Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion

Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepción, better known as CIC, is in Cebu City and Mandaue, Philippines. It is a private Catholic school for girls that began in 1880 Mandaue campus is originally for girls (later added boys) ), making it the first school for girls in the Philippines.

In the middle of the 19th century, the necessity of founding a charitable institution was felt in the Diocese of Cebu. To this end, a hospital for leprous patients was founded by the Ilmo, Obispo de Cebú, Romualdo Jimeno.

Rev. Fernando de la Canal, C.M. was to be the source and soul of the charitable works of the hospital. Fr. de la Canal arrived in Cebu on November 13, 1869, having been a priest in his home province Burgos, Spain. He was convinced that the young women working in the Casa de Caridad had the necessary vocation to continue indefinitely. To foster this vocation, he thought of giving them a religious habit to wear in place of their lay clothes and to name them “Hermanitas de la Madre de Dios” (Little Sisters of the Mother of God). With the establishment of this religious community on September 8, 1878, came the appointment of a new Superior. This fell, by common consent, upon Apolonia Lasala. Thereupon the new community renewed its desire to consecrate its members to God through the service of the sick poor. The Casa de Caridad was situated on Calle Solidaridad but, in time, this was destroyed and a new wing of the Colegio was constructed in its place.

A few days after the Hermanitas' habit-taking, the Ilmo, Bishop Benito de Madridejos of Cebú visited the new community and, seeing the opportunities for the benefit of the entire diocese, proposed to the Rector of the Seminary, Fr. Farre, and to Fr. de la Canal and companions, the opening of a Colegio for girls, with the Hermanitas in charge. However, there were many obstacles to overcome, such as the lack of land, house and personnel. To generate funds, the Hermanitas resorted to the making of scapulars, from which they were to purchase a little house fronting the seminary. With this, the construction began. Meanwhile, efforts were made to look for the right persons to direct the work. Two came from Manila: Cirila Miranda from Concordia College and Hilaria Salinas from Hospicio de San Jose. Both had obtained their Teacher's Certificates from the Normal School. Arriving in Cebu in February, 1880, they were attracted to the company of the Hermanitas and, on 15 May of the same year, they dressed the holy habit and became part of the small community.

The school year 1880–1881 was fast approaching, and the work of the Colegio was progressing much too slowly. The Hermanitas, therefore, rented a house belonging to Don Antonio Roa, which was in front of the seminary. Two classrooms were prepared on the second floor, a third room served for the free school and thus, simply and without ostentation, classes opened on May 30, 1880, thus inaugurating Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepción.

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