Welcome to Our School

This brief history traces the beginning, growth and development of the former Isabela Colleges Foundation from the time it was established on April 28, 1948.

Starting with a two-year Junior Normal College with an elementary school as a training department, the school has grown through the years, successfully overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds and obstacles. In consequence, it has become a prestigious institution of learning in Region II today.

The idea that gave rise to the establishment of the Isabela Junior Colleges goes back to the Japanese Occupation of the Philippines during World War II.

Dr. Melecio M. Toledo, Sr. was at the time serving as KALIBAPI (Kapisanan ng Paglilingkod sa Bagong Pilipinas) here in Isabela. During his stay in the province in connection with his official duties, he noticed that most of the teachers in the public schools, appointive officials, and managers of private establishments were not natives but immigrants from other provinces in Ilocos and Central Luzon.

Dr. Melecio M. Toledo, Sr. also observed that very few natives of the province were high school graduates, much less college graduates. This was mainly due not only to the financial condition of the people, but also, more especially, to the general reluctance of parents to have their children leave home, particularly during those old days when going to Manila entailed great risk and expense. There was also the fear that something would happen to their children if and when they were away from their sight.

During that time, there was no institution of higher learning at the collegiate level in Isabela. There were only two secondary schools, one public and one private: the Isabela High School in Ilagan, the capital, and Northeastern Institute of Santiago.

This prompted Dr. Melecio M. Toledo, Sr. to establish a tertiary school, which would include elementary, secondary, and collegiate levels. He came to think of the oft-repeated saying, “If Mohammed cannot go to the mountain, let the mountain come to Mohammed.”

After liberation, Dr. Melecio M. Toledo was recalled to the University of the Philippines, where he had been teaching before the war. But even then, the thought of bringing higher education to his adopted province, Isabela, did not leave his mind. At this juncture, he decided to resign from his university position in order to go ahead with the plan to establish an institution of higher learning in the province.

The main problem, however, was capital. Though he had little savings then, he wrote his friends in the United States to contribute books for the share of stocks, and they responded favorably. The books, although most of them were second-hand, constituted the nucleus of the library.

The Philippines in 1948 was in a slow but steady process of recovery from the ravages and devastation inflicted by World War II. Education was at its lowest ebb because of the loss of school buildings, school libraries, textbooks, and other essential educational facilities, which were burned and destroyed.

On top of this, many teachers who were forced to abandon the profession at the outbreak of the war either were dead or did not want to return to their pre-war positions in favor of more lucrative jobs. Eventually, more men and women trained in the teaching profession were needed to fill vacancies and new positions created by the ever-increasing number of young boys and girls eager to go to school.

At no time in the history of education in the Philippines was there a need greater than ever for qualified teachers to teach at all levels of the education system.

Set against this background, Dr. Melecio M. Toledo, Sr. founded on April 28, 1948 the Isabela Junior College, primarily for the service of the people. Its main objective then, as it is now, is to enable young men and women to get a quality college education without having to spend much money on it.

The Isabela Junior Colleges formally opened with proper government permits issued by the Bureau of Private Schools. Previous to this, the Board of Directors appointed Dr. Melecio M. Toledo, Sr. as President and Dean and his better half, Mrs. Pura R. Toledo, as Registrar and Principal of the Training Department.

Beginning School Year 1949–1950, Mr. Damaso Acosta was appointed as the Supervisor of the Teachers Training Administrative Officers (later changed to Executive Secretary) and Registrar, while Leoncio Arreola was appointed Elementary School Principal.

The first courses offered were the 2-year Junior Normal and Elementary Department.

The school held its first classes in a rented residential building located in the town along the busy principal street of Cauayan. Later, the school was transferred to the Nlingog Building, a four-room complex, for more spacious accommodation. This was necessary because enrollment increased tremendously.

In June 1951, the Academic Secondary Course with vocational subjects was opened and Mr. Francisco Ramirez, Sr. became principal. In the same year, two college courses were granted government permits, namely the 2-year Preparatory Law and 2-year Liberal Arts Courses (A.A.).

On April 1, 1951, the school was transferred, this time to the new two-story building constructed by the Corporation on a 5.6-hectare lot along Luna Street, which was purchased by the Corporation itself on September 24, 1949.

The new building was occupied for the first time starting summer of 1951. During School Year 1951–1952, the enrollment in the three levels were as follows:

Level	Enrollment
Elementary	361
Secondary	361
College	600
Total	1,342

Beginning School Year 1952–1953, the following courses were also offered: 4-year Liberal Arts (AB), 4-year Education (BSE), and 2-year Business Administration (ABA).

At the opening of School Year 1958–1959, the 4-year Business Secondary was opened.

In July 1960, the following courses were offered: Associate in Secretarial Course (ASS) and 4-year Commercial Education (BSCE).

Starting School Year 1962–1963, the 4-year Business Administration (BSBA) was opened, followed by the 4-year College Normal (BSED) in 1963–1964. In 1972, the Small-Scale Business Management (SSBM) was adopted.

Beginning School Year 1969–1970, some classes started occupying the ground floor of the three-story concrete new building.

At the opening of School Year 1976–1977, the College was granted permits to offer vocational courses, namely: 1-year Secretarial Science, 1-year Practical Electricity, 1-year Auto-Mechanic, and 5-month Typewriting.

Effective First Semester Year 1975–1976, the College was granted government permit to offer Master of Arts in Education (M.A.Ed.) in consortium with Lyceum of Baguio, Baguio City, with Dr. Mateo M. Sanchez, formerly Schools Division Superintendent for Isabela and later MECS Director, Region II, with Dr. Melecio Toledo, President and Dean, Graduate School as resident professors.

In the desire of the school to expand its programs, the following courses were offered:

School Year 1985–1986: Master in Business Administration (MBA).

School Year 1995–1996: Master in Public Administration (MPA).

School Year 1996–1997: Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) and Bachelor of Science in Criminology (BS Crim).

School Year 1997–1998: Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.).

School Year 2002–2003: Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSIT).

Since its establishment and founding on April 28, 1948, the Isabela Colleges had undergone metamorphosis. The new Isabela Colleges, Inc. is under new management effective June 2011, with its new building constructed just across the road from the former site of the Isabela Colleges, the lot of which was sold to Henry Sy, the owner of Shoe Mart, Manila, Philippines.