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 |
Read more about this topic: Saint Louis University (Baguio)
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