The noble idea of establishing an educational institution in the college level in Aklan offering academic courses had its inception before the last war. The inclusive months of August – October, 1941 were devoted to its organization. The outbreak of the War stalled its foundation. After liberation, prominent men and educators in Aklan bonded together and joined efforts to organize a college. The months of April – July, 1941 were devoted to its organization. On June 14, 1945, an organization committee composed of seven members was constituted. The committee elected Mr. Digno Alba as a chairman. A finance committee headed by Mr. Vicente M. Salido and a committee on style to draft the articles of incorporation and by-laws headed by Atty. Ludovico O. Peralta were also formed. A group took a charge of conducting a campaign for stockholders and students throughout Aklan. Among others, this group was composed of Mr. Digno Alba, Mr. Felimon F. Guerra, Mr. Emeterio L. Prado, Mr. Luis Enriquez, Atty. Ludovico O. Peralta, Mr. Vicente M. Salido, Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon, Mr. Manuel O. Peralta, Mr. Teodoro P. Icamina and Mr. Juan Tolentino. On August 18, 1945, in a meeting of stockholders, the articles of Incorporation and By-Laws drafted by the Peralta Committee were approved and submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Moreover, the fifteen incorporators and the members of the Board of Trustees were elected. The fifteen incorporators elected according to the number of votes cast were: Dean Felimon G. Guerra, Atty. Manuel Laserna, Atty. Raz Meñez, Atty. Ludovico O. Peralta, Dr. Federico R. Meñez, Mr. Digno Alba, Prof. Vicente M. Salido, Prof. Emeterio L. Prado, Atty. Jose A. Arquiola, Prof. Jose M. Reyes, Dr. Querubin Fulgencio, Mr. Jesus Aranas, Dr. Salvador R. Acebedo, Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon and Dr. Conrado F. Quimpo. Dr. Federico R. Meñez was elected by the stock subscribers as the first treasurer of the corporation.

There were 73 original stock holders of the Aklan College Corporation, to wit: Digno Alba, Ricardo Alba, Edita Albar, Joaquin Acevedo, Salvador Acevedo, Jesus Aranas, Manuel Andrade, Lucilla Advincula, Adorico Bantigue, Benjamin Barrios, Josedicio Bautista, Miguel Caliza, Crispulo Cruz, Eulogio Cleope, Leopoldo Dela Cruz, Luis Enriquez, Pamposa U. Sitioko, Salvador Esmero, Querubin Fulgencio, Eduardo Fuerte, CarolinaFrancisco, Filemon F. Guerra, Juanito Garcia, Patria Gonzales, Nicanor Gonzales, Florencio Garcia, Teodoro Icamina, Florentina Icamina, Ester Jurilla, Albina Losada, Pacita Lamuintad, Federico Luces, Manuel Laserna, Jose Mabasa, Salvador Mabasa, Federico Meñez, Jose R. Meñez, Nicena T.Morales, Iluminado Mutos, Pedro Oquendo, Ludovico Peralta, Manuel Peralta, Jose Peralta, Emeterio L. Prado, Condrado Quimpo, Fidel Quimpo, Jose Quimpo, Vicente Quimpo, Rustico Quimpo, Castor Reyes, Vicente Romaquin, Loreto del Rosario, Jose M. Reyes, Salvador Reyes, Jose Salazar, Vicente M. Salido, Bienvinido Songco, Soledad Suarez, Rafael Tumbokon, Cristina Ureta, Jose Urquila, Edicio Venturanza, Sergio Vizcarra, Simplicia Vega, Adriano Seraspi, Juan Tolentino Jr. , Avelino Torre.

COLLEGE OPENING

Mr. Felimon F. Guerra was contracted as the first Dean of Aklan College. He organized a strong faculty with several M.A. degree holders. On July 9, 1945, classes in the Aklan College formally opened with 180 students --- 90 students in the collegiate department and 90 pupils in the elementary grades. The first principal was Mrs. Ester I. Acevedo.

The Aklan College occupied the concrete building owned by Mr. Vicente Salas Reyes located at the corner of Plaridel (now Pastrana) and 19 Martyrs Streets. In June 1948, the college moves to its present sites.

Courses offered in the collegiate department ranged from the Two-Year Normal, leading to the Elementary Teachers Certificate (E.T.C.), Two-Year General Preparatory, leading to the degree of Associate in Arts (A.A.), to the complete courses in Education and liberal Arts, leading to the degree of Bachelor Science in Education (B.S.E), Bachelor of Science in Home Economics (B.S.H.E), Bachelor of Arts (A.B), Bachelor of Science (B.S.), and bachelor of Philosophy (Ph.B.), respectively.

