New Era University

 

HISTORY

 

           

“The prime purpose of this school is for the honor of God.  Let no one teach here anything that will estrange man from God.  Let not this school be the battleground of warring students… Let no one destroy the brotherly love that should exist between teachers and students… Above all, let the implementation and fulfillment of God’s words be the prevailing atmosphere inside this structure where wisdom dwells."

 

Bro. ERAÑO G. MANALO

Executive Minister

IGLESIA NI CRISTO

 

            This excerpt from the address of Bro. Eraño G. Manalo delivered during the inauguration of the New Era University New Era Campus in May 1985 serves as a beacon that has lighted the path of the school throughout its history.

 

            Beginning as the New Era Educational Institute (NEEI) in June 1975, the school offered secondary education in building bought by the Iglesia Ni Cristo in Quiapo, Manila.  Twenty-three teachers and 466 students pioneered the school’s operation.

 

            On June 1977, NEEI was formally incorporated under Republic Act 1459 as a private non-stock, non-sectarian, non-profit educational institution aiming to develop academic excellence, professional responsibility, and social awareness founded on true Christian principles.

 

            In 1978, the collegiate department opened in New Era, Quezon City occupying the third and fourth floors of the Evangelical College building.  The first and second levels were occupied by the Evangelical College, which served as the training center of the Church for would-be ministers.  Twelve collegiate courses were initially offered: AB Economics, AB Mass Communication, BS Psychology, BSBS Marketing, BSBS Accounting, BSBA Management, BSBA Banking and Finance, and two-year Junior Secretarial Course.  In the field of engineering and technology, BS Civil Engineering, BS Electrical Engineering, BS Mechanical Engineering, BS Management and Industrial Engineering, and BS Electronics and Communications Engineering were offered.

 

            In 1981, NEEI assumed the name New Era College (NEC) after it was granted recognition by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports.

 

            In 1982, NEC held its first commencement exercise and conferred the degree of Bachelor of Science (in Psychology, Industrial Education and Business Administration) on twelve graduates.

 

            The Graduate School was established during the school year 1983-1984 offering the course Master of Arts in College Teaching.  The programs Bachelor of Elementary Education and Bachelor of Secondary Education also started this year.

            In 1984, NEC opened its Pre-school and Elementary Department.

 

            On May 10, 1986, Bro. Eraño G. Manalo inaugurated the new and permanent campus of New Era College along St. Joseph St., Milton Hills, New Era, Quezon City.  In view of the peace and order problems surrounding the vicinity of the Manila campus, the High School Department and Non-Formal Education units transferred to the new campus in New Era.  This brought together all the departments of the college under the roof of the new four-storey building.

 

            In 1994, NEC established branches in San Fernando, Pampanga and General Santos City in response to the requests of the Iglesia Ni Cristo brethren for an elementary school for their children.  During the school year 1997-1998, these extensions started offering high school education as first year classes were opened initially.  On June 5, 1998, the General Santos City branch inaugurated its very own campus in a half-hectare land area.

 

            On June 30, 1995, the college was granted university status by the Commission on Higher Education. The school was officially named New Era University.

 

            Inspired by the attainment of university status and motivated by the challenge of excellence in education, New Era University submitted itself to voluntary accreditation.  In 1996, the Association of Christian Schools and Colleges Accrediting Agency, Inc. (ACSC-AAI) granted level 1 accreditation to the School of Graduate Studies (SGS).  On the same year, the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation (PACUCOA) awarded Level 1 accreditation to the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), College of Education (CED), and College of Business Education and Administration (CBEA).   SGS and CED both attained Level 2 accreditation in 1999.

 

            The peacefulness, orderliness, brotherly love, and reverence for the words of God that govern the day to day order of things in the school inspire the development and maximization of the students’ potentials in different fields.  The Elementary Department and the High School Department have garnered laurels in creative and journalistic writing competitions, in quiz bees, in the performing arts and even in sports.  A most notable achievement was when an NEU school grader won in the United Nations Population Fund International Poster Making Competition held in New York, U.S.A.

 

            The College Department has also produced its own breed of achievers.  The NEU varsity teams have contributed players to the Philippines’ national volleyball and basketball teams, as well as to the Philippine Amateur Basketball League.  NEU engineering graduates have placed in top ten list of engineering board examinations.  NEU made news in the national scene when one of its graduates got the number one post in the 1992 Professional Board Examination for Teachers taken by 142,133 examinees nationwide.

