Inspired by the desire to provide quality but affordable Catholic education to the young people of Argao, Cebu, Msgr. Jose S. Montecillo founded the Academia de San Lorenzo Ruiz (formerly: Saint Michael Parish Montessori Learning Center L’Ecole du Coeur Inc.) on 03 June 2002 with the generous help of the Parish Pastoral Council of the Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Michael the Archangel. Classes for the pioneering 105 preschool enrollees were initially held at the Knights of Columbus Building of the parish. The University of San Carlos through Miss Helen P. Bulibuli, St. Thomas Aquinas School, Lawaan, Talisay and St. Anthony’s Montessori Learning Center, Talamban, Cebu City altruistically provided the much needed expert mentoring during the school’s incipient stages.
When Fr. John S. Rabideau, OMV learned about the praiseworthy endeavor, he brought its dreams to the attention of the generous Monsieur Eric and Madame Virginia Nicolas. After visiting the learning community, the couple facilitated the raising of multi-million funds for the construction of the school campus that began on 14 April 2005. On 08 June 2005, the learning community took on a new nomenclature: Saint Michael Parish Montessori Learning Center L’Ecole du Coeur, Inc.
Offering complete preschool and grade school curriculum, the School of the Heart gained government recognition on 02 September 2009. On 16 January 2013, consultations about the integration of the school into the archdiocesan educational apostolate began with Fr. Silvino Y. Figues (Team Moderator of Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Michael the Archangel), Fr. Eduardo O. Ventic (Archdiocesan Superintendent of Catholic Schools of Cebu), Fr. Mariano Dioscoro E. Cuarto (Resident Administrator of Saint Michael School) and Fr. Jesper John R. Petralba (Director of Saint Michael School) as catalysts. On 18 March 2014, discussions concerning the matter at issue moved forward with the private conversation between the school founder and the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Cebu. On 02 March 2015, Msgr. Camilo P. Alia (Episcopal Vicar of District III – Southeast of the Archdiocese of Cebu) and Fr. Dindo C. Yosores (Principal of Saint Michael School) added their wisdom into the dialogue.
On 20 April 2015, Saint Michael Parish Montessori Learning Center L’Ecole du Coeur was officially incorporated into the Archdiocesan Catholic Schools of Cebu System (ACSCS) with Fr. Jesper John R. Petralba, EdD, DM, PhD, DPA (ACSCS Superintendent and Cebu Archdiocesan Commission on Catholic Education Vice-Chairman) as the third ex officio school head and Fr. Andrei Mikhail S. Tabotabo, MAPM as Principal-Treasurer. Together they animated crucial reforms in terms of policies, practices and procedures while effectively handling transition pangs. They reinforced institutional compliance with regulatory requirements and reformed the organizational structure in the light of the principles and ideals of the Archdiocesan Catholic Schools of Cebu System. They sincerely confronted issues and concerns raised by stakeholders with prudence and humility. The following year, Fr. Nissan B. Toring, MAPM was appointed as the new Principal-Treasurer and began conceptualizing imperative school improvements. Under his leadership, backlogs in regulatory compliance were gradually addressed with the help of the ACSCS Superintendent.
In 2018, the Quincentennial Building was constructed and the Quindecennial Presbytery project was conceptualized. The following year, the learning community procured a decent service vehicle with the assistance of Academia de San Miguel Arcangel, Academia de San Jose and the Office of the ACSCS Superintendent. With the goodwill of people and the abundance of Divine Providence, this learning community continues to move ever forward and ever upward in fulfilling its mission of providing integral human and Christian formation to all those who look up to her as their nourishing mother.
