Institutional and Community History

ST. MARY’S COLLEGE OF MARINDUQUE, is the only Catholic College in the Province of Marinduque . It is owned and administered by the Religious of the Virgin Mary (RVM), the first Filipino Congregation founded by a Filipina, Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo.

Records revealed that the very first location of the school was in the ground floor of the old convento of the church of Boac. Fr. Saturnino Trinidad was responsible for the opening of such catechetical class intended for giving lessons in caton and catechism. This was in 1906.

In 1920, the primary grade was formally opened under the administration of the Parish Priest with lay teachers. When the convento was renovated classes were temporarily held in private houses in the high town of Boac near the Cordero’s residence.

Immaculate Conception Academy was opened in 1926 to 1972 when Msgr. Alfredo Versoza of the Diocese of Lipa sent the Benedictine Sisters to manage the school. The High School Department was completed in 1932 with five graduates.

In 1941, the Academy suffered destruction caused by World War II. In 1951, Immaculate Conception College celebrated its Silver Jubilee as an academy. In 1952, typhoon Trix destroyed the building and it was beyond repair so the Benedictine Sisters left the school after 28 years of unselfish and dedicated service.

Change will definitely occur as it always does. In the year 1953-1954, the first Religious of the Virgin Mary Sisters (RVM} came to Boac thru the effort of Msgr. Alfredo Obviar, Bishop of the Diocese of Lucena. The RVM Sisters took the great task of reconstruction and continuing Christian education. Thus, the first RVM graduation was in 1953 with thirty seven (37) fourth year graduates..

Due to the increasing number of students and expansion of classes, the high school building was erected on the hill of Ermita called Villa Immaculata in 1966. Meanwhile, the RVM Sisters took the great task of repairing the old building at the high town. The school celebrated its Golden Jubilee in 1970. It has lived half of centuries of sowing and harvesting coupled with challenges.

The elementary building, a modern structure at Villa Immaculata was constructed in 1985.

Unfortunately, on August 12, 1987, the main building which housed the college department in high town was totally destroyed by typhoon Herming. This prompted the college department to move to Ermita, crouching in both elementary and high school buildings which resulted to undue inconveniences for the three departments.

The RVM community felt more than ever the need of having a college building of its own thus, the ground breaking and laying of the cornerstone was done on June 24, 1988 and finally completed and blessed on January 15, 1989.

On September 11, 1995, the school was commended by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Region IV for its academic performance. The RVM Congregation saw the need to have a common identity and features in their Education Ministry hence, RVM schools were renamed St. Mary’s , the Congregation’s Patroness. There upon in 1999, the school was renamed, from Immaculate Conception College (ICC) to St. Mary’s College of Marinduque (SMCM)

Relevant courses were offered to cater to the needs of the community and a shift to the call of the Church renewal was responded to. Hence, its vision and mission was revisited geared towards a transformed society where persons live their dignity as children of God, complimented with the Mission of commit to the development of the person through relevant Christian quality education for the service of the community, society and the church with the preferential love for the poor.

SMCM celebrated its Golden Jubilee as an RVM-owned and administered school on April 11, 2004. Improvements on the area of instructional facilities was done to facilitate the delivery of the academic and religious services for the total development of the students.

The Grade School building was renovated with the restoration of the roof in 2009. This time also, the school was commended by the Department of Education Region IV through FAPE (Fund Assistance to Private Education) in its ESC Certification Report for the School’s Above Standard rating in all areas: Mission and Goals, Faculty and Staff, Instructional Program, Curriculum and Instruction, Administration, Student Services, Administrative Support and Facilities.

BSHRM Course was opened, approved and recognized on February 12, 2012. Thus, the HRM laboratory was renovated and met the standards needed for the course. Added to this was the improvement of Kitchen laboratory where space and amenities and equipment were considered. The Basic Education Library was separated from the college library. The need for the new Basic Education building was met. On August 27, 2012, the construction of the new building started in August 2012 and blessed in June 2013 and named Mother Ignacia Basic Education building .

Year 2017 onwards, several improvements and developments took place in the school. The Vision and Mission of the institution was revisited, whereby, members of the academic community reclaimed the sound cultures and traditions of the institution and they were challenged to live the Ignacian Marian identity as members of a Catholic institution in this millennium. The compensation and benefits of the teachers and staff was adjusted to a big leap compared to the previous years.

To give excellent services to its stakeholders, major renovations were done to the physical facilities. The classrooms floor in the College Building were tiled; the roof and ceiling of the Administrative building were changed; the chapel underwent major repairs and renovations as well as the adjoining Directress Office and the sisters’ convent. The IBED Library was also repaired and renovated to provide more spacious area and conducive atmosphere for its users. To cater for the needs of the growing population of the Senior High School, the old High School building was repaired and renovated in time for the School Year SY 2018-2019. HRM practice house, the cashier, registrar and conference rooms were renovated.

True to its commitment to provide quality Education, the school ventured into institutional self-survey for PAASCU accreditation. The Basic Education Department is scheduled for Preliminary Visit in March 11-12, 2020.

SMCM celebrates its Centennial Jubilee in 2020. Last February 11, 2018 the school launched its centennial jubilee with a thanksgiving mass, with the Bishop and clergy of the diocese, parents, alumni and friends. The centennial marker was blessed. A whole year monthly engagement program with the poor, the least and the lost was given a focus with a long year celebration, sponsored and participated by the academic community, the parents and alumni.

The hallmark of quality education is judge by the kind of graduates an educational institution formed. Today, we find in and out of Marinduque Elementary, High School and College graduates of SMCM occupying distinguished positions in the different fields. All of them ventured into different field of endeavors prompted by the desire to live and serve. They themselves, after leaving behind their Alma Mater marched on down the arches of years and the days gave them added knowledge, new experiences, great sympathy and understanding – the sum total of which is achievement. And the School, SMCM continuously moves onward for progress with its constant quest for Faith, Excellence and Service in the transformation of the society.