 

            Side by side with its academic functions, NEU also fulfills its socio-civic responsibility towards the larger community that lies beyond its walls.  The students, faculty and staff members, and administrators all do their share in conducting community extension service.  A very impressive project is the Balik-Aral Program for out-of-school youth conducted by NEU in close coordination with the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) and the Iglesia Ni Cristo Social Services Department.  This program brings classes for the out-of-school youth right in their own vicinity using the local facilities of the Church, the expertise of the NEU-trained teachers and the teaching-learning modules from the DECS.

 

 

The School Plant, Facilities and Equipment

The High School Department

           

The New Era College, High School Department is located along Carlos Palanca St. (formerly Echaque) in Quiapo area. Quiapo is in the heart of Manila, the bustling cosmopolitan city sprawled along the eastern shore of Manila Bay. It is a major port of entry in Southeast Asia which is about 1,000 miles from Singapore and 1,400 miles from Nagasaki, Japan. The metropolis covers an area of 630  sq. km. with a resident population of more than 8 million (1981).

            Quiapo is one of the colorful sections of Manila. For all the hustling, and jostling, the noise and dusty, the confusion and madness, Quiapo occupies a special place in the soul of every Filipino. This makes the high school department of New Era College very accessible to the public. It is in the university belt. To the East, the school is bounded by Recto Avenue down Mendiola St. and passing several colleges is the Malacanang Palace, the official resident of Philippine presidents.

Somewhere to the Northeast are the shimmering golden dome and a minaret called Muslim Mosque located on the banks of the Pasig river Canal-like extension near MLQ University.

 

            To the West of the high school is the famous Pasig River historically noted for its grandeur and beauty as mentioned by the great national hero, Jose Rizal in his novel, Noli Me Tangere. This portion of the river is one of the busiest and highly commercialized.

 

            To the north of the school is Quezon Bridge and coming from Plaza as Lawton this lead as to Quiapo and its famous church.

            The area outside this church is a terminal point for public commuting vehicles plying the north and south routes of the city.

            And finally, to the south the school is bounded by the durable Ayala Bridge and Hospicio de AN Jose.

 

            The high school own sits site which has an area of 5,008.62 sq. m. and playgrounds of 1,808.50 sq.km. area. It also owns a concrete three-storey building housing 30 classrooms. This includes the rooms for typewriting, cosmetology, dressmaking, tailoring, automotive, home economics, science and computers,

            Other high school facilities include 11 air-conditioned offices for the key officials, a CAT office, a stockroom and auditory room which accommodate the maximum 760 sitting capacity. This is used for cultural presentation and socials, and others school programs, seminars, workshops, conferences and etc. The auditory room is also used for intergames such as badminton, table tennis, chess and crossword puzzles. The school’s air-conditioned mini-theater has a sitting capacity of 320 which is used for film showing and sometimes swerves as venue for either division or regional conferences of the MECS. For small-group meetings `and seminars, adjacent to mini theater is 90-seateer audio-visual projector room. In addition, this is also used for small group viewing, discussions, and teachings and other skill for demonstrations.

            Facilities for health services are also9 provided such as medical clinics with the full-time school nurse, part-time physicians, and a dentist, a mini-canteen for HE Laboratory, and one bigger canteen for the entire clientele. Adequate number of toilets with enough number of seats and drinking fountain equipped the entire plant. Furthermore, fire extinguishers are properly mounted and fire escapes are strategically located.

            The high school library is located in the center of the academic buildings aside from several subscription, the periodicals, journals and dailies, etc. This library contains 5,592 volumes of books to serve the high school and the non-formal clientele. It is maintained by a full-time librarian and two assistants.

            The laboratory facilities consist firstly, of 3 science rooms, one for general science, one for chemistry, and one for physics. Secondly, there is one each for classes in connection with the home making and home technology such as cosmetology, dressmaking, tailoring and auto mechanics and also as well typewriting and basic computer.

           

 

 NEU Growth and Achievements

1975-1976

 

As mentioned earlier this was the first year of operation of the school known then as New Era Educational Institute with Dr. Dolores G. Garcia as its first principal. There was an initial enrolment of 499 in all the four curriculum years of secondary education.

In its first year, the school participated in the Citizen’s Auxiliary Training (CAT) competition and won among other seven high schools won major awards. It also held symposium on the prevention of drug abuse for parents and students. The school representative in the “Seminar on the Use of Educational Media” held at P. Gomez Elementary School in Manila received a certificate for active participation. It was also during this school year when the maiden issue of the school organ, “New Era Events” came out as s response to students’ need for practicum in the elective IV-year subject, Journalism.

