History of Stella Maris School of Lubang, Occidental Mindoro

On January 1922, the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) missionaries had taken over the parish of Lubang, Occidental Mindoro.

A year earlier, they requested the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit (S.Sp.S) to start an elementary school in the parish in order to promote the religious and educational training of the youth.

On June 19, 1923, three Holy Spirit Sisters with the Parish Priest as School Director opened the school. The wooden Spanish convent that stood at the seashore beside the Roman Catholic Church was converted into a school building. This school was dedicated to the Blessed Mother under the title: Stella Maris (Star of the Sea) because of its location. The school was under the ownership of the Vicariate of Calapan and later of the created Vicariate of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro.

They started with 330 elementary pupils from Grade I – IV without any fees collected from the students.

The starting years of the S.Sp.S and the SVD in Lubang were tremendous. It was not only once that the roof of their convent was taken off due to strong typhoons. They even experienced sleeping under the umbrella. However, they were determined to go on for the Christian Catholic education of the youth of the island. They also responded to the health of the community. A clinic provided for had helped the community for so many years.

The High School level was started on July 8, 1937, to mark it as the First Secondary Catholic Private School in the island of Lubang, providing many students with preparation to pursue higher studies.

From 1940 – 1944, Stella Maris School was temporarily closed due to the World War II. It was reopened in 1945 to mark the ever first graduation in High School in 1949.

In 1965, the old Spanish convent that had served as the school building for more than forty years was replaced by a modern concrete structure which was blessed in 1966.

The two – storey building of SMS as constructed was under the supervision of Rev. Fr. Bernardo Pues, SVD who was the Parish Priest of Lubang and the SMS Director then.

The very low enrolment in the elementary level prompted its closure in 1971. The school concentrated merely in the high school level.

It was in 1976 when Rev. Fr. Bernard Kasselman, SVD started to plant talisay and coconut trees along SMS compound, putting mud soil in all the ground areas of the campus, concreting the pathways of the school and the church.

From 1988, SMS was completely administered and managed by the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit. On September 18,1995 an earthquake had strongly affected SMS, after, the building was condemned. It was during this event when the people of Lubang witnessed among themselves the spirit of teamwork or bayanihan. In ten days time, sixteen (16) classrooms were put up to occupy the less than 800 students then with 25 teachers and 4 Holy Spirit Sisters.
In 1996, three great events in the History of Stella Maris School were experienced by the community of Lubang: 1.) The destruction of the two – storey building of SMS, 2.) The Exit of the Holy Spirit Sisters, 3.) The decision of the Gradual Phase-Out of the SMS leading to its closure in 1999.

It was also this significant year when the full administration and management of the school was turned over to Lay Administartors.

It was on July 3, 1998 when the SMS PTA officers and members for SY 1998 – 1999 stood firmly to No Closure of SMS. With the permission of the Bishop of Occidental Mindoro then, the school continue to exist and operate accepting first year and second year students.

The continuation of SMS gave a new life to Lubangeñous as well as to the graduates of SMS, the parents and the benefactors as they continuously support the school morally and financially.
In year 2000, a new concrete school building was constructed on its original site and it was blessed on August 14, 2000 by the Bishop of Occidental Mindoro.