Union Christian College

History of the Institution

Nipa house, tent, concrete building … laymen, ministers, and missionaries … Filipinos and Americans … Protestants and Roman Catholics … of all these help to tell the story of Union Christian College. Through its ninety five years, the school changed its courses of study, its personnel. Uncertainties and crises were experienced but were not without joys and victories. The one factor about the school which has not changed is its primary purpose of educating young people in a Christian atmosphere where they can find God’s purpose for their lives.

The school started as a young Women’s Bible Training School, the first educational program of the early American Missionaries in San Fernando, La Union. It was founded on November 7, 1910 by Miss Matilda Weber, a Missionary of the former United Brethren Church in America. The purpose of the school was to train young women as deaconesses to serve in Evangelical Churches. Even at this early date, it was envisioned by Miss Weber that this nucleus of Christian Education my someday become a bigger college and serve the educational needs of young people in Northern Luzon.

At the beginning of the first decade, there were only ten students with which to begin, but toward its end, the number had increased to more than fifty.



In 1919, construction of the first concrete building was started. Completed in August 1926, it as appropriately dedicated as the Otterbein Guild Hall, having been built out of a “love offering” donated by the Otterbein Guild, a missionary society of young women of the United Brethren Church in the United States.

The second decade were years of expansion and growth; in 1920, elementary education was offered to the deaconess students. In 1926, Miss Agapita Obaldo, who later on became Mrs. Julian Bacalzo, was the first Filipino principal of the school.

Due to the economic depression in America, the school was closed in 1932-1933 but reopened in June 1933 offering a pre-ministerial course in addition to December training. Again, the school was closed during the Japanese occupation in 1941-1944. In January 1946, Rev. and Mrs. Clayton C. Witmer, a missionary couple, undertook the reconstruction work.

In June 1945, the school again reopened at the Otterbein Memorial Church in Caba, La Union with Agapita Obaldo-Bacalzo as principal. The parsonage served as the dormitory. This postwar reopening was another venture of faith. It was not known where the necessary funds would be secured. But in June of the following year, the school was moved back to San Fernando.

In August 1946, a committee headed by Rev. Onofre G. Fonceca, then Superintendent of the North Luzon Conference, was appointed by the late Bishop Cecilio Lorenzana to formulate plans necessary for the organization of a college in San Fernando, La Union “to support the faith of our church and the moral education of young people”.

The blueprint of the school was completed on November 17, 1946 and the “La Union Christian College” was born with Rev. Witmer as its Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Rev. Onofre G. Fonceca as its acting President until one who could serve full-time was found. Mr. Roman C. Villalon became the first full-time President. Rev. C. C. Witmer became the Dean of the Department of Theology.

The incorporation papers of the college was registered with the government in March 1947 offering courses in Theology – 3 years; Pre-Law – 2 years; Education – 2 years; Liberal Arts – 2 years; Junior Normal; first year High School; Grade One and Kindergarten. The plan was for the school to open a new class each year as the demand arose. In 1951, the senior college department was established.

Dr. Enrique Sobrepeña Sr. served as the President of the school in 1948 up to 1951. In 1952, Rev. Rizalino Subido was elected President by the Board of Trustees. The following year, a grant of P68,000.00 for a new building and lot was obtained from the Mission Board of America. This amount was spent in acquiring the lot up the hill and putting up a building, now occupied by the high school department. The same year, the first year of the Commerce course and a one year course in Secretarial Science were opened. The Junior Normal College and its elementary department were closed so that the college could concentrate on the present offerings of complete high school and collegiate courses – Education, Liberal Arts, Commerce, Secretarial Science, full recognition of which were granted by the Department of Instruction on June 15, 1953.

