Saint Scholastica's College, also referred to by its acronym SSC or colloquially St. Scho, is a private

Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

basic and higher education institution for women founded and managed by the Congregation of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing in a lot in

Malate, Manila Malate is a district of Manila, Philippines. Together with the district of Ermita, Manila, Ermita, it serves as Manila's center for commerce and tourism. Etymology The name ''Malate'' is derived from a corruption of the Tagalog language, Tagal ...

, Philippines. It was established in 1906 initially offering elementary academic programs. It started admitting high school students in 1907 and opened its collegiate department in 1920. It pioneered in formal music education in the

Philippines The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of List of islands of the Philippines, 7,641 islands, with a tot ...

, opening a Conservatory of Music in 1907. Although Saint Scholastica's College is an exclusive school for women, admission of male students in the

Music Music is the arrangement of sound to create some combination of Musical form, form, harmony, melody, rhythm, or otherwise Musical expression, expressive content. Music is generally agreed to be a cultural universal that is present in all hum ...

Fine Arts In European academic traditions, fine art (or, fine arts) is made primarily for aesthetics or creativity, creative expression, distinguishing it from popular art, decorative art or applied art, which also either serve some practical function ...

Interior Design Interior design is the art and science of enhancing the interior of a building to achieve a healthier and more aesthetically pleasing environment for the people using the space. With a keen eye for detail and a Creativity, creative flair, an ...

, and preschool programs has been allowed. The college is recognized by the

Department of Education An education ministry is a national or subnational government agency politically responsible for education. Various other names are commonly used to identify such agencies, such as Ministry of Education, Department of Education, and Ministry of Pub ...

and the

Commission on Higher Education The Commission on Higher Education (CHED; ) is a government agency under the Office of the President of the Philippines. It is responsible for regulating and governing all higher education institutions and post-secondary educational programs i ...

and also a charter member of the

Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities The Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU) is a private, voluntary, non-profit and non-stock corporation which was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission of the Philippines. It is a serv ...

. It has earned Level III accreditation on all of its respective departments and schools. The college had its

centennial A centennial, or centenary in British English, is a 100th anniversary or otherwise relates to a century. Notable events Notable centennial events at a national or world-level include: * Centennial Exhibition, 1876, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ...

celebration on December 3, 2006, at the

Quirino Grandstand The Quirino Grandstand, formerly known as the Independence Grandstand, is a grandstand located at Rizal Park, Manila, Philippines. History Contrary to popular belief, the first Independence Grandstand was not originally located on the pres ...

Rizal Park Rizal Park (), also known as Luneta Park or simply Luneta, is a historic urban park located in Ermita, Manila. It is considered one of the largest urban parks in the Philippines, covering an area of . The site on where the park is situated was ...

, Ermita, Manila.

History

The college was founded by five young German sisters: Mother M. Ferdinanda Hoelzer, OSB, Sr. Petronilla Keller, OSB, Sr. Cresentia Veser, OSB, Sr. Winfrieda Mueller, OSB, and Novice Alexia Ruedenauer on December 3, 1906 at the request of Apostolic Delegate Monsignor

Dom Ambrose Agius Ambrose Agius, O.S.B. (17 September 1856 – 13 December 1911) was a Maltese Archbishop of the Catholic Church. A member of the Benedictine Order, Agius was appointed the Apostolic Delegate to the Philippines by Pope Pius X in 1904. Agius was ...

, O.S.B. and

Archbishop of Manila The Archdiocese of Manila (; ; ) is the archdiocese of the Latin Church, Latin Rite of the Catholic Church in the Philippines, Catholic Church in Metro Manila, Catholic Church in the Philippines, Philippines, encompassing the cities of Manila, ...

Jeremiah James Harty Jeremiah James Harty (November 5, 1853 – October 29, 1927) was an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as the 26th archbishop of the Archdiocese of Manila in the Philippines from 1903 to 1916. He later served as bishop (with the ...

, D.D. to give religious education to the children of

Manila Manila, officially the City of Manila, is the Capital of the Philippines, capital and second-most populous city of the Philippines after Quezon City, with a population of 1,846,513 people in 2020. Located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on ...

