By the mandate of Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal, Fr. Eduardo O. Ventic, PhD began a consequential endeavor on 19 March 2008 that paved the way for the birth of Academia de San Agustin (formerly: St. Joseph’s Academy, Carmen, Cebu Inc). The beautiful story unfolded when the parents of the Kindergarten Pupils of Blessed Pedro Calungsod Learning Center, run by the Sisters of Evangelization, expressed their desire for the establishment of a co-educational Catholic school in the Parish of Saint Augustine of Hippo, Carmen, Cebu.
In June 2008, Grade 1 Class was opened to accommodate twenty-one (21) Pupils with the first batch of teachers from then SJA-Mandaue, Ms. Jasmin Tapan and Ms. Jeannete Tuñacao under the supervision of Mrs. Perlita S. Quiñones. Classes were held in a reconfigured garage of the old parish rectory. The next grade levels were offered in the succeeding years. School Year 2013-2014 was a milestone for this learning community: first Elementary Graduation and Government Recognition of the Preschool & Elementary Education Courses.
Grade 7 was opened in June 2014 and the following administrators were appointed: Mme. Rosalina L. Barton, MAVED as Basic Education Principal, Fr. Mariano Dioscoro E. Cuarto, MASL as School Treasurer, and Fr. Joel P. Oriesga, PhD, DevEdD as Assistant School Director. The following year, the remaining Junior High School levels were opened with Fr. Jesper John R. Petralba, EdD, DM, PhD, DPA as ad interim School Director. The learning community applied itself to the pursuit of the much needed government recognition. In 2015, the following graces were bestowed upon Academia de San Agustin: Government Recognition for the complete Secondary Curriculum on the 15th of June; Formal Integration into the Archdiocesan Catholic Schools of Cebu System (ACSCS) on the 22nd of June; and Membership to the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) on the 2nd of October. On 24 February 2016, the ESC Certification Team evaluated the school, and on 14 March 2016 Academia de San Agustin gained its PEAC-FAPE ESC Certified Status. During the School Year 2016-2017, the Senior High School Program was offered, and the Centennial Building was constructed with the help of Academia de San Jose. In 2018, the following endeavors were accomplished: construction of additional classrooms; reconfiguration of pastoral offices; installation of television sets in the classrooms; provision of a volleyball court; and application for the offering of STEM Academic Strand in the Senior High School Program.
In the same year, Fr. Joel P. Oriesga, PhD, DevEdD was commissioned to function as the School Director, and Fr. Daniel S. Daculan, MAPM was appointed as School Treasurer. Fr. Joel P. Oriesga, PhD, DevEdD and Fr. Leinad Castrence R. Garces, MAT were appointed Director-Principal and School Treasurer respectively in 2019.
And the wonderful story continues under the inspiration and guidance of Divine Providence.
