Institutional and Community History

In 1949, the Immaculate Conception College (ICC), Davao City, opened a free school in the slums of Piapi, through the initiative of the ICC Directress, Mother Ma. Alberta Alviar, RVM. The old San Guillermo chapel served as classrooms both for the kindergarten and grade one pupils with Mrs. Candida Josue and Miss Pancito as the first teachers.

The succeeding years witnessed a rapid growth of the ICC-Piapi school. An annex room was put up in 1950 to accommodate the grade two and grade three classes with Mrs. Leonida Salas as an additional teacher. In 1952, a complete primary course was offered resulting to an increase in the enrolment. Rev. Fr. Gaudiose Gagno, PME, the parish priest of Fatima facilitated the use of the Church and a nearby house of a benefactor as venues of learning. The teachers and other school’s needs were provided by the Immaculate Conception College. In 1953 the management of the branch was under the ICC directress, even when a separate principal, Sr. Ma. Filomena Holanda, was assigned in 1953. During this time, some of the classes were held at Fatima church, with the cooperation of Fr. Gerald Dube, P.M.E. The joint financial assistance of Immaculate Conception College and the contribution of parents and teachers went to the improvements undertaken by the school.

In 1954, the ICC-Piapi school was formally changed to Our Lady of Fatima Academy (OLFA) and was granted government recognition in 1958. The complete secondary course was granted government recognition in 1962 during the time of S. Ma. Carmen Constantino, RVM. During the school year 1966-1967, Mr. Rolando Acuña, a faculty member, composed the OLFA Hymn. The SILVER JUBILEE of OLFA’s foundation was celebrated in 1974.

The school was not spared from setbacks when a big fire hits Piapi and Salmonan districts in 1979-1980 and another one in 1981. Despite these, the Parents-Teachers Association initiated the construction of the library building. S. Ma. Lidivina Cabrera, RVM, the Directress/Principal was instrumental in the construction of the Sisters’ convent and two concrete classrooms in 1983.

The high school department started accepting boys in school year 1984-1985. Two temporary classrooms were constructed to accommodate additional classes. Also in 1985, the Kinder Course was approved by the government.

There was no stopping the rapid growth of the school. Thus, in 1987 the school expanded with the acquisition of the lot owned by Mrs. Celestina Raganas and family. A concrete three-story building rose and became the home of the high school department under S. Ma. Ana Montilla, RVM, the Directress/ Principal.

The school year 1991-1992 was another milestone as a new three-story building for the grade school department was constructed and finally completed in 1993. The building included the library and some offices. Additional offices were in place near the gate adjacent to the wall of the Church.

From 1993-1996, a new administration was introduced. S. Ma. Remedios Reduta, RVM, was the Directress/Principal at the same time the Superintendent of the RVM Schools in Southern Mindanao Region; S. Ma. Paz Olmedo, RVM the grade school principal; S. Ma. Leticia Evangelista, RVM was Finance Officer; S. Ma. Gloria Cataluña, RVM was the Christian Living Coordinator while Mrs. Merly Encabo was the Assistant High School Principal. A very tangible achievement was the start of the integration of Computer Literacy Program in the Technology and Home Economics (THE) Program with the purchase of computer units in SY 1994-1995. The administration was also active in the celebration of the SAPPHIRE JUBILEE of the school.

In 1996, S. Ma. Lydia C. Daga, RVM, took over the administration and initiated the transfer of Computer Laboratory, from the sisters’ convent to a much wider room at the second floor on the following year, wherein the PTA donated two hundred plastic chairs. The vacated room was renovated into a Prayer room. During this year, the school was involved in the preparation for the celebration of the Great Jubilee Year 2000. The following year marked the launching of the Year of the Holy Spirit and the Centennial of the Philippine Independence.

On December 20, 1998, the school joined the start of the year-long Golden Jubilee Celebration and in January, 1999, OLFA commemorated its Golden Jubilee of foundation and the Year of God the Father.

In 2000, the Sisters assigned initiated the extension of the convent, the construction of the oratory and the renovations of the offices of the cashier, registrar, guidance, kindergarten classroom and the rest room. These improvements were blessed on September 9, 2000.