. The site of the college was then a small residential house surrounded by fishermen's huts in the fishing village of Tondo. There were then six paying students and 50 non-paying students or scholars. A year after the college opened, it moved to a property in San Marcelino Street in

which was later occupied by St. Theresa's College (Manila) and where

Adamson University Adamson University (; AdU or ADU) is a private Catholic university operated by the Congregation of the Mission located in Manila, Philippines. The university has academic programs in graduate school, law, the liberal arts, sciences, engineerin ...

now stands. The school was then housed in an old military barracks. On December 14, 1914, the college was moved again to another site in Singalong Street where the college presently stands. The latest campus is bounded by Estrada Street on the north, P. Ocampo Street on the south, Singalong Street on the east and Leon Guinto Street on the west. 2071Malate_Manila_Roads_Saint_Scholasticas_College_37

2071Malate_Manila_Roads_Saint_Scholasticas_College_37

The land, about was bought for the amount of two cents per square meter. The college was ravaged by

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

where its school buildings were all destroyed. Reconstruction of the buildings began in 1946 and took nine years to restore. In 2024, the campus' five main buildings, namely the St. Scholastica Building, St. Cecilia's Hall, St. Hildegard Building, St. Benedict Building, and St. Scholastica's Chapel, were designated as "Important Cultural Properties" by the

National Museum of the Philippines The National Museum of the Philippines () is an umbrella government organization that oversees a number of national museums in the Philippines, including Ethnography, ethnographic, Anthropology, anthropological, Archaeology, archaeological, an ...

Academics

Academic linkages

The college is a member of the South Manila Inter-Constitutional Schools along with

De La Salle University De La Salle University (), also referred to as DLSU, De La Salle or La Salle, is a private, Catholic coeducational research university run by the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools with main campus in Taft Avenue, Malate, Man ...

Philippine Women's University Philippine Women's University (PWU) is a coeducational tertiary education school which has its main campus in Manila, Philippines. An all girls school, institution exclusive for girls from its inception until the 1970s, the PWU now admits both ...

Philippine Christian University The Philippine Christian University (PCU) is a private, Protestant, and coeducational basic and higher education institution located in Ermita, Manila, Philippines. It was founded in 1946 through the initiatives of the laymen of the Evangelical ...

Philippine Normal University The Philippine Normal University (PNU; ) is a public university, public coeducational teacher education and research university in the Philippines. It was established in 1901 through Act No. 74 of the Philippine Commission ''"for the education ...

, and the

St. Paul University Manila St. Paul University Manila (SPUM), also referred by its acronym SPU Manila, is a private, Catholic coeducational basic and higher education institution established and run by the Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Paul of Chartres in Manila, P ...

. The students of the member schools may take accredited subjects in their chosen school for cross-enrollment. The college is also part of the Women's Consortium Colleges which includes

Miriam College Miriam College () is a non-stock, non-profit Filipino Catholic educational institution for girls and young women in Quezon City, Philippines. It offers academic programs from pre-elementary to post-graduate and adult education levels that d ...

in Katipunan,

Assumption College San Lorenzo Assumption College San Lorenzo (AC, Assumption SanLo, Assumption Makati) is a private, Roman Catholic basic and higher education institution exclusively for girls run by the Religious of the Assumption in San Lorenzo Village, Makati, Philippi ...

in Makati,

La Consolacion College Manila La Consolación College Manila is a private Catholic basic and higher education institution run by the Augustinian Sisters of Our Lady of Consolation (ASOLC) in the City of Manila, Philippines. It was founded by the Augustinian Sisters in 1 ...

in Mendiola,

St. Paul University Quezon City St. Paul University Quezon City (SPUQC), also referred to as SPU Quezon City, is a private, sectarian and coeducational university located in Mariana, Quezon City, New Manila, Quezon City, Philippines. It was previously an all-girls' school an ...

, and the

College of the Holy Spirit Manila The College of the Holy Spirit Manila, or simply CHSM, was a private, Catholic education institution founded and ran by the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit in Manila, Philippines. Founded in 1913, College of the Holy Spirit Mani ...

in Mendiola.

