Fr. Filomeno R. Lucero, Founder of Colegio dela Medalla Milagrosa
Filomeno R. Lucero was born on November 28, 1880 in Argao, Cebu. A product of the Colegio-Seminario de San Carlos. After being ordained as priest he was assigned in the parishes of Bohol and Siquijor.
He was one of Cebu's writing priests, as he contributed to the El Boletin Catolico (published by Bishop Jose Ma. Cuenco, printed by the family-owned press, the "Imprenta Rosario", it was in circulation from 1915 to 1930, this was followed by today's Catholic paper, Ang Lungsoranon, which had its maiden issue in 1934).
While in Bohol, he published the weekly Ang Cabugason, which was in circulation for two decades and eventually stopped during World War II.
While being assigned as parish priest of Jagna, Bohol (the parish was created in 1631 under the patronage of St. Michael Archangel), Fr. Lucero invited Very Rev. Mother Rosario de San Luis Gonzaga and Rev. Mother Pilar de San Jose of the Augustinian Recollect Missionaries to help him open a Catholic school in his assigned town. The sisters arrived in Jagna on August 15, 1939. Fr. Lucero, a devotee of the Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, convinced the group that the school be named as the Colegio de la Medalla Milagrosa.
The school building used to be the house of Doña Ines Abrea before being converted into a private high school. It was the convent and school building but eventually transferred to the present school site. The school inauguration was on November 27, 1939, blessed with a concelebrated mass officiated by Fr. Lucero.
The school pioneers were Very Rev. Mother Rosario de San Luis Gonzaga, Mother Pilar de San Jose, and Mother Socorro. It was on December 1, 1939 when the sisters opened the Kindergarten class, with Primary Classes added the following year.
After the Liberation in 1945, additional classes for the 5th and 6th grade were opened. In 1947, the High School class was opened. A year later the Collegiate Normal Course was added, followed two years later by the Education and Liberal Arts courses.
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