Holy Angel University History
In June 1933, Holy Angel Academy (HAA) opened its door to a modest group of 78 students in the Holy Rosary Parish Convent. It was initiated through the joint efforts of the late Don Juan D. Nepomuceno, a known philanthropist/prominent businessman and Fr. Pedro P. Santos , then parish priest of the town of Angeles and later Archbishop of Nueva Caceres. It’s primary purpose was to offer Catholic education in the secondary level, which the founder felt as the need of the community at that time. It was organized as a non-stock, non-profit corporation oriented toward service to the community.
The founders employed the able leadership of Ricardo V. Flores, an energetic educator from Pagsanjan, Laguna. Consequently, the Holy Angel Academy became the first Catholic coeducational high school run by laypersons with a first Friday devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. By 1940, HAA moved to the Main building from the Parish Convent.
When the war broke out, classes were suspended and resumed only in 1945. By 1947, the High School Department has attained government recognition.
In 1960, acceding to public request, the elementary department was opened. In 1961, the one- and two-year Secretarial courses were opened. To pave the way for further educational expansion, the two-year pre-engineering course was opened in 1962. In the ensuing years, this department was extended to offer complete courses in Civil, Electrical, Mechanical and Industrial Management Engineering.
Considering what has been attained, in 1962 the school was permitted to become the Holy Angel College with Don Juan D. Nepomuceno as the first President.
Under his leadership and the able assistance of his son, Mr. Geromin G. Nepomuceno, the school experience a revitalized management that led to the adoption of the fiscal policy, which opened new possibilities for further growth and expansion. The dream of making the school more responsive to the need of the community in particular and the nation in general began to assume reality.
In 1965, the Graduate School of education was opened primarily to foster professional growth among teachers in the community. This was followed by the opening of the Vocational/ Technical Department that offered courses in Industrial Electricity, Refrigeration and Air-conditioning, Radio Electronics, Automotive Mechanics, and Machine Shop Practice. This department was established in response to the nation’s Manpower Development Program. From College to University Realizing the significance of the unprecedented growth of the College, the administration decided to aim for university status, which it attained on December 4, 1981. Engr. Mamerto G. Nepomuceno was installed as first university president March 8, 1982. On the same occasion, Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz of the Archdiocese of San Fernando proclaimed Holy Angel University a Catholic university. University enrolment peaked at 27,000 in SY 1983-1984.
On August 12, 1985, Sister Josefina G. Nepomuceno of the Congregation of Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing was installed as Second President of Holy Angel University. Under this new leadership, the professional dimension of the University was pursued with greater vigor and its Catholic character given greater and renewed emphasis. From 1985 to 1994, curricular offerings added were AB majors in Sociology and religious Studies two year programs in Computer Science and theater Arts, Bachelor of Science in Accountancy, BSBA major in Small Business Management/ Entrepreneurship, BSED majors in Values Education, PE Health and Music and Library Science, BS in Electronics and Communications Engineering, and Associate courses in Computer Secretarial and Medical Secretarial. The Graduate School offerings were MA in Education major in College Teaching, English Teaching, Mathematics and Library Science, Master of Business Management. The Center for Research and, Measurement, and Evaluation, the Institute of small- Scale Industries and Enterprise Resources Center reflected the University’s thrust towards research and community service. After 33 years, the Grade School had its final graduation in April 1994 as a result of its phase-out.