Problems attendant to a pioneering institution were encountered during the first year of school operations but these were taken As challenges. This school year produced 42 graduates.

 

1976-1977

This school year marked an enrolment of 725 thus, arose a need to hire additional faculty. To give closer supervision to subject teachers, the school principal appointed subject coordinators who also took charge of the monthly cultural programs. It was also during this school year that the student council was organized. For the Seminar Workshop on “Classroom Techniques”, the Bureau of City Schools chose the school as venue. Again the school won the major awards in the CAT I competition held at MLQU Preparatory School Quadrangle. The school also held student cultural presentations, music festivals, open house exhibits, cleanliness and beautification contests and other academic cultural presentations. In coordination with the Church’s radio station, DZEM, the school put up a radio program “Handog ng NEEI” which aired school and campus news. This was also designed to tap students’ talents and train them in radio work. In this school year, 85 completed the high school course.

 

1977-1978

During the school year 1977-1978, NEEI offered vocational and technical courses under the Non-Formal Education Program.

 

The New Era Training Center, a center which offers vocational course at a minimal fee for brethren in the Church was absorbed by the school to give graduate due accreditation. Mr. Buenaventura Angeles was appointed coordinator for the Vocational Department. To cope with a total enrolment of 777 students in the High School and 465 in the Vocational Department, 12 teachers were added to the list of faculty.

 

During this school year, Erano Magtutio of the High School won first prize in a Declamation contest sponsored b y the Boy Scout of the Philippines National Headquarters. Jaja Pineda, also of High School, won third prize in a District English Writing Contest sponsored by Children’s Museum and Library, Inc. and the first prize in the same category in a regional contest sponsored by the Ministry of Education and Culture. Unlike in the first two years, the school only placed second in the over-all CAT I competition. Meanwhile, the school continued to work in socio-civic projects if he community. The school noted a marked increase in number of graduates with 130 students finishing the secondary education course.

 

1978-1979

The MECS authorized the school in 1978 to open its collegiate department with 9 course offerings, 6 of which leading to a bachelor’s degree while the remaining 3 were technical courses. It admitted its first batch of enrollees, 280 in the first semester and 244 in the Second Semester. Students were provided with an open area for further unstructured socialization.

Meanwhile, Sis. Corazon C. Osorio was appointed the new principal, and the late Bro. Cresencio Clemente, the assistant principal. To cope with an enrolment of 907 High School and 292 students in the Vocational department, eleven teachers were added to the faculty.

Among the school activities for the school year were: the organization of co-curricular groups like the Board on the Prevention of Drug Addiction, New Era Social Science Society, Science Club, NEC Choral Ensemble, NEC Youth Forum and the Mathematics Club. The school radio program which acquired a new name: ERAIAN WAVES, still broadcast school and campus news and incorporated developmental themes such as nutrition, family planning and sex education.

Also, the school becoming a favorite venue for seminars, played host to the two-day conference of Principals. Administrators, Registrars of Private Secondary Schools and Division Personnel In charge of Private Schools.

It is also worth mentioning that the school placed second in the Inter-Unit Oratorical Contest on “The Legacy of Manuel L. Quezon”, and in the Metro Manila Regional Contest of the 6th National Music Competition for Young Artists. In the CAT I competition, the school received a trophy, a banner and a gold medal. The school turned out 189 graduates for the High School and 183 for the Vocational Department.

 

1979-1980

            In school year 1979-1980, the school’s enrolment increased to 868 for the High School, 96 for the Vocational, 535 and 510 in the first and second semesters and 71 in summer for the collegiate department. During this school, the school intensified its campaign for classroom cleanliness, giving awards to the cleanest and the most orderly classrooms. Also, the school conducted more seminars and lecture, forums for faculty and staff development. The school also participated in the different contest sponsored by the Children’s Museum and Library Inc. and received awards and prizes.

 

            To recognize the efforts exerted by t he High Scholl faculty, the school organized a committee to select the most effective and efficient faculty members. The five model teachers chosen were Miss Levita Joson, Miss Pilipina Calma, Mrs. Concepcion Angeles and Mrs. Nelia Guevarra and were honored in a testimonial dinner. The Youth Forum on the other hand, organized sports tournaments to develop sportsmanship and physical fitness among the students. The High School produced 207 graduates in this school year.

 

            The collegiate department on the other hands sent its representative to the Baguio Religious Acculteration Conference for social and behavioral scientists who was later elected Board Member. It also sent its participant to the seminar-workshop on the use of, Media for Non-Formal Education sponsored by the Communication Foundation for Asia.

