HISTORY OF THE

HOLY TRINITY UNIVERSITY

Holy Trinity University is

the pioneer institution of
higher learning in Palawan
established in 1940 as the Holy
Trinity College Academy. The
first administrators of the
Academy were Rev. Mother Cruz
Rich, O.P., Rev. Mother Paulina
Cruz, O.P., and Rev. Mother
Trinidad Acosta, O.P., who
worked in close cooperation with
the Augustinian Recollect priests under the leadership of Msgr.
Leandro Nieto, ORSA, the Prefect Apostolic of Palawan.

The first courses offered were Kindergarten and Elementary

level, followed by the secondary level. On September 10, 1950
with Sisters Amparo Bautista, O.P. as the first Directress, HTC
rose to become a Junior College and opened the following
courses: Elementary Teacher’s Certificate (ETC), Vocational
Stenography and Typing.

In October 1953, the school came to be known as Holy

Trinity College where Associate in Arts (1953-1954) was offered.
In January 1955, Fr. Anesio Villanueva, ORSA became the Director
of the College. New courses such as Secretarial course (1955-
1956), Dressmaking and Liberal Arts (1957) were opened.

In 1958, Mother Rosa Santiago, OP was appointed Directress.

During her leadership, Associate in Commercial Science and
Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (1959) were opened.
It was also during her term that improvements in the school’s
physical structure were done.

Sister Victoria San Juan, O.P. became the Superior-

Directress in 1963. Her tireless efforts to improve the college
led to the construction and inauguration of the three-storey St.

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Dominic building and opening the Pre-Nursing Course and then
established the Graduate School of the College in 1965.

The height of student activism in the entire country during

the seventies posted a great challenge to HTC. The
Directress and Dean Sister Lucia Hacbang, OP amended certain
policies for the greater benefit of the studentry in order to
respond to the challenges of the times.

In June 1976, Sister Leonor Pagorogon, OP became the

Directress and Dean of the Graduate School. Through her
dedicated efforts, HTC became the first FAPE (Fund for
Assistance to Private Education) Unit Center in Palawan.

Sr. Leonor Pagorogon, OP went for a 3-year (1979-1981)

study leave for her Doctorate degree and Sr. Bernadette Izon,
OP, served as acting Directress of the College. After
completion of her Doctorate degree in June 1981, Sister Leonor
came back to further improve the college. She then became the
First President of the College.

The Academic Year 1983-1984, marked the establishment of

Holy Trinity College – Palawan National Agricultural College
(PNAC) consortium and the opening of more courses namely,
Bachelor of Science in Criminology, Master Electrician Course,
Electronic Service for Television and Electronic Service for
Radio.

School year 1984 – 1985, paved the way for the opening of a
two-year General Radio Communication Operator Course and the
construction and inauguration of the first phase of St.
Catherine building. In 1985-1986, the college opened its
Automotive and Electrical Engineering courses.

In June 1987, Sr. Teresita Medalle, OP, became the

President of HTC and worked for the opening of the four-year
Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

It was during her leadership that the college implemented

an intensive development program called the Catholic Schools

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Systems Development Program (CSSD) concept in the operation of
the school.

During the school year 1990-1991, HTC

celebrated her golden jubilee of service to
the community. She looked back to fifty
years of educational service which was made
possible through the development of a
strong research tradition that included the
Palawan Environmental Research Center
(PERC). Professional chairs and research
grants were offered to further enhance the
research outputs of faculty after which the
outputs were published in the HTC Graduate
Journal and the Faculty Research Journal.
In June 10, 1991, the government recognition for the Bachelor of
Science in Civil Engineering was given the Department of
Education, Culture and Sports.

School Year 1994-1995 saw the birth of new programs namely

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) and the Master of Arts (M.A.)
program in Public Administration, Religious Education as a major
in Education, Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy, Bachelor
of Science in Computer Science and Bachelor of Science in
Biology. It was also during this academic year that Bachelor of
Science in Accountancy was given government recognition by the
Department of Education, Culture and Sports Region IV – Southern
Tagalog. The Mother Francisca Community Extension Service
Program was also formally organized to include all the existing
extension services program of the College. These are the Human
Resource Development Program (HRDP), the extension services
programs of the various colleges and the institutional community
extension services.

In 1997, HTC applied for the conversion of the college into

a university. Recommendations were given by the CHED’s
evaluation team for further improvement and enhancement of the
institutional program and services to qualify the college for
its intention of conversion into university. It was also during
this year that Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant

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Management was given government recognition by the Commission on
Higher Education.

Sr. Estrella T. Tangan, O.P. became the President from 2000

to 2007. During her term, additional majors in the doctorate
and masteral programs were offered namely: Doctor of Philosophy
in Public Administration, Doctor of Philosophy in Development
Education, Master of Arts in Education major in Teaching
English, Master of Arts in Education major in Teaching Math and
Master of Arts in Education major in Teaching Science.

Last October 4, 2002, the Commission on Higher Education

granted the institution with the Certificate of Authorization to
accredit, provide equivalency to and/or certify the pertinent
work experiences, knowledge or expertise acquired by individuals
through formal, non-formal or informal means and to confer
appropriate academic degree of Bachelor of Science in
Criminology by virtue of CHED Resolution No.025 series of 2002.

In 2007, Sr. Caroline S. Capili, OP, Holy Trinity College

(HTC) took the challenge of finally converting the college into
its university status. A University Task Force was organized,
series of sessions, consultations, planning, reorganization,
restructuring, realignment, evaluation and accreditation of
programs and services as well as policies and procedures to
better respond to the call of excellence and the fast changing
times. HTU submitted its reapplication papers to CHED for the
conversion of HTC into a university in February 2009.

