Asian Development Foundation College

The Asian Development Foundation tracess its history from the pre-elementary school founded by its first President, Filipino Chinese businessman Santiago Chua, who together with his better half, Mrs. Federica Young-Chua and children, particularly, Dr. Edward Chua and his wife, Mrs. Elisa Chua, conceptualized the founding of the institution in 1883. Following its conceptualization, ADF was established on October 24, 1984, a remarkable gesture to celebrate the birthday of its First President.

The school began operations with pre-elementary courses and pupils were housed in two classrooms, which were the only available rooms in its school site in Bliss Sagkahan, Tacloban City. The competent management of its first school directress, Mrs. Elisa Chua, facilitated the offering by the school of a progressive grade level program. the elementary deapartment was opened the following year. Its first elementary school supervisor who assumed her post in 1986 was Mrs. Rosario Bugal. She was succeded by Mrs. Alicia Naboya Almaden, who is no the present principal of the school. The first elementary graders were graduated in the year 1990.

Recognizing the outstanding performance of its officials and teaching staff, parent and supporters of the school's graduates as well as pupils themselves soon clamored for the opening of a secondary school at the Asian Development Foundation. Letters and a series of personal follow-ups were earnestly made. Based on a formal petition, the Department of Education, Culture and Sports issued to ADF a permit to operate a secondary school in the school year 1990-91. Facilities were developed to conform to the increasing student population. Its first secondary school principal, Mrs. Cristina Aguja, was herself determined in making its graduates the best. In collaboration with this direction, the school introduced a special feature in its secondary school, which was the inclusion of complete computer subjects in the curriculum, the very first business high school in Region 8.