About Us

Welcome to Mt. Carmel College

"Wisdom in the light of Faith lived in Love" - embodying the Carmelite virtues of Sapientia, Fides, and Caritas in education.

Founded in 1957 and nurtured by the Carmelite tradition since 1964, Mt. Carmel College offers a holistic education that forms the hearts, minds, and hands of young men and women to be Christ-centered, academically excellent, and socially responsive citizens.

Enrollment 2025

Join our community of learners pursuing excellence through Carmelian education.

Apply Now

Scholarships

Committed to accessibility through financial aid and merit-based opportunities.

Apply Now

12

Expert faculty

68

Best Teachers

120

Online Courses

689

Scholarship

MCC Vision, Mission Statement and Goals

MCC VISION STATEMENT

Move by the zeal of our great inspirators, Mary, Elijah, Elisha, the Carmelite saints and traditions, we, envisioned ourselves as Christ centered, academically advanced, socially responsive community, committed in living out the gospel values towards the realization of God’s reign here and now.

MISSION STATEMENT

Inspired by the spirit of Jesus Christ as our Model Teacher, we commit ourselves to:

1. the Integrating and strengthening the Gospel values in every curricular and co-curricular activities;

2. the achieving of academic excellence through relevant Catholic education.

3. the practicing of responsible stewardship of God’s creation;

4. the postering of justice and peace and social solidarity with our least brothers and sisters.

Goals

Conscious of the present realities and inspired by our Vision and Mission, we aim to:

1. Strengthen the Christian Family and Community through Christian Formation programs and inter-disciplinary approaches to learning towards holistic education and formation;

2. Provide quality, relevant education that is Catholic, pro-people and transformational (dialogue of faith; life);

3. Deepen the competency-building and commitment among school personnel for efficient and effective service;

4. Participate in building the Church of the Poor;

5. Support for the Filipino people’s struggle for total human development and social transformation;

6. Participate in the promotion and care for the integrity of creation.

Carmelian Education

A holistic approach to education rooted in Carmelite tradition

Our Philosophy

As part of the Church, the Carmelites share its vision concerning education. The documents of Vatican Council II envision education as, "paving the way to brotherly association with other peoples, so that genuine unity and peace on earth may be promoted. For a true education aims at the formation of the human person with respect to his ultimate goal, and simultaneously with respect to the good of those societies of which, as a man, he is a member, and in whose responsibilities, as an adult, he will share."

Coming from this perspective, Carmelite education is designed to form the hearts, mind, and hands of young men and women. Knowledge is at the service of Virtues. Hence, Carmelite Schools are open spaces to prepare their minds in keeping faith and hope alive in the midst of the world's brokenness; their heart are set to burn always with zeal like the Prophet Elijah: and their hands are prepared to build a compassionate community that serve the poor and oppressed.

Christian Life

Carmelian Education nurtures Christian life. It promotes, initiates, and accompanies the youth in their life journey patterned after Jesus Christ. The fundamental thrust of the Christian, and Carmelite life is to live in allegiance to Jesus Christ (Carmelite Rule, Chapter 1). This is the cornerstone of Carmelite Education.

Christian Education is the core curriculum of Carmelian Education. It is integrated in all subjects and activities so that the youth will experience the importance of Christian education in all aspects of life.

Contemplative Life

Contemplation is the heart of Carmelite Education. The goal of this life is twofold: First is to offer God a holy and pure heart through an upright life and Divine Grace. Second is to experience the powerful of God at the present moment, which happens entirely as God's gift.

Carmelite Education teaches the importance of opening ourselves to God, who touches our lives. Contemplation as a transforming force of Carmelite Education is a journey in becoming mature friends of Jesus Christ; in commitment to serve others, proclaiming and bringing to realization the coming of God's Reign.

Prophetic Life

Elijah is the Order's inspiration in the work of justice and peace. His contemplative experience impelled him to prophetic action. He denounced without fear the actions of the powerful people of his day and he brought the light of the Word of God into situations of sin.

To be prophetic means to witness and proclaim truth. Commitment to justice, peace and integrity of creation is a burning challenge to Carmelian Education. In a society where poverty, oppression, deprivation, exploitation, and abuse are becoming a culture, a profound examination of present-day realities is needed now more than ever.

Transformation

The goal of Carmelian Education is not only to be knowledgeable but also to use all the knowledge and skills to serve and be responsible for others. As the youth's personhood is transformed in the life of Christ, the school community is as well transformed into an authentic Christian community where the presence of Jesus is lived and experienced.

