School and the South Tanque Central Elementary School.

To keep abreast with the new trends in education and to continuously offer relevant and high quality education to the Marians, SMAC adapted the new Basic Education Curriculum of the Department of Education starting the S.Y. 2003-2004. Enrichments to the curriculum were done (e.g., Christian Living, Computer, etc.) based on the unified curriculum used by the schools run by the Religious of the Virgin Mary. 

The PAASCU survey team re-visited SMAC High School on February 26-27, 2004. The department was granted a five-year Level II Accreditation.

SMAC has always been excelling in cultural and academic competitions. In SY 2005-2006, the students of both Elementary and High School Departments won a landslide victory in the Division English Festival. During the First RVM Regional Cultural Contest in Cebu, SMAC garnered the most number of awards. It was in the same School Year when the school was certified by FAPE (Fund for Assistance to Private Education). 

It has been the dream of SMAC to construct a beautiful building. June 2004 marked the start of construction of the Administration building where the offices, auditorium, chapel, dormitory, and the Sister’s convent were housed. The newly constructed edifice was blessed on September 18, 2005. The re-assessment of the Community Extension Service in Barangay Calumdum in 2005 resulted to the opening of a new adopted community in Brgy. Terel in Tanque.

Quality Catholic Marian education continued to be the hallmark of Saint Mary’s Academy of Capiz. In 2006, the Grade School Department, through the courage and competence of the new Directress/Principal, S. Ma. Remy Villaraiz, RVM started to evaluate its operations based on PAASCU standards and worked for its Preliminary Survey Visit on August 30-31, 2007. The department received its certificate of PAASCU Candidate Status on February 28, 2008.

On its 61st year of existence, Saint Mary’s Academy of Capiz welcomed the challenge to remain faithful to its commitment to provide the people of Capiz quality Catholic Marian education as the whole SMAC family embarked on the High School PAASCU Resurvey Visit on January 26-27, 2009 and the Grade School PAASCU Formal Survey Visit on February 2-3, 2009. The High School Department was granted another 5-year Level II Reaccredited Status while the Grade School Department received its Level I Accreditation certificate. 

For School Year 2009-2010, the High School Department continued to move forward in faith, excellence and service with the guidance of the new High School Assistant Principal Ms. Elnie Templa. 

SY 2010-2011 was a grace-filled year for SMAC. As a sign of excellence and fruit of the labor of the entire academic community, the High School Department was granted PAASCU Level III Reaccredited Status. SMAC was awarded School with the Highest Level of Accreditation, Outstanding Private Elementary School and Outstanding Private Secondary School in the 2010 Department of Education Roxas City Division Harvest of Excellence. S. Ma. Remy Villaraiz, RVM was awarded Outstanding Private Elementary School Principal and Private Secondary School Principal while Nida Abalayan, Ph.D. was awarded Outstanding Pre-School Teacher by the same award-giving body.

Quest for excellence go alongside with widening involvement in the community. In School Year 2011-2012, the High School Department expanded its outreach program to a new adopted community at Sitio Mandulalaw, Brgy. Barra, Roxas City. For the second time SMAC added to its laurels when it was awarded Outstanding Private Elementary School and Outstanding Private Secondary School in the 2011 Department of Education Roxas City Division Harvest of Excellence. S. Ma. Remy Villaraiz, RVM was again awarded Outstanding Private Elementary School Principal and Private Secondary School Principal while Nida Abalayan, Ph.D. was awarded Outstanding Pre-School Teacher. Mr. Adonis Besa was also awarded Outstanding Student Government Moderator. Towards the end of the school year the structural plan for the major renovation of the High School building and the canteen as well as the construction of the new High School building to prepare for the roll out of the Senior High School was laid down. 

School year 2012-2013 was another year of blessings and challenges for Saint Mary’s Academy of Capiz. With the new Directress/Principal S. Ma. Violeta S. Juanico, RVM, a dynamic leader who set direction in the operation of the school, the new High School building, the school canteen and the newly renovated three-story High School building were blessed on September 14, 2013. Along with the quest for excellence, the school continued soaring high. The High School Department was awarded Outstanding Private Secondary School and Nida Abalayan, PhD as Outstanding Pre-School Teacher for the third time by the Department of Education Roxas City Division Harvest of Excellence. Mercedita Abas, Ph.D. was also awarded the Certificate of Commendation as Coach for the Regional Champion in Spelling Secondary Level.

