Post- War Batangas: The Transition Years (1945-1946)

Batangas was liberated on March 11, 1945. The peaceful but war-torn town now a city, emerged
from the ashes and ruins left by the Japanese Kempeitai and the debris of the bombs dropped by the
American plane during the final stage of liberation prior to Freedom day.
The transition period that immediately followed World War II was a critical year.

The educational system was very much paralyzed due to lack of school buildings reduced to
ashes, loss of equipment, facilities, books, and other school paraphernalias destroyed by fire and the
elements.
The idea of putting up a school took shape one afternoon in 1946 at the printing press of Mr.
Juan Y. Javier on P. Burgos Street. Two men with a common gripe against a school owner had a chance
meeting. Mr. Juan Y. Javier had printed educational materials for the school owner, which was not paid
upon delivery. Atty. Jesus A. Arguelles on the other hand, was not given his salary as a college teacher by
the same school owner. In spite of the contracts entered into with the same man, these were not
honored. These two unfortunate incidents motivated Mr. Javier and Atty. Arguelles to put up their own
school.

The two invited prominent men of the community to join them in their very ambitious project.
Characteristics:
Vision, Integrity, Dedication, Credibility, Courage, Optimism, Perseverance, and Leadership
needed in their educational venture. The two men who were obsessed with their project, invited Rev.
Fr. Vicente R. Catapang, a well-known educator from Taal, Atty. Francisco G. Perez, the senior member
of the Provincial Board, town mayor Roman L. Perez, and Atty. Pablo C. Umali from Lipa to join them as
members of the Board of Trustees.
Thus, the project plan was finalized in 1946 but the school year had already started.

“But, why Western Philippine Colleges?” the people asked. The six founders answers “Because Batangas
is located on the western side of the map and the college is located in Batangas; hence, the name fits
the location of the institution.”
Atty. Arguelles with the help of the other founders announced the opening of classes through
posters and advertisements in local newspapers and movie houses in June 1947 although the College
was already founded in 1946.
A meeting was called on May 22, 1947 to actualize the functions of the Board of Trustees.
The first classes were formally conducted on April 28, 1947 with 48 college and high school
enrollees. The Western Philippine Colleges rented a private house located along Rizal Avenue across the
Batangas Trade School building, now the Batangas State University. There were three rooms which
when partitioned gave a semblance of six small rooms.
In the preparation for college participation in the July 4 Independence Day parade of the year,
Atty. Arguelles was about to leave home to supervise work on the college float when he suffered a
massive heart attack which caused his untimely demise. He was only 47 years old when he met his tragic
death on July 3, 1947, which coincided with the birth of his second child who was named after him.
In July of the same year, the number of college students increased from 48 to 78 and over 200
high school students. It was therefore necessary for the college to transfer to another school site. The
students were transferred to the Javier- Villanueva house on the corner of P. Burgos and D. Silang
streets.

As expected, the budget was limited due to the small number of enrollees in each department.
The students, with their parents, pledge to convince more students to enroll in the coming year. There
was no janitor so that the staff did not mind doing housekeeping chores with the students. The founders
and administrators did a lot of sacrifice by teaching without any remuneration.
Father Catapang, as president and concurrent administrator, was the busiest man who travelled
to Manila every now and then, spending his own money to work dor the approval of permits for all
course offerings.
The Elementary department was established with the other departments but there were no
enrollees until 1948. Its operation was started by three faculty members, namely: Miss Amelia Berba,
Mr. Francisco Mercado, and Miss Lydia Tingchuy, with Miss Gliceria Martinez as the first Elementary
school principal.

On December 8, 1947, and educational partnership was forged to increase the capital.
At that time, school identification was the trend in the educational community. For this reason.
President Catapang formed a committee tasked to design the institution’s flag. The committee came up
with the maroon and yellow banner horizontally divided with yellow tassels as edging. The white college
seal is attached to the maroon background on the upper half portion of the streamer.
A group chaired by Mrs. Gregoria R. De Jesus was commissioned by the president to come up
with the music and lyrics of the “WPC Hymn”. According to reliable sources, the WPC Hymn was
adopted from the song of Notre Dame University.

Father Capatapang as a school manager, he conceptualized the logo or seal of the WPC as the
embodiment of the school’s philosophy, vision, and mission.
Appointed members of the administration were the deans of the first six departments with Mrs.
Flordeliza M. Arguelles, secretary and chief librarian; Roman L. Perez, treasurer; Miss Fausta Payoyo,
registrar; Miss Gregoria Redublo, assistant librarian; Lydia Tingchuy, assistant registrar; Francisco
Mercado, recorder; and Miss Gliceria Martinez, principal of the Elementary department. Dr. Godofredo
D. Rasales was assigned college physician.

Multifarious problems had to be surmounted as the college continued to operate with unstable
finances. The High school department, in particular, had to cope with the requirements of the Bureau of
Private Schools concerning facilities and instruction. The library was not equipped with books so that the
students had to be resourceful.
The ROTC used the Batangas High School ground for military drills and parade while PE classes
were held in the town plaza, now Plaza Mabini. Aside from these alternatives, the administrators used
their personal funds so as to finance the school and pay the teacher’s salaries.
All these problems were met with high hopes until they were solved in due time. On April 30,
1948, the first commencement program was held with Judge Vicente Arguelles as guest speaker.

