Cor Jesu College, Inc. is a school owned and managed by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, Philippines Delegation.

It traces its roots when Bishop Clovis Thibault, PME of the Archdiocese of Davao, with the request of Fr. Maurice Leveille, PME (then parish priest), invited the Brothers of the Sacred Heart to take over the management of 220 high school boys from the Holy Cross Academy which was then under the administration of the Religious of the Virgin Mary (RVM).

The congregation accepted the invitation. In 1959, three Canadian brothers came to the Philippines. They were Jean Paul “Elric” Beaudet, SC,  Conrad “Clement” Tranchemontagne, SC, and Guillaume McCabe, SC

In school year (SY) 1960-1961, the Brothers administered the Boys’ Department of Holy Cross Academy in a new campus, partnering with six lay male collaborators, namely: Rosalio Deloria, Diosdado Ypil, Teodosio Geyrozaga, Pedro Soriano, Rogelio Magdayao, and Alfredo Barrera.

The Boys’ Department became a college institution with its incorporation on November 9, 1962, and was renamed the Holy Cross College of Digos (HCCD), with Fr. Maurice Michaud, PME as the first chairman of the Board of Trustees and Br. Elric Beaudet, SC as the first rector. The school offered college programs like the Bachelor of Arts (BA) with majors in English and History; Bachelor of Commerce (BC) majors in Accounting, Business Administration and Banking and Finance; Bachelor of Science (BS) in Education and BS in Elementary Education. A Certificate of Secretarial Course, a non-degree program, was also offered.

In the following year 1963, the Elementary Department was opened and placed under the administration of HCCD.

In 1968, the HCCD had its second rector when Br. Clement Tranchemontagne, SC, was appointed by the Board. During his term, the school was granted preliminary accreditation status for its collegiate programs, namely: BSC, AB, BSE, and BSEED by the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU) in December 1971.

Holy Cross College of Digos was blessed with another rector, Br. Christopher Patenaude, SC in 1972. It was in September of the same year when Martial Law was declared. It resulted in the suspension of classes. Upon resumption, the enrolment declined considerably. Consequently, the BSE and the BSEED programs were temporarily suspended. During this year, the Planning and Development Office (PDO) was created. It paved the way for the visit of and tie up with the Fund for Assistance to Private Education (FAPE) in matters of strengthening quality education. In the same year, PAASCU team surveyed the collegiate programs and awarded it a Level 1 status.

In 1975, Br. Roger Bouley, SC was appointed as rector of the school. During his first year in office, the HCCD Research Center was born. It was designed to complement the needs of the academic departments and the PDO. Intensive training sessions for school administrators were conducted. The greatest achievement of the school was the publication of its five-year development plan, entitled “An Educational Blueprint for the Holy Cross College of Digos”. Furthermore, the HCCD collegiate programs were given PAASCU Level II accreditation.

In 1976, the Community Service and Alumni Affairs Office was established and a full-time director was appointed. As the center put premium thrust on peoples’ development in the countryside, it extended many educational, religious, socio-cultural and recreational projects and services to the needy. The center was complemented by the PDO that developed project proposals for funding. Moreover, the Bachelor of Psychology was offered.

The school had its first Filipino president when Br. Raymond D, Legal, SC was appointed by the Board of Trustees in 1978. He introduced new programs and services which helped the school attain recognition. During his tenure, he was chosen as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) of the Philippines.

In the same year, BSED and BEED courses were re-opened along with Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (BSCE). The course has produced topnotchers in the Licensure Examination for Civil Engineers of the Philippine Regulation Commission (PRC).

From 1978-1982, the Community Service Center made a headway when it implemented twelve projects and services that benefitted a lot of people in the countryside. These included the Mobile Library Services, Kunsulta Program, Mobile Audio-Visual Services, Dressmaking, Tailoring, Embroidery, Livelihood Projects, Machine Shop Training, Automotive Course, Electronics and Health, Nutrition and Family Planning among others.

