In the middle of the 19th century, the necessity of the funding a charitable institution was felt in the Diocese of Cebu. To this end, the Casa de Caridad, a hospital, was established by His Excellency Romualdo Jimeneo, the Bishop of Cebu. Three women-volunteers under the guidance of Rev. Fr. Fernando de la Canal, C.M. managed the hospital. These women eventually become the first Hermanitas de la Madre de Dios. After the new community was formed, Bishop Benito de Madridejos visited them and saw the opportunities that presented themselves for the benefit of the entire diocese. He proposed for the opening of a school for the girls to be managed by the Hermanitas. Thus, on May 30, 1880, Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion came into being. Situated at Martires Street fronting the Colegio Seminario de San Carlos, the Colegio started with 66 young girls. Lessons with special emphasis on Religion, Spanish, Music and Home Arts were offered.
The Colegio was gaining prominence as the first Catholic school for girls in Cebu and the nearby provinces. The students and Hermanitas increased in number each year. Meanwhile, Fr. De la Canal, feeling that his days were numbered, consulted the Hermanitas about their future. In less than five years after communicating this to his Superior, his desire was granted-on January 29, 1895, the incorporation of the Hermanitas with the first Daughter of Charity took place. Since then, the Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion has always been managed by these same sisters.
Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion came into being.
The Incorporation of the Hermanitas with the first Daughters of Charity took place.
Offering of the other courses: Clase Preparatoria, Clase Media, Taquigrafia, Piano, Canto, Pintura, Bordado y Labores.
Organization of the Hijas de Maria (Children of Mary) with CIC as the first CoM unit.
Offering of Elementary and Secondary Courses in English with government recognition.
Graduation of the first High School batch.
First publication of the Blue and White, the school paper through the initiative of the Principal, Sr. Constancia Marilao, DC with Tomasa Gachapin (later Mrs. Jose Yulo) as the first editor.
First Alumnae reunion, which later became the traditional Homecoming Day.
Instrumental founding of Asilo de la Milagrosa by several distinguished alumnae mostly Damas de la Caridad (Ladies of Charity): Doña Esperanza Velez, Doña Mina Escaño, Do
Rise of the impressive three-storey edifice along Urdaneta Street.
Curricular offerings through the initiative of Sor Paz San Buenaventura, DC were augmented to reach the tertiary level: one-year Secretarial, two-year Junior Normal, and Music T
Offering additional courses in Kindergarten, Elementary, Academic Secondary, Home Economics, Elementary Course in Piano, Junior Course in Piano, and Music teacher’s Diploma.
Reopening of the Elementary Department and One-Year Secretarial Course during the Japanese Occupation Period at ex-judged Singson’s house in Jakosalem Street.
The Elementary and High School classes were housed temporarily at Gorordo Avenue, in Quonset huts donated by the 77th Infantry Division of the U.S. Armed Forces of the Far East (USAFFE).
Completion of the new and impressive two-storey structure on its present site along Gorordo Avenue.
Resumption of the offering of the Two-Year Normal and One-Year Secretarial courses.
Recognition of the following courses: Kindergarten, Elementary, Academic Secondary, Secretarial, Associate in Arts, Elementary Course in Piano, Junior Course in Piano, and Music Teacher’s Diploma.
Offering of the other additional collegiate cou
Offering of Bachelor of Music major in Piano and Voice, and Bachelor of Science in Education.
The Philippine Congregation of the Daughters of Charity becoming an independent DC Province with its first Visitatrix, Sr. Filomena Zulueta, DC.
Appointment of Sr. Paz San Buenaventura, DC as the first Filipina Sister Servant of Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion.
Expansion of Inmaculada’s services to the community through the opening of the Sta. Luisa Development Center pioneered by Sr. Paz San Buenaventura, DC and Sr. Concepcion Galleposo, DC
Inauguration of the CIC Sta. Luisa Development Center throug
Opening of the CIC Branch at the Sister’s vacation home in Mandaue with Sr. Imelda Espiritu, DC as the Superior.
Visit of Mother Teresa of Calcutta in CIC.
PAASCU Accreditation of the High School Department.
Awarded the Most Outstanding Private Learning Institution in the Field of Arts, Culture and Entertainment.
Opening of the Celebration of CIC’s Centennial Year.
Celebration of CIC’s Centennial Year.
Established of the Night High School Department as CIC’s most concrete Vincentian service to the community
PAASCU Accreditation of the Elementary Department.
Adoption of the PERSONALIZED EDUCATION PROGRAM in response to UNESCO’s thrust for the 21st century and the Four Pillars of Education, and in line with the Basic Education’s objective developing "self-motivated learners”.
First Congregational Evaluation Visit (CEV) in the region.
Conferred the Perlas Awards as a Valuable Institution by the Philippine Foundation, Inc.
The merging of the Elementary and High School Departments to form one Basic Education Department or the BED.
The phasing out of the College Department
Initial phase of the merger of the five DC schools in the Central and Eastern Visayas through the initiative of the late Sr. Sonia Rocha, DC with CIC Cebu as the lead school.
Full implementation of the clustering of the five schools as Central-Eastern Visayas Cluster of the Daughters of Charity – St. Louise de Marillac Educational System (DC-SLMES) with Sr. Zenaida S. Condes, DC as the first Cluster President.
Management and Mission Audit spearheaded by Sr. Maria Corazon Manalo, DC, the DC-SLMES Superintendent.
Visit of Sr. Evelyn Franc, DC, Mother General of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul.
Granting of the Lower Basic Education Department the PAASCU Level III Accreditation.
Adopting of the new Vision-Mission with revised Core
Visit of Fr. Gregory Gay, CM, Superior General Upper Basic Education Department.
Acceptance of the first batch of boys in the Upper Basic Education Department
Celebration of the 350th Death Anniversary of St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac with the theme “Charity-Mission”
Celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the Presence of the Daughter of Charity and Congregation of the Mission (DC-CM) in the Philippines with the theme “Serving… Transformation”.
Construction of the four-storey building for the K to 12 program.
Graduation of the last batch of all girls of the Basic Education Department.
Conferred a Special Citation in the Grand Chamber Awards in recognition of CIC’s exemplary pioneering achievements in the field of education, thereby contributing sign
Passed the iBed PAASCU Accreditation.
Granted the permit from the Department of Education to offer Senior High School.
Construction of the four-storey St. Louise de Marillac Building.
Opening of the Senior High School.
First visit of the Curia of the new Province of St. Louise de Marillac – Asia headed by the Visiitatrix Sr. Maria Ana Rosario G. Evidente, DC.
After more than a century of spirited presence, yet still cognizant of the special role expected of Catholic schools, Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion-Cebu continues its responsibility of building a new breed of Filipinos: INNER DIRECTED VINCENTIAN LEADERS AND ADVOCATES OF PERSONS IN POVERTY SITUATIONS AND OF GOD’S CREATION–disciplined, nourished with positive nationalism, proud of the country’s cultural heritage, builders of peace, respectful of the dignity of creation, and citizen of the country and of the Church.
“This is Inmaculada’s story. There are no verses to chant her greatness, neither enough and adequate words to speak to her achievements, but there are a million, million prayers that reach out to the Blessed Virgin Mary and Her Divine Son in Heaven asking them to look down with benign eyes upon this great Filipino-Hispano temple of Catholic learning.”
Viva Inmaculada!