 

1980-1981

The school registered an enrollment of 909 in t he High School and j912 in the first semester, 838b in the second, and 160 in summer for the collegiate department in this school year. The Secretarial course of the Vocational Department was absorbed by the Diliman campus while the rest were retained under the Non-Formal Education Program in the Palanca Campus.

 

Some of the project s and activities undertaken during this school year were: Improvement of the radio broadcast “The Eraian Waves” through use of educational formats. The school was the venue for the 1980 NCEE Orientation Seminar in the use of Optical Mark Reading for Metro Manila Supervisors and Principals. It also played host to the National Capital Region Quiz Bee for the Elementary School Level and the National; Seminar Workshop of Secondary Administrators. The school’s representatives to the BSP First Scout Photo journalism won the first two major awards. As one of their projects, the high school youth forum solicited old clothing and food stuffs for the fire victims in Paco and Barrio Obrero.

 

It was during this school year, too, that the Institute of Evangelical Ministry was formally opened with MECS permit as part of the school with an initial enrolment of 107,113 and 29 in the first semester, second semester, and summer respectively. This course leads to the degree of Bachelor of Evangelical Ministry (BEM).

 

The collegiate department received from the Association of Christian Engineers a number of books for its learning center. It also participated in the 10th World Congress of International Association of Educational and Vocational Guidance Counselors at the Philippine International Convention Center and in the Seminar on Philosophical Association of the Philippines held at Teacher’s Camp in Baguio City.

 

It was also during this school year when the Faculty Evaluation Committee designated to act upon application for teaching position and evaluation of faculty/staff performance was created.

 

It was also in 1981 when the school gained its present name, New Era College In this school year the high school graduates increased to 214.

 

1981-82

            The college recorded an enrolment of 1,053 for the high school, 1,286 in the first semester, 1,047 in the second semester, and 242 in summer for the collegiate department.

 

            As part of its faculty/staff and student development the college participated in seminar-workshops such as TV Production and Scriptwriting at the communication Foundation for Asia, Photo Journalism at Berlin Institute of Journalism in Quezon City, and the Use of Audio-visual materials held at the Diliman campus.

 

            Also, the Philippine Association of University Women NEC chapter was organized with Dr. Perlita Cabilangan as its president. Mr. Fernando Javier, high school YDT-CAT Coordinator was chosen official representative of the Philippines to Japan Boy Scouts Exchange Program in the jamboree held in Tokyo, Japan, on the student’s part, Leonardo Quinitio and Johnson Mack were sent as delegates. In addition 10 juniors finished the 1982 Summer Cadet Leadership Training (COLT) at the University of the Philippines. The CAT girls’ division and the CAT boys’ division won the overall championship and 2nd place respectively in the inter-unit competition in III District of Manila. Mr. William Joseph Hollis was assigned coordinator of the collegiate department’s Student Office.

 

            This school year, the tertiary level was able to graduate 37 students from the institutes of Business Administration and Arts and Sciences. The high school turned out 256 graduates.

 

1982-1983

            This time college reported a total enrollment of 1,021 for the high school and 1,697 in the first semester, 1,586 in the second semester, and 293 in summer for the collegiate level. From these 214 finished high school and 88 from the Business Administration, Arts and Sciences, and Engineering Institutes.

 

            In this school year, the college was represented win the 1983 NFE-KKK seminar at Teacher Camp in Baguio City, seminar on Reaching out to the Adolescents at the Communication Foundation for Asia co-sponsored by population Center Foundation, seminar on Parasitism in Occupational Industry held at the Inter-Continental Hotel, English in Educational at the Philippine Normal College, and at the conference of Philippine Association of Graduate Education at Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro. The representative of the collegiate department who took the Electronic Data processing Aptitude Test passed the examination for the scholarship. Two were trained at the National Computer Center. It is worth noting also that in this year, the high school held its second annual conference-workshop for coordinators in Vigan, Ilocos Sur. The group also rendered community service in two barangays along the beach in Ilocos Sur.

 

            The students on the other hand, participated in the basketball and volleyball events of the DOS-Manila, District III Athletic Meet, in the Boy Scouts World Conference at the Araneta Center and at the BSP National Jamboree in Camarines Sur. Also, Leonardo Quinitio and Evelyn David of the high school department represented the Iglesia ni Cristo in the Child and Youth Seminar Workshop held at the Lung Center of the Philippines. The latter was chosen of the semi-finalists for the search for the Outstanding Youth of Manila sponsored by MECS-DOS Manila.