History of Holy Cross College

Holy Cross College (formerly Holy Cross Academy) is now on its 60th year of community service to the people of Sta.Rosa Nueva Ecija and near by Barangay neighboring towns. It was opened in 1946 asa secondary school with two first year classes through the initiative of the late Rev. Msgr. Fernando C. Lansangan,then parish priest of the said town.

Among the incorporators who are living are Ms. Cresencia Dayao, the principal from 1954-1971,and Ms. Simon Romero,public school principal;Ms. Salud Dayao,Ms. Felisa C. Germino,Ms. Genoveva M. Solitario,Ms. Feliciana Cruz,and Mrs. Angelina De Leon Peralta.

The first school principal was Mr. Francisco San Vicente from 1946-1948,followed for a year by Mr. Martin L. Peralta. The succeeding two years,1949-1951,the helm of managing the school was given to Mr. Demetrio Fajardo. From 1951-1954,Mr. Julio Saulo took over. Ms. Cresencia L. Dayao was then assigned to manage the school from 1954-1971, a period of 16 years. It was during the incumbency os Ms. Julia C. Talplacido from 1971-1991 that Msgr. Lansangan died.

In 1971, Msgr. Lansangan became the sole owner oh HCA and so he invited four residents of Sta. Rosa to become stockholders - Ms. Eusebia C. Lansangan, Atty. Jose L. Matias, Ms. Julia C. Talplacido, and Atty. Humberto Yambot. Now a college, the school was managed by the new administration under the principalship of Sr. Ma. Adela M. Fabon, FAS from 1991-1995 and followed 

by Sr. Susan O. Turingan, FAS.

The limited access that the people of this town has on catholic education on account of the distance from other institution then offering high school resulted in this warm acceptance of the community. The school was built, expanded, and progressed due to the euthuasiastic and strong support of the community whose aspiration was to have a fully dedicated institution that will provide quality catholic education to the youth. By 1948, government recognition was granted to the school for its high school department, a proof that it has come up to the standards not only of the community is serves but also that of the then Department of Education.

Though managed under the leadership of the late founder, Rev. Msgr. Fernando Lansangan, the school has been offering the educational services through its lay principal, faculty and non-teaching personnel. TheBoard of Trustees is composed of lay people chosen for their specific expertise which can contribute to the educational services of the school. After the death of the founder, the administration was completely in the hands of the lay Directors. However, the primary goal of offering Catholic education has been upheld and still the vital concern of the Board of Directors.

In 1981,the expansion of the school's curricular program was conceived in response to the community aspirations and needs. During this period,Sta.Rosa boomed into a commercial-agricultural center servicing neighboring towns. Many of its residence improved their socio-economic status.

Education is held as a primary aspiration of the people. The reason could be attributed partly to the fact that the level of the educational attaintment of he people has risen. On account of the many graduates produced by Holy Cross Academy, many sons and daughters of the families of Sta.Rosa were able to pursue degrees in colleges located in Cabanatuan City,Nueva Ecija,Manila and other towns and cities of the country.

The growing aspiration of education of the people has moved the present Board of Directors to pass a resolution seeking to obtain permit to offer post secondary and collegiate courses. During SY 1982-1983, by virtue of the permit granted by MECS, the first and secondary curriculum for the Junior Secretarial Course was offered to the public. In 1984-1985 permit was granted to offer degree courses in eduaction and commerece. the Holy Cross Academy was thus conferred the name Holy Cross College. Secondary Education, Bachelor of Science in Commerce,Major in Banking and Finance. Due to the Elementary Education and major in Management for Commerce. With the advent of computers, the college was granted permit to offer starting SY 1993-1994 the Associate in Computer Science and Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. The first graduates were conferred with the degree of Bachelor of Elementary Education received their diplomas in SY 1985-1995, the college honored the first graduates in Associate in Computer Science. The two-year Secretarial course was abolished in favor of Computer Science. In 1984, the HCC was given permit to open a complete elementary education, kindergarten, and preparatory school. The big step was aimed not only to provide a laboratory for the school's teacher education students but also in response to a growing clamor of quality instruction in all level of education by the community.

In its 59th year up to the present, HCC continues to give best service to the community. Not only by being a community-based secondary school, it is also an institution of higher learning where additional TESDA accredited highly-skilled Restaurant Management, Computer Secretarial, and Electronic and Computer Technology; and six-month courses in Contact Call Center and Medical Transcription.  Most importantly, HCC offers Master in Education major in Mathematics, English, and aspiration for their educational upliftment as well as for the country's national development goals.