In the early 1920s, the monastic community recognized the need to find a larger campus and improved facilities for the rapidly expanding school. By 1925, both the monastic community and the college had relocated to their current site on Mendiola Street. The community’s status was elevated from a priory to an abbey. With this new status, the responsibility of electing the community’s first abbot fell upon Rt. Rev. Raimundo Salinas, OSB.

The Benedictine Community was one of the first communities of male religious, which began accepting native Filipino applicants as members of the order or congregation. Long before the war, Filipino aspirants to the Benedictine way of life were admitted under the Rule of St. Benedict. This significant step was made possible through the strong leadership of Abbot Peter Celestine Gusi, OSB, the second Abbot of the monastery and later Abbot-General.

In the years preceding the renewal of the Second Vatican Council, two abbots provided spiritual and paternal guidance to the Community during challenging times. These abbots were Abbot Wilfredo Rojo, OSB, and Abbot Bernardo Lopez, OSB. In their old age, they chose to reside in Ramsgate, England, and Montserrat, Spain, respectively.

In the 1950s, Filipinos comprised the majority of the community. Gradually, leadership was transitioned to the Filipinos, both in managing the school and the community. During the challenging years immediately following Vatican II, the Benedictine Community was led by two Filipino Prior-Administrators: Fr. Celestino Say, OSB, and Fr. Silvestre Lacson, OSB. They diligently prepared the community to face the challenges of growth.

In the early 1980s, the Benedictine Community once again envisioned an expansion and deepening of their commitment. Under the spiritual leadership of Rt. Rev. Eduardo Africa, OSB, the first Filipino Abbot, the Community decided to establish another monastery. This new monastery would focus on non-educational apostolate work, emphasizing communal prayer.

The Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Lord, established as an independent monastic community separate from the Manila community, brought the Benedictines back to their original home in Mindanao. Currently, the Community is involved in agricultural work, spiritual retreats for laypeople, religious, and priests, as well as adult catechism and ecological concerns.

In 1995, the Benedictine presence in the Philippines had reached a full century. As the community reflected on its relevance, meaning, and contribution to the Philippine Church, the Benedictines looked back with pride and deep satisfaction.

With the dawn of the third millennium of the Christian Era, the Benedictine Community aspires to ascend to greater spiritual heights and cultivate meaningful relevance by diligently upholding the authentic, perennial, and enduring Tradition of the Church while advancing its mission of knowledge and the aspiration to build God’s Kingdom on earth. The community, deeply rooted in the Catholic faith, draws inspiration from the Gospel, Sacred Scripture, and the teachings of the Magisterium. It reveres the Tradition handed down through generations, embracing the richness of liturgy, sacraments, and devotions.

The desire for community is intrinsic to human nature, hence our Benedictine education apostolate fosters a sense of belonging where students feel they are part of something greater. As facilitators of integral formation, we nurture intellectual, moral, emotional, physical, and spiritual growth. As a living faith community, we challenge students to live out the Gospel of Jesus, becoming literate in the Catholic and broader Christian tradition. We provide opportunities for Christ-centered student faith formation both inside and outside the classroom, where liturgical participation, communal prayer, and service foster a sense of mission and discipleship. We foster authenticity and integrity, ensuring a safe environment for all, free from scandal, avoiding anything that could mislead or malform students.

We are a School of the Lord’s Service that preserves Tradition while advancing knowledge in a vibrant, faith-filled environment where students are formed to be good citizens of this world and saints in the world to come.

FROM BENEDICTINE ABBEY SCHOOL TO

ST. BENEDICT COLLEGE TO SAN BEDA ALABANG

In 1972, Benedictine Abbey School (BAS) welcomed 78 preschool boys and girls through its doors. Under the guidance of Fr. Roberto de Jesus, OSB, the first Rector, and with Mrs. Elena Racho as Head Teacher, along with teachers Mrs. Josefina Beltran and Mrs. Annie S. Improgo, BAS pioneered a modern non-graded open classroom instructional system. By the 1977–1978 school year, BAS had expanded to include a high school department.

Both the elementary and high school departments earned accreditation from the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities (PAASCU), attesting to the institution’s commitment to providing high-quality education.

Fr. Bellarmine R. Baltasar, OSB, serving as Rector for nearly a decade, not only elevated BAS to premier status in Southern Metro Manila but also championed the establishment of a tertiary level. This new department, launched on their centennial anniversary in the Philippines, exemplified their unwavering dedication to educating the youth. Consequently, the school was renamed St. Benedict College on June 5, 1995.

