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OUR HISTORY
Rev. Fr. Rogelio Alarcon, O.P., former rector and president of Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Intramuros, Manila and an alumnus proposed the idea of having another campus in the north. Bataan was chosen. Initially, two sites were presented: Hermosa and Balanga. Abucay came into the picture later, after three years in the conceptualization stage. By what could be described as heavenly intercession and providential twists, Abucay was selected. The community of St. John Lateran, the Board of Colegio de San Juan de Letran and the Council of the Philippine Dominican Province approved the establishment of Letran-Abucay in 1998.
Construction started in 2000 in the fifteen-hectare area, donated by Mayor and Mrs. Liberato Santiago, Mr. and Mrs. Nicanor Soriano and Gov. and Mrs. Leonardo Roman. A breathtaking view of the Manila Bay and the surrounding mountains, including Mt. Samat, envelope the site. One of the main attractions of Letran-Abucay is its relatively undisturbed natural area and environment. Indeed, an ideal place for study. The site was chosen because of the natural character it projects- a plateau. Architect and environmental planner, Yolanda David Reyes incorporated this in the overall design and conceptual master planning of the campus.
Preparations for the establishment of the Letran-Abucay spanned over the terms of three Filipino Dominican provincials: Rev. Fr. Quirico Pedregosa, O.P., Rev. Fr. Ernesto Arceo, O.P. and Rev. Fr. Edmund Nantes, O.P., an alumnus. Rev. Fr. Edwin Lao, O.P., current rector and president of Letran-Intramuros spearheaded the over-all construction of the building and the formulation of the guiding principles of the institution. The blessing and inauguration on June 4, 2006 coincided with the gathering of the priors and superiors of the Philippine Dominican Province. Bishop Socrates Villegas, D.D., also an alumnus, officiated the Eucharistic celebration and blessing.
Colegio de San Juan de Letran-Abucay is considered as the first Catholic tertiary school and the “new university town” in Bataan.
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OUR VISION
We envision a Christ-Inspired, nationally responsive and globally competitive Colegio de San Juan de Letran-Abucay recognized as:
- A premier college in Region II, of various programs in science and technology, business and education;
- A leader in diverse areas of research and community service;
- An emerging University town in the region;
- An oasis for spiritual growth and a center for professional development; and
- A key player in uplifting the quality of life and the economic condition of the region.
OUR MISSION
We, the Colegio de San Juan de Letran, a Dominican institution of learning, commit ourselves to the quality formation of integral human persons in our noble tradition of excellence and the supreme ideal of
DEUS, PATRIA, LETRAN
- staunch defenders of the Church;
- faithful devotees of Mary;
- ardent lovers of truth;
- dynamic builders and leaders of communities; and
- successful professionals in their chosen field of endeavors.
OUR CREED
I am a Letranite and I will continue to live my days as one for God, for the fatherland and for my beloved Alma Mater.
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OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES
We, the brethren of the Dominican Province of the Philippines, focus our apostolic activities among the many needs of the Church, principally on evangelization through education.
It is one of the means the Province sees as providentially available to it to enable men and women of our milieu to experience the saving Word of God and to give a salvific dimension to arts, sciences and culture in general.
For centuries, the Dominican presence in the Philippines has been understood in terms of moulding especially the youth, through a formative process which combines the development of reason, the deepening of faith and the appreciation and the living of Christian values. Out of that process, leaders and role models of our people emerged during the critical periods of our people's struggle for independence and for sovereignty as a nation.
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OUR OBJECTIVES
The Colegio is a Dominican Institution of learning, tasked to form a student to become a person who has integrated within himself the natural and supernatural aspects of Catholic education, that will effectively prepare him for his bounded duties as citizen of his country and a child of the Holy Mother Church.
Specifically, the student shall become a person who:
Spiritually
- Lives a life of constant witnessing to the gospel message of Jesus Christ;
- Practices the faith, solidly based on sound Catholic doctrine;
- Fearlessly stands up in the defense of his faith;
- Possesses a strong community spirit;
- Is ardent devotee of the Blessed Mother Mary and the Rosary, St. Dominic and other Dominican saints.
Volitionally
- Possesses a high degree of responsibility; a person who is master of his own action;
- Always decides, according to God’s will.
Intellectually
- Has uncompromising passion for truth;
- Possesses the ability to think critically, analyze, synthesize and form right judgment;
- Organizes and applies knowledge to real - life situations.
Socially
- Actively participates in the affairs of the Church and society;
- Is a respected leader in the society;
- Works for the betterment of the marginalized members of the society;
- Is an altruist, manifested in his active concern for others.
Culturally
- Adheres to traditional Filipino values, enriched by Catholic teachings;
- Is proud of his heritage, customs and traditions which make the Filipino unique in the world.
Psychologically
- Manifests a well-balanced personality.
Physically
- Shows a state of physical well-being;
- Cares for his body as the temple of the Holy Spirit.
Professionally
- Is an asset to the betterment of society;
- Is prepared to meet the demands and challenges of his chosen profession;
- Creates opportunities for the improvement of the quality of life; and
- Is a world class professional, a person whose core competencies and skills are honed over time.
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OUR Core Values
We remain resolute in our institutional core values. These provide us intense focus and distinct direction.
