History

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 The germinal endeavors to revitalize the educational ministry of the Archdiocese of Cebu were bolstered with the appointment of the Rev. Dr. Roderick C. Salazar, SVD on 23 July 1991 as the first Chairman of the Cebu Archdiocesan Commission on Catholic Education by His Eminence Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal. This took place providentially after the ecclesial event of the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines that offered precious findings and crucial developments on certain aspects of the life and ministry of the Philippine Church. During this time, the Archdiocese of the Most Holy Name of Jesus was on its fifth year of implementation of the Fourth Diocesan Synod of Cebu. The archdiocesan assessment on how the Synod had affected and effected changes in the life of the faithful became the basis of suggestions and recommendations for a wider and more integrated implementation, especially along the area of Catholic education.

Under the charismatic and competent leadership of Fr. Salazar, the Commission advocated for quality but affordable Catholic education in various solidarity forums. With the dynamic and expert assistance of Dr. Montana C. Saniel, research culture was given its due emphasis alongside the imperativeness of values integration. The Commission provided a nurturing platform conducive for the strengthening of the tripartite organization under the umbrella authority of the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippine Region VII Council: Cebu Elementary Principals’ Association, Cebu Secondary School Principals’ Association and Cebu Association of Tertiary Administrators. Enlightened by the CEAP vision-mission and the archdiocesan pastoral thrust, these associations collaborated to advance the retooling and upskilling of Catholic educators through pre-service, in-service and post-service updating sessions. They became catalysts of positive change in the educational landscape of the Archdiocese of Cebu.

As CEAP President and as President of the University of San Carlos, Cebu City, Fr. Salazar dignified the Office of the Commission Chairman by consistently upholding education with a mission as evident in his inspiring speaking engagements, professional affiliations and priestly zeal. Empowered by his visionary ministry, the Commission in cadence with the Cebu Elementary Principals’ Association, Cebu Secondary School Principals’ Association and Cebu Association of Tertiary Administrators passionately conceptualized and dedicatedly animated the continuing professional development of religious education teachers. Fr. Salazar sustained his fruitful and meaningful Commission Chairmanship until 31 May 2008.

After almost two decades of joyful service at the pleasure of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Cebu, Fr. Salazar turned over his duties and responsibilities to the Archdiocesan Superintendent of Catholic Schools on 1 June 2008. But it was only in 6 July 2011 when Fr. Eduardo O. Ventic, PhD was eventually appointed as the second Commission Chairman by His Grace, the Most Reverend Jose S. Palma, SThD, DD. Fr. Ventic carried on the rich legacy of his predecessor by coordinating efforts among Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Cebu for the furtherance of curricular, co-curricular and extracurricular promotion of the Gospel Values.

Guided by the pastoral vision of Fr. Ventic, the Commission established opportune linkages with the Department of Education and the Department of Labor and Employment for the promotion of quality management, regulatory compliance and human capital development among Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Cebu. As Regional Program Director of the Fund for Assistance to Private Education, he led the Commission to assist the Private Education Assistance Committee in providing educational service contracting, teachers’ salary subsidy, senior high school voucher program, monitoring, certification, recertification, in-service training and research to the stakeholders in Region VII. His stint as one of the district governors of the Lions Club International solidified the commitment of the Commission to foster corporate social responsibility in the context of social conscientization. 

During the incumbency of Fr. Ventic, the Commission supported the Cebu Elementary Principals’ Association, Cebu Secondary School Principals’ Association and Cebu Association of Tertiary Administrators in organizing annual CEAP Region VII Teachers’ Congress and Regional Assemblies. The Commission also helped disseminate current trends and issues in Catholic education learned during the Annual CEAP National Conventions as well as during the Annual and Midyear Assemblies of the CEAP Superintendents’ Commission. The Commission also facilitated the Annual Archdiocesan Assembly of Religion Teacher with the aim of providing ongoing formation to religious educators in the light of the pastoral thrust of the Archdiocese of Cebu. Fr. Ventic actively executed the duties and responsibilities of the Office of the Commission Chairman until 6 July 2017. Feeling the weight of the demands of his new pastoral assignment as parish priest, Fr. Ventic requested the Superintendent of the Archdiocesan Catholic Schools of Cebu System to help him maintain the status quo of the Commission. 

Fr. Jesper John R. Petralba, EdD, DM, PhD, DPAbefore long was canonically appointed on 14 June 2019 by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Cebu as the third Commission Chairman whose chief duty is the overall supervision of Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Cebu to ensure that authentic Christian education and teachings are implemented, always adhering to the Magisterium of the Church and taking into consideration the provisions of Canon Law, the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines and the diocesan consuetude. Under his stewardship, the organizational vision, mission, identity, composition, leadership qualifications and functions were reviewed and streamlined. The pioneer Official Seal and Organizational Chart of the Commission were designed and rationalized. 

Informed by the wisdom of the declarations, observations and statutes of the Fourth Diocesan Synod of Cebu, the Commission took up the cudgels for the Archdiocesan Campus Ministry leading to the updating of the latter’s operational manual. The Commission played an active role in animating the threefold movement of formation, celebration and legacy associated with the Second National Mission Congress and the Jubilee of Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Cebu within the context of the 2021 Quincentennial of Christianity in the Philippines. Reading the signs of the times, it operationalized the process or organizing schools with existing contracts with the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Cebu into a sodality supportive of the Archdiocesan Educational Apostolate on the occasion of the solemn commemoration of the 500th Anniversary of the First Baptism on 14 April 2021: the Cebu Association of Catholic Institutions of Learning.

Responding to the call for collaboration, the Commission established lines of coordination with educational foundations, accrediting institutions, ecclesiastical offices, archdiocesan bodies, professional organizations, advocacy groups and governmental agencies through its permanent committees stewarded by proficient and bighearted Deputy Commissioners. The Commission commenced the development and maintenance of an up-to-date Archdiocesan Educational Management Information System vital to the mandatory documentary submissions of the Archdiocese of Cebu to the Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See in the Philippines as regards Catholic education. Through regular organizational meetings and official communiqués, the Commission identifies and articulates opportune archdiocesan educational policy directions for the guidance of stakeholders. 

While remaining grateful for the lessons of the past, the Commission looks forward with hope to the realization of its vision-mission in the appointed time. We do not know what the future holds for us, but we know WHO holds our future. The Commission is inviting us to join the writing of the chapters of its ongoing story.