Harris Memorial College, Inc.

s City Training School, in Kansas City, Missouri. Miss Spaulding stayed in the Philippines for less than two years to guide the Bible Training School. In 1905, Miss Marguerite M. Decker became the director of the institution until her retirement in 1938. In 1906, the school was named Harris Memorial Bible Training School, after Mr. Norman Waite Harris of Chicago, who provided the necessary funds that enabled the school to continue its ministry, with the support of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society. In 1938, Ms. Mary Evans became its director until her retirement in 1951. Dr. Prudencia L. Fabro became the first Filipino to head the school and served until 1978. PREPARING DEACONESSES
In 1922, Harris pioneered in early childhood education by being the first school in the country to set up a kindergarten school. In 1968, it gained the distinction of being the first school to offer a course in Kindergarten leading to a government-recognized degree. In the following year, the curriculum was revised and updated for recognition by the Bureau of Private Schools. The name of the college was then changed to Harris Memorial College. Majority of the students at Harris Memorial College are young women from the United Methodist Church in the Philippines, who are preparing for consecration as deaconesses. Harris also opens its door to a wider clientele. Students and graduates include persons from the United Church of Christ, IEMELIF, Baptist, Lutheran, Pentecostal and Christian Fellowship Groups. Students have come from other countries like Japan, Okinawa, Malaysia, Indonesia, Korea, Samoa, Singapore, Taiwan, India, Sarawak, Vietnam, and Myanmar. In 1969 and 1970, respectively, government-recognized degrees of Bachelor of Kindergarten Education and Bachelor of Arts major in Christian Education were conferred on graduates. It was during the time of Dr. Fabro in 1975 that the Women's Division of the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church donated the Taft Avenue property to the Board of Trustees of Harris Memorial College. Henceforth, Harris became Harris Memorial College Development Center for Women, Inc. In April 1978, leadership transition took place upon the retirement of Dr. Prudencia Fabro. The Board of Trustees elected Miss Zenaida P. Lumba to succeed Dr. Fabro. Since the former was finishing her Doctor of Education degree in the United States, Mrs. Virginia Maniti-Williams and Mrs. Remedios Asencio-Velasco were appointed by said Board as Officers-in-Charge of Harris. Dr. Zenaida P. Lumba finally assumed the presidency in 1981. Since 1984, the Bachelor of Arts, major in Christian Education (ABCE), the Bachelor in Kindergarten Education (BKE) and the Early Childhood Education programs of the College have been accredited by the Federation of Accrediting Agencies of the Philippines (FAAP) through the Association of Christian Schools, Colleges and Universities - Accrediting Agency, Inc. (ACSCU-AAI). Under Dr. Lumba's leadership, Harris purchased a 1.5-hectare plot of land in Dolores, Taytay, Rizal, in 1983, with the seed money donated by Rev. Dr. Grace E. The first building, which was begun in 1986, is a three-story student dormitory named after Rev. The Martha and Clarence Jones Hall, housing the administrative and faculty offices, classrooms, the library, science laboratory, medical-dental clinic, and Conference Room, was completed in 1988. Harris moved to its new site in Taytay for the opening of classes in June 1988. By June 1989, the Brigida G. Fernando Early Childhood Education Building was ready for use. A Faculty-Staff Townhouse was completed in 1991. The Bishop Jose L. Valencia Chapel cm Kihwa Jin Music Hall was finished and inaugurated on October 18, 1996. The College Gymnasium and the Elementary School Building were finished in 1998 and 2000, respectively. In 2003, the High School Building was dedicated. Harris is continually challenged to meet the pressing needs of the Church and the country for quality and relevant education. In response, Harris expanded its program offerings. In 1992, the Bachelor of Arts in Church Music gained full recognition from the then Department of Education, Culture and Sports, while the Bachelor of Elementary Education and Secondary Education were granted government permit to operate in 1993. In 1998, the two teacher education programs gained government recognition from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). Similarly, the Elementary department of Harris started to operate in 1994 and granted government recognition in 1999, while the High School department began in 2000 and gained government recognition in 2004. In addition to these curricular offerings, the school strengthened the Institute for Non-Formal Education with three distinct programs namely: Center for Community Development (CCD), the Doris Lou Willis Center for Early Childhood Education (DLWCECE), and the Center for Christian Education and Discipleship (CCED). Dr. Judith M. Bunyi, who was elected in 2000, was the first clergy person to head Harris Memorial College and the third Filipino president. She led Harris on its continuing journey to press on toward the attainment of its vision, mission, goals and objectives until 2005. In 2003, Harris reached Faithfulness: Harris Memorial College and the Deaconesses." Over the years, graduates in the church-degree program were consecrated and commissioned deaconesses and serve local churches in the following ministries: Christian education, children and youth, kindergarten education, music, women's ministries, and curriculum writing among others. Other graduates were/are on special appointments, serving in various teaching, administrative, extension, ecumenical, and justice ministries, either on the local, national, or international level. Some have worked as staff members of United Methodist general agencies or faculty-staff of UMC-related institutions. Dr. Liwliwa T. Robledo was appointed the 4th Filipino President after Dr. Bunyi finished her term in 2005. Through her leadership major renovations of physical facilities such as the Fabro Seminar House and dormitory bathrooms were done, as well as the upgrading of the curricular offerings was carried out. In 2005, the five year BKE degree began. In 2007, the century-old dormitory food service was phased out and three food concessionaires began to serve the students, faculty, and staff. In 2008, Dr. Cristina N. Mañabat was elected the 5th Filipino President of Harris Memorial College, and continues her stint until present. During her leadership, the college classrooms were renovated. All classrooms are furnished with LED TV and air-conditioning units to further enhance the teaching-learning environment for more effective and quality learning. The college library is being renovated to make it more conducive for study and research of the students and teachers. All offices and clinics are air-conditioned to promote better working conditions. All buildings, facilities, and equipment are repaired and updated periodically. CCTV cameras were installed on campus to insure the safety and security of the students and employees. Additionally, the New General Education Curriculum prescribed by the Commission on Higher Education (CMO 20 Series of 2013) and the updated four-year curriculum for Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (BECEd) and Bachelor of Arts in Christian Education (ABCE) based on CMO No. 76, s.2017 and CMO No. 20, s.2013, respectively, were implemented. The short-term programs on Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Professional Education for Licensure Examination for Teachers have been serving some member schools of the Association of Christian Schools, Colleges, and Universities (ACSCU) in the country. With its present leader, under the guidance of the Almighty God, Harris moves forward and continues to press on toward the attainment of its vision and mission, its goals and objectives. In so doing, the school makes a difference in the lives of people through its graduates who engage in transforming ministry in the world by emulating a Christ-like life and service.