This transformation allows the school to be a locus to encounter Christ. The school not only teaches the Gospel but also proclaimed and lived. In the words of Benedict XVI, "It is not only 'informative' but also 'performative', that is creative and life-changing (Spe Salvi, 2)."

Carmelian Philosophy of Education

Mt. Carmel College grounds its learning experience on the transformation of persons in the realm of physical, emotional, intellectual, social and spiritual. Such transformation is situated in the context of Filipino Identity and experience.

Faithful to the Carmelite tradition, we highlight the Virtues of Sapientia, Fides, and Caritas phrased as:

"Wisdom in the light of Faith lived in Love"

A commitment to prepare young men and women with a well-integrated learning experience; wise mind, faithful heart, and loving hands.

Our History

A journey of faith, excellence, and service spanning over six decades

The Beginnings

Mt. Carmel College started as Father Urios High School. Fr. Herman Maalman, MSC, a Dutch Priest, founded the school in June of 1957. The construction of the school and the parish was through him. Most of the donations came from the engineers of Philcusa.

1957 saw the opening of Father High Urios School as it offers First and Second Year for the secondary education. Such coincides to the closing of San Francisco Provincial High School after a year of operation due to political reasons. Its school facilities (chairs, tables, boards, etc.) were purchased by Father Urios High School. Students from the provincial school continued their studies in Father Urios High School. The convent and the church building were initially used as classrooms. In the following year, a two-classroom ground floor building was constructed.

The school started with 35 freshmen and 17 sophomores. Three teachers started with the school: Mrs. Conchita Apduhan Jaboneta (major in Filipino and minor in English), Mr. Angel Victorino (major in Physical Education (PE) and minor in Mathematics), and Mrs. Aurora Estoque Montaos (major in History and Minor in Science).

Carmelite Stewardship

In 1963, the Carmelites arrived in Agusan del Sur to establish their mission. These Dutch Carmelites were Fr. Cervacio Lansink, O.Carm., Fr. Bertino Hendricks, O.Carm., and Fr. Bernard Roosendal, O.Carm., the first Carmelite School Director. The Carmelites bought the property from the MSC Fathers and started running the school in the school year 1964-1965.

The school rapidly progressed in infrastructure and educational standards. However, the impetus of these remarkable developments was at a halt when a 'mysterious' fire broke in the main school building turning it into ashes in an hour, losing the pride not only of San Francisco but the whole of Agusan del Sur.

Growth and Development

Faced with this situation, the community showed their support and encouragement to the administration to continue the operation of the school. Teachers and students held to their sense of Christian mission, keeping their hearts aflame in continuing the life and mission of the school. True enough, the school grew and eventually opened the Elementary Department on 1993, through the initiative of Mr. Vicente D. Lasco.

Establishing the College

The opening of the College Department happened in 1997. As the Carmelite renewed their commitment to the school apostolate in their 1996 Chapter, the need of opening the college becomes an important concern. Fr. Perfecto Ll. Adeva, O.Carm., the Director and the Superintendent of the Carmelite Schools, led the opening of the College. Sr. Emeliene Acosta, MSM, Ph.D., the first Dean of the College together with Ms. Mercy Subibe contributed significantly to the beginnings of the College department.

50 Years and Beyond

In 2007, the school celebrated its Golden Jubilee. The 50 years celebration is a thanksgiving and at the same a testament to the school's faithfulness to the mission, bearing fruits of progress and development. As the school matures in experience, infrastructures also increased to better serve its stakeholders.

Key Developments
  • Titus Brandsma Building (1994) - serves as the high school building
  • Fr. Herman Maalman, MSC Building (2006) - established for the elementary department
  • Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Building (2001) - serves as the physical structure for the College Department
  • Father Saturnino Urios Cultural Center (2013) - serves as center for community-wide gatherings
  • Arch of Virtues (2013) - the MCC's institutional insignia
  • Titus Brandsma Hall - houses the Center for Theological and Pastoral Formation and Institute of Christian Education
  • Fr. Bernard Roosendal, O.Carm. Learning Resource Center (2014) - built for navigation of knowledge in print and worldwide web

At present, the college is managed by the Order of Carmelites headed by the school president and its council under the guidance of the board of trustees of the Carmelite Schools in the Philippines together with the School Superintendent.

Timeline of Key Events

1957 Foundation of Father Urios High School by Fr. Herman Maalman, MSC
1963 Arrival of Carmelites in Agusan del Sur
1964 Carmelites begin running the school
1993 Opening of Elementary Department
1997 Establishment of College Department
2007 Golden Jubilee Celebration
2013 Inauguration of Father Saturnino Urios Cultural Center and Arch of Virtues
2014 Opening of Fr. Bernard Roosendal, O.Carm. Learning Resource Center