The book “History of the Augustinian Recollects in Cebu Since 1621: Studies and Sources,” was launched on Feb. 16, 2022 at the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R).
The historic event, spearheaded by USJ-R president Cristopher Maspara, OAR, was witnessed by the Augustinian community and selected guests from the academe, religious, government groups and media. Compiled and edited by Emmanuel Luis Romanillos, the book traces part of the roots of the Recoletos presence in Cebu, specifically their religious mission and academic pursuits: the Augustinian Recollect Convent and Parishes in Cebu and the impact of the founding of then Colegio de San Jose-Recoletos (CSJ-R) in 1947, to USJ-R in 1984, to the present.
The book is a collection of treatises written by some Augustinian Recollects, which affirmed the global impact of OAR, the Order of the Augustinian Recollects. Prior to this book were researches written by the OAR academic community which traced the development of then CSJ-R to USJ-R with autonomous accreditation by the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (Paascu).
I did a short history of CSJR-USJR for Paascu and the application for university status. I am honored to have become part of the Recollects from the time I became a high school faculty member in 1964, thereafter Dean of the Arts and Sciences until 2000. Imagine, 58 learning years! Our team witnessed the “physical expansion of the school led by then rector Fr. Francisco Monasterio, the tearing down of the old Recoletos Church, the construction of modern classrooms from the wooden to sturdy edifices” (More on this found in the history of CSJ-R which I wrote decades ago).
I remember walking from our faculty room through a narrow alley which connected the two wings of partly wooden and cemented edifices, with wooden classrooms, chairs and small tables. Ah, those were memorable years!
I served 13 dynamic rectors, then presidents, who all contributed to the growth of the school and parishes: The physical expansion of CSJR by Fr. Francisco Monasterio, OAR; the academic enrichment pioneered by Fr. Francisco Siguenza; and the student development and Dramatics Guild by Fr. Victor Lluch; the Quality Christian Community Oriented Education thrust and Panagtiayon community outreach projects of Fr. Blas Montenegro, OAR; the tireless quest for University status by Frs. Hernando Coja and Rafael Cabarles; the continuation of the religious and academic leadership of the school by Frs. Peter Silab and Emeterio Bunao; the expansion projects of Frs. Constantino Real and Anthony Morillo; the academic zoning and library expansion of Fr. Walthrode Conde; and the redirection of the academic and international linkages, expansion projects and updated curricula maximized by Fr. Cristopher Maspara.
The transition of the religious and academic mission of the Recollects, specifically of the USJ-R, has been a lesson in the dynamic cohesion of the religious and the laity which reinforces the inherent mission of the Recollects in Cebu. (To be continued)