Notable alumnae and students

* Corazon Cojuangco-Aquino - President of the Philippines (1986-1992); mother of President Benigno S. Aquino III and widow of Sen. Benigno S. Aquino Jr. * Margaux Salcedo - Undersecretary of the

Department of Budget and Management The Department of Budget and Management (DBM; ) is an Executive departments of the Philippines, executive body under the Office of the President of the Philippines. It is responsible for the sound and efficient use of government resources for n ...

and columnist of the

Philippine Daily Inquirer The ''Philippine Daily Inquirer'' (''PDI''), or simply the ''Inquirer'', is an English-language newspaper in the Philippines. Founded in 1985, it is often regarded as the Philippines' newspaper of record. The newspaper is the most awarded broad ...

* Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel - Senator * Alisah Bonaobra - Singer * Fille Cainglet-Cayetano - Former player of Ateneo de Manila University's varsity volleyball team the Lady Blue Eagles *

Dzi Gervacio Angeline Marie Gervacio, also known as Dzi Gervacio, is a Filipino volleyball player. She is a former Ateneo Lady Eagles player and is the team manager for the Nxled Chameleons. She is known as the Queen of Jump Serve. Early life and education ...

- Former player of Ateneo de Manila University's varsity volleyball team the Lady Blue Eagles * Mika Reyes - Former player of De la Salle University's varsity volleyball team the Lady Spikers *Jessey de Leon - Former player of the University of Santo Tomas's varsity volleyball team the Golden Tigresses * Aia de Leon - vocalist,

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* Andrea del Rosario - actress * Gloria Maria Aspillera Diaz -

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(1969), later became an actress and television personality *

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- TV host * Barbie Almalbis-Honasan - Singer * Toni Leviste - equestrian * Maria Clara Lorenzo-Lobregat - former Mayor and Congresswoman of

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* Kitchie Nadal - Singer, composer *

Cecilia Muñoz-Palma Cecilia Arreglado Muñoz-Palma (November 22, 1913 – January 2, 2006) was a Filipino jurist and the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court of the Philippines. She was appointed to the Supreme Court by President Ferdinand Marcos on October ...

- first woman Supreme Court Justice of the Philippines * Tina Monzon Palma - Program Director,

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Bantay Bata 163; Newscaster, ABS-CBN * Aurora Pijuan - Miss International 1970 *

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- actress, singer *

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(til third grade) - CEO & Executive Editor, Rappler; Former

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Dept head; Former Jakarta bureau chief, Nobel laureate,

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Josephine Cojuangco-Reyes Josephine Cojuangco-Reyes (born Josephine Sumulong Cojuangco, November 26, 1927 – July 26, 2011) was a Filipina educator. She served as the seventh president of the Far Eastern University (FEU) in Manila, Philippines from 1985 to 1989. She also ...

- President, Far Eastern University (1985-1989), Vice President -

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* Dulce Saguisag - politician, former Secretary of Department of Social Welfare and Development * Mercedes Arrastia Tuason - Diplomatic Ambassador to the

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. *

Nancy Binay Maria Lourdes "Nancy" Sombillo Binay Angeles (born May 12, 1973) is a Filipino politician who is the mayor-elect of Makati, having been elected in 2025 to replace her sister Abby. She has served as a senator of the Philippines since 2013. ...

- Senator * Abigail Binay - Mayor of

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- Actress * Patricia Lasaten - Keyboardist,

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* Agnes Reoma - Bassist, Ben&Ben *

Bong Coo Olivia "Bong" Coo (born June 3, 1948) is a Filipino sports administrator and retired professional Ten-pin bowling, bowler. She is regarded as the most decorated Filipino athlete. As a member of the Philippine national team, she has amassed a tota ...

- Athlete; Philippines' first athlete recognized by the

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. * Amalia Fuentes - actress, businesswoman

Buildings

* Saint Cecilia's Hall * St. Hildegarde Building * St. Joseph Hall

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Scholastica's College Education in Malate, Manila Catholic universities and colleges in Manila Catholic elementary schools in Manila Catholic secondary schools in Manila Girls' schools in the Philippines Women's universities and colleges in the Philippines Universities and colleges in Manila Liberal arts colleges in the Philippines Educational institutions established in 1906 Benedictine colleges and universities 1906 establishments in the Philippines