The HCCD ventured on what was taboo for a school at that time when it opened its first business venture in 1980. It took over the management of a Shell Gasoline Station and operated a bookstore in the Poblacion of Digos. In the succeeding years, it expanded its business by opening another gasoline station in Padada, Davao del Sur and subsequently opened another in Davao City. Another bookstore was also established in Kidapawan City. These bookstores were eventually closed and the gasoline stations outside Digos were turned over to the company after several years of operation due to the problem of financial viability.

In 1981, the Bachelor of Laws was offered under the deanship of Atty. Josefina B. Almazan. Since its offering, the Law School has already produced trial court lawyers, prosecutors and trial court judges.

The dynamism of the institution was expressed by its willingness to undergo an in-depth evaluation of its systems and resources. This gave impetus to the thrusts of the institution, the vision of the founders and the realities of the next millennium. The result of the evaluation facilitated the change of the institution’s corporate name to Cor Jesu College (CJC) in 1982.

In 1984, the Community Services Center, which was affiliated with the Christian Children’s Fund, gave birth to the Cor Jesu Children’s Assistance Rehabilitation and Emancipation CARE) Center. It implemented several projects that benefitted a lot of children and families in Digos City and nearby municipalities.

Cor Jesu College had its second Filipino President when Br. Jesus M. Lape, SC was appointed by the Board of Trustees in 1985. During his tenure, the Vocational Technology was opened. The new department was equipped with new facilities, courtesy of Misereor of Germany. These facilities were augmented by the donation of Mr. Joseph Idzu, a Japanese philanthropist, and other foreign donors. He maintained also a scholarship endowment for student interested to pursue Vocational Technology courses. The new department offered approved TESDA short courses in carpentry, automotive, electrical and driving.

In 1985, Master in Business Administration (MBA), a graduate program, was opened as a consortium program with the Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU). But the consortium with ADDU ceased when this program was given recognition by the government in 1994. With MBA as the original program of the Graduate School, two others were added to  its program offering, namely, Master of Arts in Education (MAED), Master in Library and Information Science (MLIS), and Master in Public Administration (MPA).

In SY 1987-88, the Midwifery course was offered as a joint project of Cor Jesu College, San Pedro Hospital-Digos, and the Davao del Sur National Hospital. The school produced 13th and sixteenth placers in Midwifery Licensure Examinations. After 12 years of operation, the management decided to suspend the offering of the Midwifery course. Later it was re-opened and offered as Bachelor of Science in Midwifery in 2008.

The school gained national recognition when Genevieve Marie Brandares was chosen as one of the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines (TOSP) in 1989. Brandares was also named one of the Ten Outstanding Students Leaders (TOSL) in the same year. This was boosted when Aristotle Erasmo won first runner-up in the Asian Super Quiz Bee held in Manila in 1991.

After many years, the college had its first lay top administrator in 1992 when Mr. Rolando A. Fabiaňa, MA was appointed as Acting President after he served as Vice President and Planning Officer of the school. His appointment was seen as a realization of the spirit of Vatican II empowering the lay in the apostolic works of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart particularly in the school.

In SY 1990-91, the High School Boys’ Department became co-educational. Enrollment surged up significantly. To decongest the main campus, the Grade School Department was transferred to Sto. Rosario, Tres de Mayo in January 1993. It was housed in a three-storey and 30-classroom concrete building within an almost 5-hectare campus. However in SY 2001-2002, the Elementary Department was returned to the main campus. Both the Elementary and High School Departments formed the Basic Education Department (BED); administered by one principal.

In 1993, the school renamed the Community Service and Alumni Affairs Office to an Institute for Community Services and Development (ICSD). In response to the needs of the community, the administration incorporated all services and projects of the center into six programs, namely: 1.) Social Welfare and Development; 2.) Entrepreneurial and Cooperative Development; 3. Continuing Education/Non-Traditional Education Program; 4.) Advocacy; 5.) Capability Building Program; and 6.) Spiritual and Values Formation. A year after, the office got one CIDA-funded project called Craft Village Development Program (CVDP) in partnership with the Development of Trade and Industry (DTI).

