The Benedictine heritage lives on in the South

MANILA, Philippines – A picture of rage and restiveness in Mendiola clamoring for a change in the ruling leadership in the late ’60s led a historic decision by the Benedictine monks to establish another campus which is ‘far from the maddening crowd.’ Situated in a more tranquil environment, the monks established another bastion of a Benedictine education in the south where a modern hexagonal edifice was contructed on a sprawling nine and a half hectare land in the upscale Alabang Hills Village.

Believing in the uniqueness of every learner, the monks then decided to adopt a non-graded school where the center is the learner, where each child develops in his/her own pace and where independent and creative thinkers are molded.

The growing grade school population prompted the monks to plan for a secondary education program that would bridge the gap between the non-graded elementary and a traditional college set-up. In June 1977, BAS introduced the Personalized System of Education in the high school department. By 1980, the school was not only attracting the attention of Muntinlupa, Parañaque and Las Piñas residents but other communities as well. Benedictine Abbey School’s laudable performance in academics and sports competitions resulted in a tremendous increase in enrollment.

Both the Grade School and the High School Department were granted accreditation status set by the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU).

The Grade School Department is the Center for Excellence in Mathematics in Muntinlupa City winning in local and international competitions. The High School Department boasts of its Career Tracking Scheme in which students are grouped into career sections according to their interests, priorities and inclinations. Career sections include Medical Science, Physical Science, Business and Entrepreneurship and Arts and Letters. The College of Arts and Sciences has forged linkages with industry partners such as the Nielsens Company, the world’s number one leader in media research, the Department of Tourism, First Place, Inc. an international cultural exchange program based in United States and Australia, Yapster E-Learning, Inc.

Today, San Beda College Alabang recommits itself to the sacred mission of providing a learning environment that is guided by Ora et Labora, (Work and Prayer). And drawing strength from the Benedictine heritage, the College envisions itself as a premiere educational institution sustaining a community of innovative prime movers who are Christ-centered, socially responsible and globally competitive.