Spirituality- Love of God
Our strong faith in God and filial devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary give us an unbreakable bond that unifies us. We are vigorous in adhering to truth. We recognize the principles of the Catholic Church to be the basis of our integrity, ethics and morality.Patriotism-
Love of Country
We are committed in assisting the nation by sharing our intellectual capabilities. The passion to serve the depressed and deprived sectors of the society is overflowing in our spirit. Social awareness and responsibility always exist in the mainstream of our thoughts. We understand the importance of fellowship and charity among individuals and thereby promote cooperation and harmony toward a progressive community.
Letranism- Love of Letran
We desire for excellence in every discipline, as we pursue knowledge and wisdom. We ascertain the efficiency and effectiveness of our scholarly yield given available resources. We value our investment as these can give opportunities for growth and prosperity. We offer competent and remarkable services to our clients surpassing all challenges and expectations that constantly flourish in the academic environment. We believe in the visionary leadership of our stakeholders that they may spread the ideals of the Colegio and give the best in all our endeavors.
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OUR SYMBOLS
Basilica of St. John Lateran
November 9 marks the feast of the dedication of the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome.
The Basilica is considered as the mother church of Christendom. This feast was originally observed only in Rome. When the Emperor Constantine donated the Laterani Palace converted into a Basilica to the Pope, the place was dedicated to our Lord.
The Palace was owned by the Laterani, a Roman noble family who revolted against Nero in 53-54 A.D. The Emperor Constantine stayed there when he visited Rome in 315 A.D. During the Crusades, the Pope renamed the Church after the Benedictine Monastery of St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist (which were situated on both sides of the Palace) but retained the Laterani appelation.
During the dark days of the Church, the Papal elections were conducted at the Basilica from the 12th century onwards, the feast of the Lateran Basilica was observed throughout the Roman Catholic world as a sign of devotion to and of unity with the Chair of Peter.
The Dominican spirit of upholding church unity and orthodoxy in faith is clearly manifested when the founding fathers named the first boys' school in the country after the mother Church of Christendom: Colegio de San Juan de Letran.
Logo
The Colegio’s seal bears the Maltese Cross dating back between 1696 and 1716. The Maltese Cross is the eight point cross of Amalfi, a town in Italy whose merchants founded a hostel for the pilgrims of Jerusalem. The group became the Knights of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, who transferred to Malta in 1530 and was allowed to stay on condition that they swear allegiance to Emperor Charles V of Spain. They became known as the Knights of Malta from then on and because of their pious works they earned for themselves a place of honor within the Church.
Undoubtedly, Don Juan Geronimo Guerrero, one of the founding fathers of Letran was a Knight of Malta.
The silver cross on a blue and red field encircled by the wreath of green laurel represents the patter of perfection of which all minds that come to Letran are molded. Its silver bespeaks of the purity which must be attained. The blue and red field indicates Letran, the battleground where the vile things are fought against the daunted and where ultimately the consummate ideal of the cross is accomplished. For that ultimate triumph, there is the wreath of green, ever fresh for every victory.
Blue and Red Cross
Blue stands for loyalty and justice. It is the loyalty and justice of the blue-blooded, a loyalty of noblest form and a sense of justice which grasps fully well the order of values. Red is for consummate bravery-- that firmness of heart, that staunchness of will, that openness of mind. It stands for the firmness of a martyr who welcomes the heathen's sword across his neck and a hero who saves countless lives as the price of his own.
The colors of Letran are blue and red, not red and blue. For consummate bravery asks for consummate cause. The martyr marches firmly towards the scaffold only in complete faithfulness to his creed, and the hero offers his whole life only in such whole offertory does justice to a sublime cause. Bravery simply for the exquisiteness of spilled blood, which ends in supreme sacrifice for a trivial or for no account, is not Letran's.
Coat of Arms
At the top of the shield is the Knight, the title name all members of the Letran community, most especially the students must be known. At the left side of the figure is the spear and at the right side is the torch, symbolizing truth and courage every Knight must have in the pursuit of quality integral formation. The shield itself contains the Dominican cross, colored black and white, signifying that Letran is a Dominican institution. At the center is the Letran seal of a silver cross on a blue and red field encircled by the green wreath laurel. On it hangs the Colegio’s motto, summarizing the core values of love of God, country and Letran to which every Letranite must subscribe.
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OUR PERSONIFICATION
The ideal of a Letranite is an embodiment of the nobility, generosity and discipline of the Knight of old. It draws its inspiration from God himself. Because of his intimacy with God, even the conduct of the Letranite is manifestly inspired by Him and oriented toward Him.
The Letranite sees in the religious duties of the Christian the means for him to nourish and strengthen the life of God in him, rather than simple onerous obligation. Hence, he fulfills them more out of a sense of need and conviction than compulsion.
The Letranite is likewise devoted to the Mother of God, whom he reveres and honors. His devotion to Our Lady is manifested in more ways than one, the more popular being the Rosary. The rosary in the Letranite’s pocket, which he prays alone, with his peers and with his family at home, is a tradition of long standing among Letranites.
The Letranite’s dealings with others are marked by a generosity that flows from the nobility of his heart. He is expected to practice fairness at all times even while he is strongly aware of his rights.
The Letranite conducts himself with dignity at all times as manifested in his manner and deportment. He is never caught sloppily attired. He never uses harsh words with anyone at anytime. He is always confident of himself because he is promised everything that is good, true and beautiful.
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