The school received its award as 4^th placer among colleges and universities offering Library Science Program throughout the Philippines in the three-year assessment period 1995-1998 conducted by the PRC for the Professional Librarian’s Licensure Examination.

The pervasiveness of computers as essential tools in government and in business operations led the college to offer Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (BSCS) course in 1996. The school was granted recognition for BSCS by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in 2000.

In 1997, the management fixed the date of the school feast every last Friday of June since it is movable in the church calendar. It is also decided to move the date of the foundation from February 14 to September 30 every year to coincide with the foundation of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart.

On the other hand, ICSD made an outstanding performance in Craft Village Development Program (CVDP) which was established by the Provincial Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Development Council as Davao del Sur SME Center in 2001. Furthermore, starting 2002, ICSD became the service provider of the Department of Education and the government of Australia on Basic Education Assistance for Mindanao (BEAM) projects, namely: Lumads Integrated Functional Education (LIFE), Harnessing Opportunities for Muslim Education (HOME) and Providing Educational Access for Cultural Enhancement (PEACE).

In 2002, Cor Jesu College gained another national recognition when it received an award as 7^th placer nationwide for its passing percentage in the November 2002 Professional Librarians’ Board Examination. The award was given by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

In response to organizational needs, Cor Jesu College was re-structured in 2004-2005 paving the way for the creation of the offices of the Vice Presidents for Academic and Administrative Affairs, the integration of the Institute of Vocational Technology (formerly Vocational Technology), with the Engineering Division, and the fusion of the Humanities and Social Science Divisions with the Teacher Education Division. This was done after the charism seminar-workshops which were the prelude to a reformation of the new vision and mission statements of the school. Organizational Development (OD) and Appreciative Inquiry (AI) sessions were conducted to make a five-year strategic plan in preparation for the Golden Jubilee of the Institute in 2009.

Furthermore in 2005, Cor Jesu College offered Practical Nursing- a TESDA short course, Bachelor of Library and Information Science (BLIS) and Sunday College Program. In response to the demands, the school also applied to offer Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).

The school received a distinctive recognition in 2006 when the Civil Engineering Program ranked number 11 in the passing percentage of licensure examination for Civil Engineers among the 170 engineering schools with 10-25 examinees nationwide conducted by PRC in May 2006. In the same month, the Accountancy Program ranked number 8 in the passing percentage of board examination for Certified Public Accountants among the 70 schools with 10-25 examinees. A Cor Jesian also made it to the Top 20 ranking.

In the same year, the College Department applied for four (4) new collegiate programs, namely:  Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, Bachelor of Science in Information Management, Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering, and Bachelor of Science in Electronics Communication.

The Board of Trustees appointed Bro. Edgardo S. Escuril, SC as president in 2007.  He initiated the revision of the Vision, Mission and Goals of school.  He also started the crafting of Five (5) Year Strategic Plan and the construction of the buildings of the Basic Education Department.

The Golden Jubilee of the school’s foundation was celebrated in 2009 highlighted by a stage play entitled the Golden Dream on September 30, 2009.  In the same year, Bachelor of Science in Accounting Technology (BSAcT), Bachelor of Science in Hotel Restaurant Management (BSHRM), and Bachelor of Science in Midwifery (BSW) were offered. 

Bro. Ellakim P. Sosmena, SC succeeded Bro. Escuril as president of the school in 2010.  The Graduate School offered Master of Arts in Nursing and Master of Nursing in consortium with Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU).  However, it was short live due to financial viability.  In the same year, Bachelor of Science in Criminology, Driving NC II and Shield Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) NC II were offered.  The new buildings of the Basic Education Department were occupied. 

The ICSD became a foundation in 2010 and was renamed Cor Jesu College-Bro. Polycarp Institute for Community Development Foundation initiated by Ms. Donabelle Celebrado, MDE as Director.  It received several awards:  first runner-up in the DepEd’s National Literacy contest in 2010, first runner-up in the CHED Best Community Engagement Program in Region IX in 2011, first place (Regional Level) and twice first runner ups (National Level) in the DepEd’s National Literacy Contest in 2011 and 2013 respectively. 