Enrolment continued to increase. The construction of the cornerstone of a four-story building took place on April 1, 2002. The improvement continued with the renovation of the Directress Office and of the Grade School Academic Coordinator Office. The school year also marked the participation of OLFA in the Educational Service Contracting (ESC) scheme of the government with the ESC monitoring team visiting the school.

The school year 2004-2005 recorded OLFA’s witnessing of the Ignacian core values of Faith, Excellence and Service in significant involvement of the Celebration of the Eucharist with Mary (October 2004-October 2005); the conduct of the Pundong Kabus during the Lenten season; and the ABOVE STANDARD results of the survey conducted by FAPE and DepEd on the management, teaching and facilities of the school for the ESC Certification. The PTA was not outdone in generosity as the group donated two hundred (200) additional plastic chairs to serve the growing number of parents attending meetings and assemblies.

In 2005, the RVM community headed by S. Ma. Lydia C. Daga, RVM, Directress/Principal initiated the purchase of a 234 square meter lot fronting Fatima Church , for the construction of a four-story building to accommodate the continuing increase of enrollees every year. Groundbreaking was done on March 20, 2006. The building was blessed on December 30, 2006 and became the second home of the kindergarten and the intermediate classes since school year 2007-2008.

To continue the improvement of the school, were provided to ensure quality instruction. The administration had the faculty and audio-visual rooms renovated in the summer of 2007. A guest room connected to the Home Economics room was completed and blessed on July 16, 2008 during the administration of the Directress/Principal, S. Ma. Nelly A. Aniñon, RVM and S. Ma.Anita M. Talbo, RVM, Local Superior/Treasurer.

On January 20, 2009, the High School underwent ESC Re-Certification Visit. The school year rekindled the dream to be at par with PAASCU accredited schools. Grouping and tasking the personnel took place followed by meetings, reviewing and preparing needed documents and reports. Teacher preparation was intensified with series of seminar-workshops on Understanding by Design (UbD). Determined to provide quality instruction, the school made sure that the faculty developed their teaching competence, leadership qualities and the proper witnessing of what is taught to pupils and students.

In academic year 2012-2013, a new set of administration under S. Ma. Bernadette G. Suico, RVM as the Directress/ Principal and S. Ma. Gloria Bermudez, RVM as the Finance Officer. The K to 12 Basic Education Curriculum (BEC) started with the roll-out of Grades One and Seven. OLFA joined the Department of Education (Dep-Ed), Fund Assistance for Private Education (FAPE) and the RVM Education Ministry in the training of the teachers to have them ready for the implementation of the K to 12 Curriculum. The RVM Refined Curriculum with the Understanding by Design (UbD) Framework was revisited to include the K to 12 Curriculum.

The rehabilitation and rewiring of electric connection was also done by the school for future air-conditioning of the classrooms, a project of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) of both Grade School and High School.

In school year 2013-2014, S. Ma. Preciosa M. Rusiana, RVM together with the other three sisters, S. Ma. Lucille M. Gonzaga, RVM, S. Ma. Sabina A. Briñan, RVM, and S. Ma. Divina Consejo E. Billanes, RVM took their turn.

The infusion of the new school leadership under the administration of S. Ma. Preciosa M. Rusiana, RVM from 2013 – 2017 created a remarkable impact to the whole school community. OLFA was formally changed to Our Lady of Fatima Academy of Davao, Inc.,( OLFAI ) following its SEC registered name in 2014. Big and important events also happened in OLFAI, this include the yearly conduct of RVM Quality Road Map Audit, PAASCU Preliminary Visit in 2014 and ESC Certification in 2017.

OLFAI achieved greater and significant breakthroughs showcasing students’ skills, knowledge and comprehension through yearly conduct of academic exhibits which highlights the Science Investigatory Project and the involvement in off-campus activities which earned OLFA both Regional and National Recognitions. This includes the Math and Science Quest, Philippine Sudoku Super Challenge, and Taekwondo. The staging of an annual presentation Tagsibol 2015, Isang Sulyap 2016 and Danza Muzika Halu-halo Espesyal 2017 added glitter to the string of achievements.

With the initiative of S. Ma. Preciosa, the Directress, the school has a newly improved physical plant. The annex building and the quadrangle was entirely renovated, the entrance area of the main campus, AVR, guidance center, coordinators’ office, was expanded. In addition the classrooms were repainted and new electronic media was installed.