It was in the School Year 2012- 2013 when the school started the implementation of the K to 12 Program of the Department of Education. The curriculum was aligned with the thrust of the government and the teachers underwent intensive training.

In School Year 2013-2014, the whole academic community welcomed new challenges as the school ventured into a new set up, the Integrated Basic Education (IBED) Program. As a mark of excellence, the High School Department was awarded the Hall of Fame for being the Outstanding Private Secondary School for 3 consecutive years bythe Department of Education Roxas City Division Harvest of Excellence. Nida Abalayan, Ph.D. was likewise awarded the Hall of Fame for being a three-time Outstanding Private School Pre-School Teacher. Mercedita Abas, Ph.D. received an award as Outstanding Coach of a National Champion in Spelling-Elementary Level, Mr. Adonis Besa as Outstanding Coach of a National Champion in Character Impersonation-Secondary Level and Mr. Aledel Christian Alejandro as Outstanding Coach of a National Champion in Impromptu Speaking-Secondary Level. Mr. Alejandro was also awarded as Outstanding Private School Secondary Teacher. Preparations for the opening of Senior High School Program started this school year with internal audit of facilities, faculty, absorption capacity, financial capability and target enrolment.

SY 2014-2015 welcomed new opportunities for growth and development as the school underwent the PAASCU I-BED Visit with S. Ma. Corazon P. Agoncillo, RVM as the Directress/ Principal. The High School Program has been granted Level III Re-accredited Status while the Grade School Program has been granted Level II Re-accredited Status valid until April 2020. SMAC is the first to be given the I-BED Accreditation among the RVM schools in the Visayas Region. Along with these opportunities, the school received great blessings as mark of excellence. Mr. Aledel Christian Alejandro was awarded as Outstanding Private School Secondary Teacher in the Department of Education Roxas City Division Harvest of Excellence. 

In SY 2015-2016 DepEd granted Saint Mary’s Academy of Capiz permit to offer Senior High School for SY 2016-2017 and onwards. Amid the many concerns and issues, the school has still maintained its winning form in the various levels of inter-school competitions. SMAC’s “Earphones” entry to MMFF (Metro Manila Film Festival) created by Marielle Joyce Orillos and group was one of the top 6 winners nationwide. Community Involvement Program in Mandulalaw Community was intensified. Its 2 organizations, i.e., the ERPATS and the Mothers’ Associations were given loans and grants for their IGP (Income Generating Project) through the assistance of MINSAC (Mother Ignacia National Social Action Center), DOLE (Department of Labor and Employment) and Japan Welfare National Council. The On March 23, 2016 the last Fourth Year Graduation Rites was held with Most Rev. Jose Advincula, D.D. as preside and homilist.

SY 2016-2017 saw the beginning of the major change in the Philippine educational landscape – the opening of the Senior High School Program. With the leadership of S. Ma. Remy M. Villaraiz, RVM as Directress/ Principal, SMAC welcomed the first batch of Grade 11 students, composed of 73 students of whom 46 took STEM (Science and Technology, Engineering and Math) Strand and 27 took ABM (Accountancy, Business and Management) Strand. Through the sponsorship of the SMAC Family Council (SFC), sixteen (16) classrooms were installed with SMART television for interactive instruction. The school was able to purchase 1 unit of white Innova car for the use of the school and the religious community. The school held its end of school year ceremonies as mandated by the Department of Education namely Moving Up Ceremonies for Kindergarten, Graduation Ceremonies for Grade 6 and Completion Rites for Grade 10. The school’s 104 Grade 10 students became the first batch of Grade 10 Completers under the K to 12 Program.

SY 2017-2018 marked another beginning in the history of the RVM Education Ministry – the RVM clustering of schools of which Saint Mary’s Academy of Capiz was part of the pilot clusters for Basic Education that also included St. Mary’s Academy of San Nicolas, Cebu City and St. Mary’s Academy of Dalaguete, Cebu. The three schools are accredited by the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU) and are also Basic Education institutions offering Primary, Junior High School and Senior High School programs. S. Ma. Remy M. Villaraiz, RVM was the cluster’s first Cluster Directress. SMAC was put under the leadership of a lay Principal, Mr. Aledel Christian Alejandro, the second lay Principal of SMAC. The school graduated its first Senior High School batch composed of 67 students of whom 40 specialized in Science and Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Strand and 27 in Accountancy, Business and Management (ABM) Strand.