In 2012, Cor Jesu College Law School joined its first-ever inter-law school competition— the ICRC IHL  National Moot Court Competition and reached the quarterfinals. The team was composed of Eliezer Sayson Jr., Freddie Baynosa II, and Dianne Bay H. Grado. Law Students Euangeli Doromal (2^nd runner-up) and Charlen Suedad (7^th place) also won in the Philippine Association of Law Schools(PALS) National Essay-writing Competition. In 2013, Cor Jesu College Law School emerged as the Champion in the CVC Law Debates aired on national TV through ANC. The team composed of Julius Frencie Rizada, Ian DJ Gencianeo, and Diana Jane Sorongon battled and won against former CVC champion Ateneo de Davao University (elimination round), national moot court champion Silliman University (quarter-finals), then defending champion University of San Carlos (semi-finals), and De La Salle University (Final Round). These achievements took place during the time of Atty. Israelito P. Torreon, LLM, the law School dean from June 1, 2011 to May 31, 2016.

Another feather was added in the cap of the CJC Law Debating Club during the deanship of Atty. Genevieve Marie Dolores Brandares-Paulino when the team of Glemarie Damalerio, Kim Lorenzo Calatrava, Adonis Flores, Jr., Paolo Javier, Jemimah Pearl D’ Lonsod, and Robee Camille Desabelle clinched the championship of the V & A Square Off: The V & A Law Debates Season 18 versus the University of San Jose- Recoletos on December 2018 while the team of  Aianna Bianca Brao, June Dianne Nadela, and Ghieft Gaca Anima was First Runner-up in the 1^st ALSP Mindanao Debate versus Arellano University on October 2021.

In 2012 the Basic Education Department was granted level I PAASCU accreditation with Dr. Kirt Anthony Diaz as principal. The High School Socialized Program was offered.  As the College Department started to phase out the Sunday College Program, it also offered the College Socialized Program.  Electrical Installation Maintenance NC II, Computer Hardware Servicing NC II and Housekeeping NC II were accredited by TESDA and offered in June 2014 with Engr. Wayne Manabat as Program Head of the Vocational Technology Institute. 

With the full implementation of the Five Year Strategic Plan, the school constructed a four (4) story building named after Fr. Andre Coindre, the founder of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart and was fully operational in 2013.  It also renovated the Bro Bouley Building, Bro. Polycarp Building and the College Canteen.  It provided concrete road network with drainage system around the campus.  The Management Information System and the CCTV on campus were installed.

The concrete construction of the campus road network was fully completed, as well as the renovation of a three-storey Bro. Bouley Building and college canteen was ready for use in 2014. Inside the newly-renovated building were new features of offices and classrooms of the Engineering Department and a two-floor-state-of-the-art college library. All these innovations and achievements paved way for Cor Jesu College to be granted a Deregulated Status by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in 2019.

But Cor Jesu College was never without mishaps. The school has been challenged during turbulent times, like the tragic four consecutive strong earthquakes in October and December 2019 that turned most of its state-of-the-art facilities into rubbles, except for the images of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mother Mary that were left standing still in the lobbies of Coindre and Norbert buildings, respectively, as well as similar icons at the Piazza del Sacro Cuore.

Despite the loss, the school administration, faculty, and the whole community remained steadfast and firm to continue with their mission. So, just like the proverbial phoenix, Cor Jesu College rose up from the ashes and rubbles of destruction as Jesus Christ Himself defeated death in His resurrection.

Inspirationally, some 5th year engineering students with the supervision of their Dean, Engr. Jonas Placer, conceptualized a design for a one-story 20-provisional classrooms, targeting a 20-day challenge to culminate in the month of December 2019. Several engineering alumni participated in the challenge as contractors, consultants, and builders.

Other friends came over to  express empathy and help in any way – the local government officials, the superiors of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart from abroad, General Council of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart from Rome, Italy headed by the Superior General Bro. Mark Hilton, SC, the US Provincial Council led by the Provincial Superior Bro. Ronald Hingle, SC, the US Province Schools, the CJC alumni here and abroad, and the Consul General Li Lin of the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Davao,  who handed in P7 million, a donation from the People’s Republic of China.

