Cavite's first computer school chain makes a difference

MANILA, Philippines - Twenty-two years ago on Feb. 15, 1988, a 25-year old Industrial Management Engineering graduate from De La Salle University Manila established his own computer school in the heart of Imus, Cavite. He chose Imus because his maternal grandfather, the late Dr. Lorenzo B. Paredes, founder of Imus Institute, also established a school in the same town in 1923. He started in one room, with five computers and 10 teenagers who wanted to learn how to use the IBM personal computer because their schools have no computer subject. Today, Imus Computer College (ICC) president and founder Manny P. del Prado manages 10 computer schools, has 400 computers and more than 2,500 students. ICC has become the first computer school chain that originated in Cavite and south of Metro Manila. It has branches in Imus, Rosario, Gen. Mariano Alvarez, Dasmariñas, Bacoor, Silang, Gov. Drive - in front of FCIE, Las Piñas, Alabang-near Ayala Alabang and Alabang Central - near Alabang Central Terminal.

In 2008, the ICC founder was recognized both locally and by an international organization for his efforts in bringing technology closer to the youth. The Imus Municipal Government, awarded Del Prado as “Outstanding Imuseño for IT Education” while the Royal Institution of Singapore, conferred him the title, Fellow of the Singapore Royal Institute of Education.

For the past two decades, ICC has produced quite a number of graduates who are now gainfully employed here and overseas in more than a dozen countries.

Today, a big number of high school graduates have discovered that enrolling in ICC’s two-year diploma course is even more advantageous than pursuing a four-year degree. Aside from the lower tuition and the convenience of location, ICC graduates could easily find jobs and their computer knowledge are more up-to-date. For the communities that ICC serves, the school is not only a place to learn computer skills, but a place where dreams could turn into reality.