Saint Louis University (Baguio) - History

History

In 1907, the CICM missionaries arrived in the Philippines, mandated by the Vatican to Christianize the northern part of the country. The missionaries settled in Baguio because of its proximity to Manila and the mountain province of Benguet beyond the Cordillera mountain range, that was home to numerous indigenous tribes. In 1911, Rev. Fr. Séraphin Devesse, CICM, founded a one-room elementary school in Baguio for ten local boys, naming it the Saint Louis School.

In 1915, the St. Louis School expanded, becoming a vocational and trade school. In 1915 the school opened a secondary branch. In 1952, the combined efforts of Msgr. William Brasseur and Rev. Fr. Rafael Desmedt founded Saint Louis College, then consisting of three departments: Education, Liberal Arts, and Commerce and Secretarial.

In 1955, the graduate-level programs of Saint Louis College were granted recognition. The real turning point came on 13 May 1963, when Saint Louis College was conferred University status by the Philippine government. The school started with only 75 students with Gerard Decaestecker, CICM, as the first rector. Other courses and developments soon followed under the guidance of the following rectors/presidents:

Dates Rectors/Presidents
1952-54 Gerard Decaestecker
1954-62 Albert Van Overbeke
1962-64 Gerard Linssen
1964-76 Paul Zwaenepoel
1976-83 Ghisleen De Vos
1983-96 Joseph Van den Daelen
1996–2005 Paul Van Parijs
2005–present Jessie M. Hechanova

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