In 1955-1956, The Bible Training College began to operate independently because the Theology department was fully subsidized by mission money. Rev. Aquilino Guerrero was designated director and when he and his wife left for a year of study in the United States, Mrs Agapita O. Bacalzo served as acting Director until the second semester of 1954-1955. When Rev. Guerrero was elected moderator of North Central Luzon Conference, Mrs. Guerrero was appointed acting Director of the school. When the Guerreros left for their assignment as fraternal workers in the United States in 1958, Rev. and Mrs. Ciriaco Lagunsad Jr. were asked to take over the administration of the Bible Theological College. The faculty was strengthened by the presence of the Rev. and Mrs. Noel D. Osborn (now the Philippine Bible Society). Beginning the first semester of 1960, the Rev. and Mrs. James B. Rockwood started their teaching assignments with the school. Rev. Rockwood later on became the Bible Theological College Director.

When the Board of Trustees met on December 16, 1959, Dr. Aurelio Elevazo’s appointment was President of the school was approved. Under his leadership, the plans for expansion and strengthening of the college were made. The “La Union Christian College” and the Bible Theological College were fused into one under the new name “Union Christian College” in April 1960. When Dr. Elevazo left, the Board of Trustees elected Mr. Samuel R. Capistrano, a very active and dedicated leader both in the church and the community as President in 1961. Under his leadership, the school grew and expanded in June 1973, the College of Nursing began and had its first graduation in 1977. That same year, the College of Commerce added the third year and in 1979, the department started offering the complete course in Commerce major in Accounting, Banking and Finance, and management. Mr. Capistrano continued as President until his death on May 19, 1982. The Board of Trustees unanimously elected Atty. David D. Aguila, a member of the Board to serve as the College President effective May 26, 1982.

June 1983, Dr. Mariano C. Apilado served as President of the College. Under his administration, the various collegiate and secondary programs were accredited and the community extension arm of the school, UCCRAD (Union Christian College Rurban Action for Development) was established. Dr. Eliezer D. Mapanao was installed as President on June 16, 1991. His credit goes to the construction of the 3-storey building with a roof garden, refurbishing of the Capistrano Hall, financial stability of the College, and improved teaching competencies and higher standard of instruction. The Board of Trustees elected the first lady president, Mrs. Esther T. Bautista, Chairman of the Board who assumed office as Interim President of the College in June 1994 up to the end of November of the same year. Under her short stint as President, noted accomplishment were the improved instructional and physical facilities.

The gavel of responsibility was turned over to Mr. Renato Andre’ A. Paraan as the 10th College President on November 30, 1994. President Paraan restructured the organization, established needed systems, empowered the students, raised cultural awareness among students and personnel, and improved physical plant and facilities, all of these toward the implementation of a formulated 10-year Institutional Development Plan, with the vision of UCC becoming a true university in name and by character. Included in his accomplishments is the school’s acquisition of a 10.7 hectare farm, planned for the school’s expansion.

On April 15, 2001, Dr. Pilar Ruby C. Buenaventura was elected as President to serve the unfinished term of Mr. Paraan. Academic proficiency and excellence, professionalism, improved interpersonal relations, more effective linkaging and networking, and financial stability (aptly put-productivity, quality, and sustainability) are the thrust of her leadership.

The Board of Trustees on June, 2002, has elected a new President in the person of Rev, Dr. Filemon L. Lagon. Welcoming him as the new president, Dr. Lagon, conceived the Paradigm Shift of Education as a thrust with an aim to improve the management, operation and performance of the school. On October, 2003, Union Christian College was awarded by the Commission on Higher Education a Deregulated Status as one of the six schools granted in the entire region 1. This school year 2004-2005 Dr. Lagon introduced Innovation 2004 with the new organizational structure on academic affairs to be taken cared of by the academic council, the Student Development Services and Quality Assurance, Accreditation and Graduate Studies.

Through its 97years of existence, Union Christian College has grown, changed its courses, its name, its buildings, and its personnel. Uncertainties and crises have been experienced but not without joys and victories. Only one factor not changed its primary purpose of educating young men and women in a Christian atmosphere where they will find God’s purpose for their lives. Towards this and becoming a true university in name and by character, Union Christian College marches on.