Academia de Santa Ana y San Joaquin (formerly: Santa Ana Parochial School of Barili, Cebu Inc.) was founded by the Parish Pastoral Council of the Archdiocesan Shrine of Saint Anne under the pastoral leadership of Fr. Frederick T. Malinao on 21 July 1996 in response to the prayer of the Parish Basic Ecclesial Communities for the establishment of a Catholic learning institution. It was then called Saint Anne Preparatory School. Its daily operations were coordinated in the Parish Multipurpose Center. The Carolina V. Pañares Memorial Foundation, Inc. came up with the structural design and donated construction materials.
With the blessings of His Eminence Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal, Fr. Malinao served as the first School Director with Dr. Jose C. Aguilar as the first School Principal from 1996-2002. Msgr. Elias M. Matarlo became the second School Director from 2002 to 2005. He was succeeded by Msgr. Camilo P. Alia from 2005-2007. Fr. Prudencio E. Elbao took over from 2007-2009. Fr. Juan A. Velarde served as School Director from 2009 to 2014 with Dr. Vita C. Guarin as the second School Principal.
Through the years, this learning community has gradually undergone growth and development as it steadfastly animates school administration and supervision in the light of the ideals of Catholic education. A parish edifice, which was constructed to house religious sisters, was reconfigured into a school building christened as Balay ni Sta. Maria. Three families generously funded the construction of additional classrooms: Mr. and Mrs. Florencio Bayalas & Family, Mr. & Mrs. Teotimo Abellana and Mr. Pedro Cardenas & Family. The Rural Bank of Barili, Inc. graciously animated its corporate social responsibility for the improvement of the physical plant of the school. The clergy too shared their blessings to construct additional classrooms, especially those who once served Barili Parish and those who are Barilinians by blood.
On 10 June 2001, the school took on a new nomenclature, i.e., Santa Ana Parochial School, due to its growing grade school department. With the help of Fr. Eduardo O. Ventic, Ph.D., the Chairman of the Cebu Archdiocesan Commission on Catholic Education, the school earned government recognition on 11 July 2010. On 31 August 2012, the school became a bona fide member of the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines.
School Year 2014 – 2015 witnessed the transition towards the full incorporation of Santa Ana Parochial School into the Archdiocesan Catholic Schools of Cebu System under the inspiration and guidance of Fr. Jesper John R. Petralba, Ed.D., D.M., Ph.D., D.P.A., the educational system’s superintendent. He also served as the school’s ex officio School Director with the able assistance of Dr. Guarin as School Principal and Mme. Arminda F. Causin as School Bursar.
In 2016, Fr. Ruben A. Bajenting, MAPM was appointed Assistant Director-Treasurer. He labored for the determination of the new school development site by the Archbishop of Cebu. The properly demarcated area was eventually fenced for security purposes. In 2017 the Vicennial Building was constructed with the generous assistance of institutional benefactors, PTA, Alumni Association, the original incorporators and trustees and the ACSCS Superintendent. Two years after, Fr. Raymund Michael M. Chan, MAPM was appointed as the new Principal-Treasurer.
This learning community looks forward to the future with trust and confidence, knowing fully well that everything works unto good for those who love the Lord (Romans 8:28).
