St. Paul University Surigao

San Nicolas College in Surigao City traces its roots to the year 1906 when the last group of Spanish Benedictine Missionaries, who had worked zealously to have founded the Cartilla or Doctrina School (which soon evolved into the Escuela Catolica de San Nicolas), with the Religious of the Virgin Mary as administrators, vacated Surigao. Soon after their departure, the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, also known as the Dutch Fathers, succeeded them, created the parish of Surigao, and made the Escuela Catolica de San Nicolas a parochial school which they renamed San Nicolas School.

SPU Surigao is a Paulinian community of learners and believers impelled by the charism and spirituality of the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres form Christ-centered, integrated, competent and responsible persons in the service of the Church and society. Guided by our vision, in union with Mary, our Model and St. Paul, our patron, we endeavor to become a preferred educational community, proclaim Jesus Christ, the good news, and uplift the quality of life, in a culture of excellence, compassionate caring and collaboration.

The St. Paul University System is a network of Paulinian education institutions bound by its commitment to form Christ-centered, integrated and competent persons in the service of the church and society.Through collaboration, complementation and resource sharing, the system ensures the delivery of quality programs and services by its members, thus affirming its leadership role in education for social transformation.

The Academic Executive Office administers and supervises the academic programs of the University and ensures that these correspond to the philosophy and objectives of the institution. The Administrative Executive Office sees to it that the delivery of non-academic support services which include the Management Information System, Maintenance, Plant and Physical Facilities, Secretarial Services, Security, and Health Services contribute to the attainment of University goals. The Financial Executive Office is in-charge of managing the operation of all business and fiscal functions of the institution including policy-making, budget preparation, investments, and cash-flow management.

The Registrar's Office, files student/graduate grades and other necessary records. A computerized system facilitates the retrieval and issuance of transcript of records and diplomas. Christian Formation is the core of Paulinian Education. Through the campus ministry, programs that provide for the care and concern for persons, proclamation of the Gospel and its value, building and strengthening of a Community of Faith and Celebration of Life through Liturgy are organized and carried out. Its members are involved in the Liturgy Ministry, Pastoral Ministry, Retreats/Recollections, Pastoral Counselling, Music and Arts and Religious Organizations. The school has linked with and helped develop partner communities through various programs that range from socialized credit, birthing centres, sustainable agriculture, the organization of basic ecclesial communities (BECs) as well as basic literacy schools with adults as clientele. The Center has gained national prominence and has been granted foreign assistance for its various endeavors.The school library contains more than 100,000 titles of materials in various subjects. It also provides instructional materials such as video tapes, tranparencies and slides as well as equipment for audio-visual presentations.Involved in conducting contemporary development research activities either in partnership with faculty in the various colleges or with professional organizations. Its purpose is to generate new knowledge for development.Five computer laboratories have been installed in the school which are continuously updated to keep up with the latest technology. In addition to computer laboratories, the University has a Science Laboratory and laboratories for different fields of specialization including Nursing, Business, Engineering, Hotel and Restaurant Management.

The Bureau of Commerce issued Articles and Certificates of Incorporation to legitimize the school's existence. Rev. Adriano Muskins, MSC, parish priest and school head, expanded the primary school for the poor children of the parish who aimlessly roamed the streets. The school continued to grow, taking much time and attention from the parochial duties for the Dutch Fathers, who sought the assistance of others. Three Sisters from the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres arrived in Surigao in response to the invitation of Fr. Muskins to administer San Nicolas School. The pioneers were Sister Louise Marguerite Prevoust, Superior; Sr. Consolacion Cruz, Principal; and Sr. Valentine, who would take charge of the boarders. They were welcomed by the parish priest at the time, Rev. Juan Vrakking, MSC, who was to become the first bishop of Surigao in 1940. "The Little Flower Dormitory", a three-story reinforced concrete building completed in 1936, became the nucleus of the growing institution. It housed both the dormitory and the school. Sr. Adela Catalina Llorente, then, Superior, helped speed up the construction with donations solicited from her American friends. In June, the High School Department opened with Sr. Stella de Jesus Villanueva, SPC, as principal. Rev. Luis Boeren, MSC, took over as Director. The high school courses offered were Secondary Academic and Secondary Normal, to provide the mission with thoroughly trained Christian teachers. Initially, more than twenty female students enrolled.Two years later, male students were accepted. Rec. Jose Croonen, MSC, was parish priest at the time.