GOVERNMENT RECOGNITION

The first certificate of recognition were granted to the college on July 1, 1947, and personally brought by Bishop Cuenco to Kalibo on October 2, 1947. The date was an occasion of rejoicing in the college.

FIRST GRADUATE

Of the 90 students who enrolled in the collegiate departments in the first year af Aklan College, 35 students graduated in the year 1947 from the Normal Department and from the Liberal Arts Dept. with the title of E.T.C. and A.A., respectively.

BISHOP CUENCO, PATRON OF AKLAN COLLEGE

Because of his interesting the cause of education in his diocese and because his father was from Kalibo, His excellency, Most Rev. Jose Maria Cuenco, then Archbishop of jaro, joined the college during the later part of the second year of the life of the institution.

With the joining of Bishop Cuenco and several members of the clergy both in the faculty and in the administration, religious instruction was integrated in the curricula and the college was converted into a catholic institution. ArchbishopCuenco invested no less than P 85,000.00 for the purchase of books, apparatus, and equipment, for the reconsruction of the college building, construction of the ROTC armory and Home Economics and payment of salaries. Because of his deep and abiding interest on the constitution and because of the gesture of magnanimity and benevolence that he has given to the development of Aklan College, Archbishop Cuenco has been generally regarded as the Patron of Aklan College.

ORGANIZATIONS, PUBLICATIONS, AND EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES DURING THE FORMATIVE YEARS

Most of the organizations of students today found its beginning during the formative years of the college. Among the early activities which may be cited are the annual oratorical contests, dramatic presentations and dance extravaganza, the Student Council, the Debating Club, the Annual College popularity contest and the magnificent coronation ceremonies following her election, the folk dance demonstration, convocations, the Junior reception, the public of an annual called Acorn (now the Acian) and subsequently named the Aklan Collegian (now the official publication of the college department).

DEANS AND RECTORS

The following served successively as Deans of the College: Mr. Filemon F. Guerra, Mr. Emeterio L. Prado, Dr. Miguel U. Yap, and Mr. Protasio Magdael, Atty. Josue F. Gomez, Dr. Constancio l . Constantino and Prof. Donoso B. Mabasa. The following served as rectors of the college: Very Rev. Fr. Eugene L. Stoll, S.V.D., Very Rev. Fr. Luis Creder, S.V.D., Rev. Msgr. Salvador M. Mabasa, Msgr. Jose E. Salido, Msgr. Conrado T. Mesina and the present rector, Very Rev. Fr. Adolfo Perlas Depra, S.T.L., Ph.D.

ELEMENTARY HIGH SCHOOLS PRINCIPAL

Since the college opened elementary education, Aklan College had the following elementary principals, namely: Dolores T. Advincula, Clavelina O. Zomil, Esperanza Amparo-Tapales, Jose I. Ricafuente, Victoria Urea Acevedo, Lodegario M. Advincula, Mrs. Arlene Regalado and Mrs. Noeme L. Ricafuente.

Isidra Laserna Mirto was the first principal of the high school department followed by Atty. Josue F. Gomez, Soledad M. Laserna, Prof. Donoso B. Mabasa, Froilana T. Malilay. The following acted as OIC principals; Mrs. Elfa T. de Blas, Engr. Cecilia S. Calizo (OIC), and at present, Fr. Reynold G. Corcino.

LAW COLLEGE, GRADUATE SCHOOL

Aklan College is the first academic institution in Aklan to offer law and graduate school courses. Seeing the need for a college of law in the province, Aklan College offered a Bachelor of Law course in 1958. Judge Ludovico O. Peralta was the first dean followed by his brother judge Jose O. Peralta. The college of law, was closed in 1972. Eleven graduates of the college of Law are lawyers.

In 1964, the graduate school was established. The graduate school has provided teachers both in public and private institution with the needed masters degree. Dr. Ernesto dela Cruz was its first head, followed by Dr. Miguel U. Yap, Dr. Constancio I. Constantino and at present Msgr. Adolfo P. Depra as Dean and Ms. Evelyn Gayo as Asst. Dean.