There was a marked increase of high school graduates from the initial 14 to 63 in SY 1948-1949.
The first batch of college graduates 18 from the College of Liberal Arts, and 48 from the Education and
Junior Normal departments joined the High School graduates as they listened to the advice of the
commencement speaker Jose P. Laurel. The graduating classes produced the first yearbook “Gold an
Blue Leaf” with Graciano Castillo and Asterio Calingasan as editors.
With the unprecedented increase of enrolment, the pioneers continued to feel the growing
pains and problems of managing an institution of higher learning such as upgrading the school plant,
lack of faculty members, and a host of other needs.

Despite the financial crisis and difficulties, the school administrators managed to initiate extra
and co-curricular activities like club and class organizations capped by the selection and coronation of
the first Miss Western Philippine Colleges.

Father Catapang, Mr. Javier, and Mrs. Arguelles alternately traveled to Manila. They found
assistance in the persons of Mr. Aurelio Arguelles (elder brother of Jesus Argulles), and wife Dr. Belen G.
Arguelles. Soon after, bureau supervisors came to check on the implementation of requirements that
were all complied with in spite of stringent funds. In 1949, all classes had to be transferred from the
Javier house to a 12-room one-storey semi-permanent building on M.H Del Pilar Street.

Due to the insistent demand of enrollees, new courses were opened. The College of Commerce,
under the first dean, Atty. Pablo Umali, offered the two-year Associate in Commercial Science and the 4-
year BSC degree.
The College of Law started to operate in June 1949 with Justice of the Peace Eulalio Chavez as
acting dean followed by Atty. Francisco G. Perez as the next dean.

To prepare for the bar exam and to assure that the students of law would pass, a one-room
library with a good collection of law books for reference and research work, together with complete sets
of digests and journals manned by Liberato de Jesus, was made available. Even a mock court was set up
as a venue for court practice. The College of Law was granted government recognition on June 15, 1953
after complying with all the requirements.

Another founder, Mayor Roman L. Perez, was assassinated in front of his residence on
November 9, 1949. Up to now, the crime remains an unsolved political case.

The administration consented to the organization of the Student Council for each year level in
the High School department in 1949-1950.

The high school Senior Council elected Diego Atienza as president of the Student Council. He
was the class Valedictorian of batch 1950-1951.

Pedro S. Tolentino- a law student and the first Editor-in-Chief

 The first batch of college graduates decided to return to the folds of their alma mater after two
years.

It was during the summer of 1951 that the first dean of the College of Commerce, Atty. Pablo
Umali, decided to retire and transferred his shares to another stockholder so as to spend more time in
the practice of law in his hometown Lipa. Mr. Eliseo C. Austria was named acting dean and school
accountant in SY 1950-1951.

During the opening of classes in June 1951, 700 enrollees registered in the different courses.

The successful compliance of all the requirement set forth by the Bureau of Private Schools led
to the granting of Government Recognition No. 70 s. 1952 to the Western Philippine Colleges for the 4-
year commerce course leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Commerce.

The Board of Trustees invite well-known politician to be visitors/commencement speakers.

Special Guest:

Governor Feliciano Leviste, Speaker Jose P. Laurel, Representative Numeriano Babao, Apolinario
Apacible, Aurelio Arguelles, Teodoro Evangelista, Mayor Pedro Tolentino, and a host of notable men.
Song numbers with piano accompaniment of noted pianist were integrated in the program.

Commencement Speakers:
Judge Vicente Arguelles, Jose B. Laure Jr., Rev. Fr. Hurley, Raul Manglapus, Camilo Osias, President
Ramon Magsaysay, Mario Bengzon, Conrade Sanchez, Eulogio Rodriguez, and Diosdado Macapagal.

Before the opening of classes in 1952, Fr. Catapang decided to leave the college due to his
falling health. The real reason was to establish his own school in Lemery, Batangas to reduce his hours of
travel.

The onset of SY 1952-1953 was a period of great expectations. The college at this time began to
show appreciate achievements in both athletic and academic competitions. Many blessings were
received in the form of government recognitions conferred by the Bureau of Private Schools.

The first batch of law graduates in 1953 took the bar in the same year wherein five out of eleven
candidates successfully hurdled the bar examinations.

The accomplishments of the College of Law for two consecutive years added feathers to the
caps of the “Founding Fathers” whose efforts and courage during the challenging years of existence
were finally rewarded.

President Javier’s administration was beset by problems most especially the drop of college
enrollment because most of the students from Taal, Lemery, and Bauan transferred to the newly
founded St. Mary’s Educational Institute of Fr. Catapang.
 Nevertheless, with the same strength amidst difficulties, endurance amidst struggles, and
resilience in the midst of trials under the leadership of Mr. Javier, all problems were surmounted.