CORE ELEMENTS OF COLEGIO DE SAN IGNACIO’S IDENTITY

First, Colegio de San Ignacio is a Catholic school.  The Catholicity of the school resides not only in the name of its patron Saint but also in its thrust to spread Jesus’ teaching and perpetrate the mission of His Church to the students.  Furthermore, being Catholic entails the ecumenical openness to other Christians and the interreligious outreach to people of different faiths.

Second, Colegio de San Ignacio is a Filipino school.  Its academic community is founded by Filipino educators who have strived to cooperate in the authentic nation building.  The school builds the nation by instilling in the students time-honored Filipino values and pride to one’s own national heritage.

Third, Colegio de San Ignacio is also a Chinese school.  This is not an ethnic or racial identification but rather a linguistic one.  The “Chineseness” is manifested in the offering of the Chinese language in the curriculum of all year levels hence making Ignatians more competitive in the world market.

Finally, Colegio de San Ignacio is a Scientific and Humanistic institution.  It is committed to teach the principles of science and the appreciation of the humanities to its students.  The sciences provide the students with the scientific method in the conduct of natural and social inquiry.  The humanities or the arts make students express their creative potential in its fullness.

*an excerpt from the speech delivered by John Harvey Gamas, CDSI alumnus during the school’s 15th Founding Anniversary.