In 1969, Aklan College offered engineering courses in answer to the clamor and demand of the people of Aklan. The college administration set up a separate engineering building situated at Andagao, Kalibo. The following served as deans of the engineering department, namely: Antonio M. Mabasa, Mansuelo C. Palmani, Eugene L. Mirto, Oscar Barrios, Rimalubo S. Panaligan, Mr. Jafet Asis, Engr. Raymond Gonzales III, Engr. Ronald S. Saldivia, and at present Engr. Alice M. Coching. However the program was closed in 2003.

In 1975, the college opened a technical department with Engineer Sotico Beltran as its head.

ADMINISTRATION

The administration and mangement of the college are vested in the Board of Trustees composed originally of fifteen and later reduced to eleven members elected for a term of one year. The following served as presidents of the Board: From August 1945 – December 1948, Judge Kose O. Peralta from December 1948 to January 1953, Archbishop Jose Ma. Cuenco was succeeded by Archbishop Antonio Frondosa, then Bishop of Capiz, now Archbishop, followed by Bishop Juan Nilmar. The present president is Bishop Gabriel V. Reyes.

HE FATHER RECTORS

S.V.D. Father’s Eugene Stoll and Luis Creder were two foreign rectors of Aklan College. On April 12, 1954, and at a time of economic difficulties and financial hardships of the Filipino people, Msgr. Salvador M. Mabasa assumed rectorship. Notwithstanding the economic climate then prevailing, Aklan College during the first year of the Mabasa rectorship registered the biggest enrolment in all departments. Budgetwise and administration oriented, he time-tabled a development plan for the expansion of Aklan College. Msgr. Mabasa begun the phase-by-phase development of the college with the help of the student organizations, alumni and faculty in 1954. On April 3, 1956, a new high school building was constructed under the Mabasa Administration, a three-story building facing the Kalibo Municipal Park was majestically constructed. A gym-auditorium was constructed likewise with the purchase of laboratory apparatus and cementing of college grounds, to boot. Also, an additional lot at Andagao was acquired and an engineering building was constructed. In his lifetime, Msgr. Mabasa never tired himself of analyzing and synthesizing the problems of the college vis-à-vis economic conditions. Well-meaning persons, alumni and former faculty members refer to him fondly as the rector-architect of Aklan College development.

When Msgr. Mabasa died he was succeeded by Msgr. Jose S. Salido’s stint as rector was short-lived as he died a year after assumption of the rectorship, he played a major role in shaping the development of Aklan College as a treasurer for more than twenty years.

Msgr. Conrado T. Mesina succeeded Msgr. Jose S. Salido. Msgr. Mesina is former vicar general of the diocese of Capiz. Management conscious and with a penchant for careful planning, Msgr. Mesina assiduously studied education trends.

Msgr. Mesina advocated for a harmonious and strong student-faculty-administration relationship in the academic community even as he considered the future expansion of the college.

AKLAN COLLEGE AS A LIGHT AND PRECIOUS HERITAGE

The Aklan College is the realization of the dream and obsession of our people of having an institution of higher learning in Aklan. The college is a precious legacy bequeathed to the youth and the people of Aklan by the builders of our higher learning and culture. It is for these beneficiaries to treasure and perverse this legacy for posterity.

HE ALUMNI

Aklan College’s alumni are everywhere in government service, in the military, in the medicine, in law, in the teaching profession, in priesthood, business, politics, education and other fields of human endeavor.

A strong alumni association had been earlier voiced. Alumni high school and collegiate are translating this to reality.

TOWARDS UNIVERSITY STATUS

The present Rector, Msgr. Adolfo Perlas Depra, assumed the rectorship on July 19, 1988. Right after his investiture, he saw it fit to consider the first grand alumni reunion on February 1989. The reunion of the college’s alumni was an occasion for Msgr. Depra to emphasize the Aklan College vision of acquiring a university status.

When his Excellency, Msgr. Gabriel V. Reyes, was installed bishop of Kalibo and thereafter became president of the Board of trustees of Aklan College, he shared the incumbent rector’s dream of Aklan College achieving a university status.

Early in 1992, the college of law was revived. Additional courses were offered with emphasis on computer education.

Atty. Victorio R. Mabasa was appointed dean of the College of Law. Former Regional Trial Court Judge Pedro M. Icamina became his successor.

Expectations are abundant that the dream of achieving a university status under the present administration shal be pursued with vigor.

Atty. Ronquillo C. Tolentino, A.A., A.B., B.S.E., Ll.B.

MISSION