In this school year SMAC opened its Math and Science Enriched Curriculum (MSEC) and built-in English Enhancement Program in all levels to strengthen its curricular offerings. 

On its second year of implementation, the RVM clustering of schools started to take shape to respond to the needs of the ministry. In SY 2018-2019, the Basic Education Cluster was composed of Saint Mary’s Academy of Capiz, Inc., Roxas City, St. Mary’s Academy of San Nicolas, Inc. Tomas Abella St., Cebu City and St. Anthony’s Academy of Tuburan, Inc. Tuburan, Cebu under the Cluster Directress S. Ma. Remy M. Villaraiz, RVM who is also the Education Ministry Commission (EMC) Member for Basic Education in the Visayas Region.

This SY 2018-2019 SMAC launched the Philippine Catholic School Standards (PCSS) and the RVM Quality Road Map (RVM-QRM) institutionally. The BED Cluster also worked together to have a common Student Handbook revision and ratification. Common Grading and Awards System was also implemented in the clustered schools. SMAC purchased and utilized the Optical Mark Reader (OMR) for its major assessment. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) was utilized.   

School Year 2019-2020 was an equally challenging school year for Saint Mary’s Academy of Capiz. Still belonging to the Basic Education Cluster with St. Mary’s Academy of San Nicolas, Cebu City and St. Anthony’s Academy of Tuburan under the leadership of S. Ma. Remy M. Villaraiz, RVM as Cluster Directress and Mr. Aledel Christian Alejandro as Principal, SMAC embarked on the journey of evaluating and refining its processes and procedures through the RVM Quality Road Map (RVM-QRM). The school had its first internal validation within the school year. The 8 Defining Characteristics of the Philippine Catholic Schools Standards were used as guide for reflection and personnel recollection theme for the year. Activities for Justice and Peace, Ecological Integrity, Engaged Citizenship, Poverty Alleviation, Gender and Equality and Youth Empowerment (JEEPGY) were also integrated in the school programs and activities. Robotics was included in the school’s curricular offering for Grade 1 to 12. SMAC ventured on utilizing Schoology, a Learning Management System (LMS) that employs online resources for instruction and assessment.  

The journey for SY 2019-2020 was cut short by the outbreak of the pandemic SARS-CoV-2 commonly known as COVID-19. Classes were terminated on March 13, 2020 without finishing the school calendar of activities. For the first time the Moving-Up Ceremonies for Kindergarten, the Completion Rites for Grade 10 and Graduation Rites for Grade 6 and 12 were not held. Instead, SMAC prepared a virtual year-end rites and recognition activities and posted it on the school’s official Facebook page.  

SY 2020-2021 was a very challenging school year.  For the first time the school was closed to students due to the COVID 19 pandemic but education continued. To continuously pursue the school’s vision-mission and afford excellent Catholic education to its clients while having their health and well-being protected, Saint Mary’s Academy of Capiz decided to implement calibrated flexible learning options for distance learning and created guidelines on its implementation. SMAC offered two options to its clientele – Purely Online and Blended Learning (online with print modules).

Despite experiencing the birthing pains of affording education to students who did not physically report to school, SMAC was able to successfully carry out its programs for the holistic formation of students. An unforgettable affair for the school year was the holding of a virtual concert participated by the Sisters, the SMAC personnel, parents, students and graduates for the purpose of augmenting the scholarship fund of the school.  

The school year started in August 2020 and ended in April 2021 with virtual Graduation, Completion and Recognition Rites. 

SY 2021-2022, is the second year of the school’s offering of distance learning. While the students learn at home, SMAC personnel also prepare for the PAASCU virtual revisit scheduled this April 21-22, 2022. 

For 75 years of existence, Saint Mary’s Academy of Capiz continues to move forward in making a difference in the Archdiocese of Capiz through holistic character formation and quality Catholic education as it continues to nurture Faith, build passion for Excellence and develop deep sense of humble Service.