CHED’s Technical Team came to visit

the school to validate the application
for conversion on April 28-29, 2009. On
July 23-24, 2009, the school had its
PAASCU accreditation on the following
programs: resurvey for Education,
Liberal Arts, and Business; formal
survey for Nursing; preliminary visit
for Criminology, Hotel and Restaurant
Management, Master of Arts in Education
and Master in Public Education.

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 In September 4-5, 2009, CHED Commission En Banc headed by
the CHED Chairman Emmanuel Y Angeles, the Commissioners and
other CHED officials came for the final visit and validation
for the conversion of status from college into university.

In December 23, 2009, Holy Trinity College was converted as

Holy Trinity University by virtue of CHED CEB Resolution No.
490-2009 in accordance with the pertinent provision of Republic
Act (RA) 7722 otherwise known as the “Higher Education Act of
1994” during the 345th Commission En Banc meeting.

The College of Nursing Education was granted Level I PAASCU

accreditation; Liberal Arts and Business Administration were
Level II reaccredited; and Candidate Status was granted to the
following programs: Criminology, Hotel and Restaurant
Management, Master of Arts in Education, and Master in Public
Administration.

On April 5-10, 2010, the entire community celebrated the

Inauguration of Holy Trinity University and its 70 years of
providing quality education in the city and the province with
the theme “Gather…Remember…Celebrate!”

On June 23, 2010, HTU received two Governor’s Award for the
Private Education Category and Women Development Category. HTU
also received the Mayor’s Award for the Academe category on
March 4, 2011.

In May 2011, Sr. Mesalina E. Cloma, O.P. became the second

University President. Through her leadership, the offering of
Master in Business Administration were approved by the
Commission on Higher Education and the consortia between Holy
Trinity University (HTU) and the following universities namely;
University of San Carlos (USC), University of Mindanao (UM),
Palawan State University (PSU) and Fatima University (FU) were
established. It was also during her term that researches in
Engineering and Palawan Ethno-environmental Research Center won
as best researches both in the region and national convention
/symposium/fora. In 2013, Sienatel as HTU Training Hotel in
Tiniguiban, Puerto Princesa City was opened.

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 On January 21, 2014, HTU was given the Certificate of
Authorization by virtue of CEB Resolution No. 876-2013 dated
December 4, 2013 to offer the Expanded Tertiary Education
Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP) and confer the
appropriate academic degree in Bachelor of Science in Business
Administration valid until November 2018.

On June 16, 2014, Sr. Mercedes R. Lalisan, O.P. became the

third University President.

On April 29 to May 01, 2015, HTU celebrated its 75 years of

being part of Palawan’s historical and critical moments where
she served as a “landmark,” and demonstrates how liberating a
true Christian education is in human society. Holy trinity
University alumni, former and present administrators, faculty
and students gathered for a three day celebration and voluntary
service to the people of the city and province with the theme
“HTU Shining Bright and Soaring High @ 75”.

In August 29, 2015, HTU received the Excellent Award for

the Cleanest and Greenest School- Poblacion Category from the
Office of the City Mayor of Puerto Princesa. HTU also received
the Best Research Paper Presenter and Best Research Poster
Presenter both for professional category during the MIMAROPA
Health Research Development Consortium 4th Health Research Forum
at Filipiniana Hotel, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro last
November 25, 2015.

During Academic Year 2015-2016, HTU magnificently hurdled

PAASCU reaccreditation of four (4) programs, 1 formal
accreditation and 2 preliminary visit which garnered flying
colors to move on to the next levels of accreditation. The
programs that were accredited were the following: Integrated
Basic Education – Level II Reaccredited for five years, Liberal
Arts and Business and Business Education – Level II Reaccredited
for five years, Nursing – Level II Accredited for three years,
Education – Level 1 Accredited for three years and Criminology
and HRM due for formal visit in the year 2017-2018.
It was also during this year that Geodetic Engineering
obtained CHED recognition as well as the approval of the
offering of Master of Arts in Education major in Pre-School

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Education and the grant of permit to operate the Senior High
School Program by the Department of Education.

In May 2017, Sr. Pinlyn B. Dahili, OP, DM was installed as

the fourth University President. It was during her time that the
Bachelor of Science in Nursing passed the PAASCU Level II
reaccreditation and the Bachelor of Science in Hotel and
Restaurant Management Level I PAASCU accreditation. A Memorandum
of Understanding was signed between the university and USAID for
the Protect Wildlife Project.

It was during her leadership that HTU adopted the

trimestral system for all the college programs, an innovation
needed by the University to move forward and be competitive. In
September 2018, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between
HTU and USAID for the Protect Wildlife Program. In November
2018, HTU signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Rajah Travel
Corporation on Tourism Knowledge Center. In February 2019, a
Memorandum of Understanding was signed between HTU and the City
Government of Puerto Princesa to promote the rich cultural
heritage of the City through HTU’s Ladawan Village.

Holy Trinity University (HTU), a dynamic center of Catholic

education in Palawan, is committed to be a symbol of missionary
sacrifice, a fierce bearer of Truth, an active catalyst of event
as she responds with faith and helps shape the community it
envisions, through unity with the church and society through
actively participating in relevant social concerns and important
causes and issues, thus building progressive Christian community
that will effectively contribute to the extension of the Kingdom
of God.

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