Under the leadership of Fr. Tarcisio H. Narciso, OSB, the College Department initially focused on business-oriented courses. With 208 students and 15 faculty members, including recruits from other colleges and universities as well as the SBC high school and grade school faculty, the department thrived. Over time, additional courses were introduced, spanning arts, humanities, and other sciences. The construction of St. Bede Hall (the college building) in March 1996, followed by its inauguration on July 1, 1997, coincided with the institution’s silver jubilee.

In 2001, Fr. Aloysius A. Maranan, OSB, serving as both Rector and concurrent Dean, made a significant change: he renamed the college department to the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS). This strategic move aimed to emphasize the department’s diverse degree programs and grant it a fresh identity. Under his leadership, CAS underwent revitalization through extensive administrators’ and faculty development programs. Operational and academic policies were meticulously clarified and revised, fostering efficiency and excellence. Additionally, Fr. Maranan facilitated curriculum re-engineering to ensure that CAS remained relevant in the new millennium.

Fast forward to September 7, 2004, after 32 years of existence, when the College took a historic step. It officially adopted its secondary name, becoming San Beda College Alabang. This decision, led by Fr. Anscar Chupungco, OSB, the Rector President, responded to the growing demand from stakeholders. They sought to give a distinct face to the institution’s well-deserved identity as a Bedan school.

Fr. Chupungco’s visionary leadership extended beyond this transformation. In 2005, he spearheaded the expansion of higher education departments by establishing the School of Law. Initially an extension of San Beda University in Mendiola, Manila, this new department eventually evolved into a separate entity by 2009.

Subsequently, in the 2008–2009 school year, Dom Clement Ma. H. Roque, OSB, assumed the role of the eighth Rector/President. His re-election for the 2010–2013 period marked a pivotal phase for the school. Reinforcing the Benedictine tradition, which emphasizes a prayerful life and continuous learning through disciplined practice, the Board of Trustees approved the revitalized school Mission and Vision statement. Shifting towards sustaining PAASCU accreditation, school facilities, faculty ratios, and classroom instruction quality were prioritized, driving improvements across various fronts.  Notably, the construction of St. Maur Hall for the School of Law and upgrades in sports facilities were accomplished during this dynamic term.

In the academic year 2013–2014, Rev. Fr. Anselm M. Manalastas, OSB, assumed the role of the ninth Rector/President. His administration prioritized revitalizing Benedictine Spirituality and upholding the values of our esteemed patrons, St. Benedict and St. Bede the Venerable.

Expanding its academic offerings, the College received recognition from the Commission on Higher Education on July 2, 2015, to launch its inaugural graduate program—the Master’s in Business Administration—for the academic year 2015–2016. Subsequently, on September 27, 2016, the Commission on Higher Education sanctioned the Master of Arts in Psychology program for the academic year 2017–2018. During the same academic year, the Board of Trustees approved the establishment of the Graduate School’s Center for Continuing Education, which provides tailored short courses for professionals and executives. On July 16, 2020, the Commission on Higher Education approved the inclusion of the Master of Science in Information Technology program. Currently, the Graduate School offers three master’s degree programs and three certificate programs in its Center for Continuing Education.

FIVE FOCUS AREAS

In May 2019, Fr. Gerardo Ma. De Villa, OSB, assumed the role of the 11th Rector at San Beda College Alabang. His administration is guided by five key focus areas:

1. Evangelized and Evangelizing Community: San Beda College Alabang (SBCA) aims to foster a community that both receives and shares the message of faith.
2. Center of Development in Academic Programs: SBCA strives to excel in its academic offerings, particularly by providing technologically advanced curricula aligned with the demands of the Fifth Industrial Revolution.
3. Strong Educational Linkages and Employability: The college seeks to establish robust educational partnerships and enhance students’ employability prospects.
4. Accreditation in Quality Management Systems: SBCA aims to achieve accreditation in quality management systems, fiscal management, and environmental management from reputable local and international agencies.
5. Center of Excellence in Research, Community Outreach, and Performing Arts: SBCA endeavors to excel in research, engage with the community, and promote artistic expression.

Additionally, Fr. Gerard also serves as the Director of the Catholic Benedictine Formation Division. Under his leadership, the division oversees several departments, namely the Chaplaincy, Religious Education Department, Center for Campus Ministry, Institutional Community Involvement Center, and the Bedan Identity and Mission Office.

GOLDEN JUBILEE YEAR

In 2022, San Beda College Alabang celebrated its 50th founding anniversary. Over the past five decades, this institution has been a beacon of Catholic and Benedictine formation, nurturing generations of students in the values of Faith, Knowledge, and Virtue. Guided by the dedicated Bedan teachers and counselors who instill the principles of Ora et Labora (Pray and Work), San Beda College Alabang has evolved from its modest beginnings as a primary education provider to its status as a respected higher education institution. It remains steadfast in adapting to the ever-changing landscape and meeting the challenges of the times.