Eventually, the provisional classrooms were inaugurated just right for the resumption of classes in January 2020. But in School Year 2020-2021, as the school returned to normal operations, another tragedy came into place in March – the lockdown due to the COVID 19 pandemic, making educational institutions like Cor Jesu re-invent its instructional modality. At the outset of the new normal, as Cor Jesu continued to face and responded to the demands and challenges of difficult times, it kept its foundation stronger, firmer and more resilient…

Looking back… with God’s abounding Grace – a revelation of God’s love amidst trials, challenges, and tribulations, Cor Jesu College has been taking pride on the achievements of its graduates in  many different board examinations given by the Philippine Regulation Commission (PRC).

In the 1989 Board Exam for Midwifery, Elsa Butac ranked 13th while Ma. Corazon O. Bago made it to Top 16; and in Engineering, Maribel Monteza ranked 7th in November 1989, Hilario Alviar capped  the Top 1 in 1995, and Nerrie Cisneros made it to the Top 10 in 1999.

The 21^st Century is a great promise for Cor Jesu College as Niezl C. Delica made it to the Top 18 in the 2006 Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Licensure Examination , Marjorie T. Jorillo notched the number 4 slot in Licensure Examination for Librarians on April 2016, Kimjames Manalo ranked 2^nd in the CPA Licensure Examination on May 2016, and Lee Robin Bura-ay grabbed the 9^th place in the Criminologist Examination on December 2017.

On the other hand, Charlene Ararao made a debut for the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) as she ranked 6^th  on September 2016 while Cleford Jay Bacan followed suit as Top 7 on March 2018. Moreover, eight (8) more topnotchers made it to the September 2018 LET. They were Rhodel Christian G. Itang, Top 5; Risandro G. Namoc Jr., Top 6; Johnryl B. Garzon, Top 8; Dorena Criszel R. Aldaya and Agan Mark Villasan, Top 9; and Janine Marie Abregana, Chares Mae A. Ramos, and Justine Daphnie Salvacion, Top 10.

The year 2019 was also a season of achievements as Fritz Jaidel P. Dominice placed 9^th in the Licensure Examination for Psychometrician on October. Meanwhile, in the LET on September, Lyndon Jay V. Sulit ranked 3^rd and Aye Brant Bueno placed 8^th.

Moreover, the pandemic did not hamper the Cor Jesu College examinees to make it in the Top 10 as Ferdinand Angelo Revilla clinched the Top 9 in the LET released on June 2022 with a 100% school passing percentage.

Blessings kept pouring in as Cor Jesu College received the Institution Resiliency Award in 2021 by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Outstanding HEI for the Covid-19 Vaccination Program in 2022 Also given by the CHED. In the same year Maribel C. Guerra, the director of the Brother Polycarp Foundation – Institute of Community Service was named Outstanding Professional Social Worker  by the ASEAN Social Work Consortium-Philippines with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

With  optimism, Cor Jesu has ever been determined to continue its journey towards excellent and quality Catholic education. With its vision for a University status, it has been working for the diversification of its program offerings. In School Year 2020-2021,  new programs like the Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Technology, Bachelor of Technical-Vocational Teacher Education, and Bachelor in Public Administration were opened. Soon, two other programs, namely, Bachelor of Science in Biology and Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science have been set to be offered in SY 2022-2023.

There is a time for everything… and the members of Cor Jesu College community have been learning to see God’s wise direction and providence in the contrasting experiences of their lives.

From the obscure walls of the past… to concrete edifices… to state-of-the-art facilities… to humble but elegant provisional classrooms… From a 1.4 hectare campus, the school now occupies close to 20 hectares of land. Through its graduates, Cor Jesu College has been serving the country in various fields of human endeavor. Its dynamic linkages with non-government organizations and government agencies manifest its commitment as the school strives to fulfill its vision, mission, and goals. Cor Jesu College, in its drive to draw out the best in each one, looks at the future with greater passion and enthusiasm in railing the bar of excellence, building a stronger community, and responding to the call of being an apostle of compassion.