history

Cainta Catholic College dawned through the CICM missionary zeal. In 1931, Rev. Fr. Jose Tajon was parish priest of Our Lady of Light. Since he ran a school at the Manila Cathedral. his former parish, he deemed it wise to open a Catholic School so that the children of the town could avail of primary education.

From charity money and donation, Fr. Tajon was able to maintain the school free of tuition fee but with regularly paid teachers. He indeed established a feat of sort, as he was able to have this arrangement even during the duration of the Second World War. Enrolment increased each year up to 1944. The pupils were housed in three classrooms made of nipa and wood. Before Filipino became a national language, it was already part already part of the curriculum though the students spoke English just as well. The school produced most of the leading Catholics in Cainta.

All through the pre-war years until the Japanese occupation and the American liberation, classes were continuously conducted. But in  December 1944, Fr. Tajon died at the Santiago Hospital, during the shelling for the liberation of Manila. With his death, Cainta Catholic School unfortunately ceased its operation.

In 1959, Fr. Daniel Courtens, another CICM priest, was appointed Parish Priest. Having observed the expenses and the risk, the youth of Cainta faced in wanting to have a secondary education offered in neighboring towns, he decided to re-open Cainta Catholic School. School year 1960 – 1961 began with seventy-four students enrolled with important emphasis given to religious instruction and moral formation. Special participation in all church activities was stressed as a basis for moral life. Along this line, vocational education was also provided so the youth can be prepared for earning a livelihood in the future.

Initially, the school was housed in two rooms: one for the boys and one for the girls. In 1963 a new building was constructed to house eight classrooms, an administrative office, an adequate library, a laboratory and a faculty room. Fr. Courtens kept the cost of the building construction secret, attributing it mainly to the Roman Catholic Church and some generous benefactors as sources of funds. In fact, people wondered as to how the school managed to survive the low fees collected.

The year 1964 marks the milestone for Cainta Catholic School. The first batch of forty-four graduates received their diplomas. As the populace kept growing there was a need for additional classrooms. The old Church building was converted into a two-story edifice. A new one was constructed to connect the main building with the old church structure. Fr. Walter de Vilder who took over made this possible as parish priest and school director in 1965. With the assumption of office of Msgr. Sta. Ana in 1975, CCS became a two-level school. The Elementary level started with Kinder and Grade 1, and a grade level was opened each year up to Grade VI.

The Pre-Elementary department was opened in the school year 1988-1989 through the initiative of Msgr. Mariano T. Balbago Jr. who succeeded as parish priest and school director. By then the student population has reached 7,000.

The 1990’s marked more improvements. Computer subject was added to the curriculum of both the elementary and high school. But religion as core of all subject areas was kept alive and strengthened. Two new buildings were constructed: the Cardinal Santos and John Paul II.

In school year 1996-1997 pursuing the five-year development plan of the school, a college level was opened offering courses in Bachelor in Elementary Education (BEED) and Bachelor in Secondary Education (BSED). Thus, Cainta Catholic School became Cainta Catholic College.

Additional courses were opened in College in SY 1997-1998: BS Commerce major in Finance and BS Computer Science. Two courses are ladderized courses: Associate in Religious Education and Certificate in Computer Secretarial (Two-year course).

Facilities were improved. K1 and K2 rooms were air-conditioned. An Administrative Building was built to house all offices. There is no end to growth for Cainta Catholic College as it works for the attainment of its Vision, Mission, Goals and Objectives. Cainta Catholic College as an institution of learning and human formation, faithful to its Vision-Mission adheres to and believes in the fulfillment of the different core values as mandate to make these values a living school culture.

In September 17, 1997, Rev. Fr. Efren C. Villanueva was appointed as the new College President. Believing in the school’s potential for development and excellence, the president instituted reforms in an encompassing fashion. In academics, a progressive development upgrading instruction and curriculum was instituted simultaneously with the professionalization of teaching academic staff by sending a sizeable number of teachers for post graduate studies at DLSU specializing in different fields.

Information Technology and computer education were substantially enhanced introducing the state of the art hardware and software to fully automate offices. State of the art laboratories in science, computer and speech alongside with the new technology and home economics building were constructed. Human resource management and center for integral evangelization offices were also created, professionalized and systematized.

As the new millenium approaches, a new president of the institution was installed in the person of Rev. Fr. Paquito G. Gallego. The installation, last Nov. 30, 1999, was done during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass celebrated by the Most Rev. Protacio G. Gungon, DD. The entrance of Fr. Pax to the school paved the way to widen the horizon towards academic excellence which the school primarily desires. The Academic personnel were empowered to particularly focus on the curriculum and discipline, the school’s well-being and standard, with special emphasis on the cleanliness of the school. For all of these to be implemented and run like a well-oiled machine, he gathered all the heads and supervisors of all the departments to form the President’s Council and appointed Bro. Joel C. Javiniar and Atty. Carmencita P.L. Logan to be the Executive Assistants for Academic Affairs and for Institutional Planning and Development, respectively. Likewise, he appointed Mrs. Cecilia V. Vinluan to be the Executive Assistant for Student Services.

With both the Academic and Administrative departments in place, the construction of the new THE building was realized; the former Accounting and College offices inside the Administration Building were transformed into classrooms for the College Department. Since the Perpetual Adoration Chapel is located outside the school campus, the former office of the Property Custodian was refurbished into a prayer room for the spiritual needs of both the students and the employees alike. Meanwhile, the President’s office was transferred to the 2nd floor of the former T.H.E. building, and the HRMD took over the vacated President’s office. In February 9, 2004, Cainta Catholic College, then a Parochial school, was elevated to the status of a Diocesan College. This important phase in the indelible history of the institution is attributed to the initiative of Fr. Gallego and the resolution of the Board of Trustees led by Most Rev. Fr. Gabriel V. Reyes, Bishop of Antipolo, accorded CCC all the rights and privileges of a Diocesan College as provided by the Canon Law. In this same year CCC worked on Self Survey to prepare for accreditation.

As the institution celebrates its Tri-Fest, making seventy-five years from the first year it was founded as a catholic primary school, the tenth year of the college department, and the closing of the Sapphire year of the high school department, Msgr. Arnel F. Lagarejos was installed President of Cainta Catholic College and at the same time the parish priest of the Our Lady of Light Parish in June by the Most Rev. Gabriel V. Reyes, Bishop of Antipolo. With his assumption into office great strides were taken to fulfill the vision and mission of CCC.

On November 29, 2006, Cainta Catholic College was accorded level one accreditation by the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation (PACUCOA), a quest the institution has prepared for so many years. In December 2010, CCC was granted Level 1-Formal Accreditation Status. Development of Cainta Catholic College is continuous and inspired by the hopes and dreams of its academic community. With concerted efforts, CCC achieved Level II Accreditation in November 2016.

On August 14, 2017, with the intercession of Mary, Our Lady of Light, Most. Rev. Francisco M. De Leon, D.D. formally installed Msgr. Pedro C. Cañonero to lead CCC in its mission to truly become a community of Christ’s faithful in communion and missions of proclaiming the gospel values of Truth, Justice, and Love.

On May 1, 2021 – Rev. Fr. Neil Vincent M. Tacbas was appointed as CCC College President by the Board of Trustees. As College President, his administration will be built on the following thrusts: Integral Formation, Academic Excellence, Honesty and Hardwork.