ST. FRANCIS COLLEGE
of Allen, Northern Samar
On the tip o Northern Samar lies the Municipality of
Allen. From the Visayas and Mindanao, Allen is the gateway to Luzon. The town is the receiving portion of Samar of those
traveling to the third largest island in the Philippines, which
is the ruggedly beautiful, mountainous and waterfall-and-cave laden Samar. Allen is the first
town for travelers bound for the Visayas and Mindanao. When Capul
Island stopped its Galleon -shipping administration due to the Philippine Revolution
in 1898, Allen became the best choiced point of entry of businessmen, travelers and missionaries in exploring the Visayas
and Mindanao.
In 1948 when the whole of the Philippine archipelago was trying its best reconstructing and rebuilding the country
from the havoc that the World War II created, that was also the year St. James Academy of Allen, Northern Samar, was founded
and opened its gates for a secondary education for the whole Balicuatro area.
The husband and wife tandem of Mr. Juan Portes, Sr. and Dr. Rosalina Portes struggled hard to put up the institution
for the youth of Allen and its vicinities after the war years. The then St.
James Academy was located on the Church
Parish property almost adjacent to the Parish Church of St. James the Greater.
As school – years rolled on, college courses were offered in the School-Year 1951-52. At the same time the Elementary
Department was opened. At the helm of the College Department was Dr. Rosalina Portes and the Elementary Department had Caridad
Pastorfide as its Principal.
In the SY 1964-65, St. James
Academy opened under the new administration of the Franciscans. Fr. Urban Planchinski,
OFM, was its first Director upon the appointment of the Regional Superior in Samar, Fr. Adalbert
Kalenski, OFM.
Under Fr. Urban, the school would metamorphose
into something big which Allen in general would be proud of. By the middle of the same school -year in November of 1964, the
Bishop of Calbayog turned over the legal rights, documents and all pertinent papers of St.
James Academy to the Franciscan Friars as
the new owners and Administrators of the beloved institution. The Philippine laws on Education require that the school administrator
must own the building and land to assure the public and the clienteles that the school is on solid hands of the owner. In
brief, the owners’ intention is solely for education, nothing more nothing less.
Upon its assumption as administrators and owners,
the Franciscan Friars discussed, deliberated and decided to change the
name of the school. Thus, in its first official meeting of the Board of Trustees who were also the incorporators, the name
of St. James Academy
was changed into St. Francis of Assisi High School (SFAHS). As per records, the submitted to and approved by the Securities
and Exchange Commission (SEC), the school’s Incorporators and Board of Trustees at the same time were: Miss Laureana
Dubungco, Miss Ida Royandoyan, Mr. Osmundo Bandal, Mr. Arnulfo Lim and Fr. Urban Plachinski, OFM.
The
Coming of the Franciscan Apostolic Sisters (FAS)
By the School-Year 1980-81, the new Administrators of SFAHS were the FAS.
Under the first FAS Directress, Sr. Adelina Aguaviva, SFAHS, had its own institutional growth.
In the SY 1986-87, SFAHS opened its Elementary Department. The newly constructed elementary building was easily occupied
by the very young of Allen eager to learn the basics and fundamentals of education. Because of its above average educational
performance the Elementary Department of SFAHS was given its Government Recognition on 1990.
With the opening of the Bachelor of Elementary Education (BEED) in the School-Year 1990-91, the status of the whole
school was elevated into a tertiary level. And in the SY 1986-87, the former
SFAHS had its new name St. Francis
College. The following years the bachelor of Arts (AB-1987) and the Two-year Course
Associate in Computer Science (ACS-1986) were offered.
For the past twenty-five years of FAS Administration of the school, the Philippine Franciscan of San Pedro Bautista,
through its Provincial Minister, Rev. Fr. Arturo Daquilanea, OFM, profusely thanked the FAS Congregation through Rev. Mo.
Irene Anapi, FAS, the General Superior on its formal turn-over ceremonies on March 30, 2004 during its 17th College
graduation rites.
The Return of the Franciscans (OFM)
With the formal turn - over rites made last March 30, 2004, it was only a matter of time for the Franciscan friars
to take the helm of the administration of the school again. On the morning of 2nd of May 2004, the then President
of Christ The King College of Calbayog City and the newly appointed Director of SFC after a lapse of twenty-five years, Fr.
Rodrigo P. San Jose, OFM, received the SFC legal papers, the financial records, monies and other pertinent school papers relevant
to the management of the institution from the hands of the last FAS Directress, Sr. Delia C. Brimon, FAS. They thanked each
other for the trust and confidence and in return for the helping hand the FAS Sisters made for the past years of loving and
committed service to the school.
A good deed is never forgotten. A grateful heart is the expression of a loving soul.
Like our worthy predecessors, our vision which is translated into a slogan is;
Go Forward SFC!
Go Forward Allen!
