PANPACIFIC UNIVERSITY NORTH PHILIPPINES (formerly Pangasinan Colleges of Science and Technology) A University is Born PCST is now PUNP! |
The Pangasinan Colleges of Science and Technology (PCST) was incorporated August 26, 1992 as a Non-Stock, Non-Profit educational institution offering courses on all levels as well as conducting educational researches and studies. It started operation in 1993 in a 3-storey ten room building along McArthur Highway in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan with an enrolment of 510. It was authorized to offer degree programs in Pharmacy, Nursing, Electrical Technology, Criminology, Secretarial Administration and Mechanical Technology, adopting the ladderized program. In 1994, there was a marked increase in enrolment partly due to the additional courses offered such as Computer Science, Education, Marine Transportation, Marine Engineering and Electronics Technology. It was also during this year when the Technical and Skills Develepment Authority (TESDA) accredited PCST as a Trade Testing Center for Pangasinan where graduates of technical courses may take the trade tests to earn their Certificate of Proficiency, a requirement for employment in the local and foreign market. On its third year, additional courses were offered such as Master of Arts (M.A.) in Education, MA in Public Administration, Bachelor of Science (BS) in Commerce and BS in Hotel and Restaurant Management. The expansion of curricular offerings to 11 degree courses inclusive of eight short term technical courses prompted the board of directors under the leadership of its chairman of the board and president Dr. Romeo T. Padilla to put up its own building in San Vicente, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan Yearly, the physical assets of the school grew, adding more classrooms and laboratory rooms, a foods training center, a simulation room for HRM students, a social hall, and an events complex that houses basketball courts. At the turn of the century, another building was erected that houses 28 classrooms, the office of the dean, Criminology department, the crime laboratory. Through its strenghtened marketing program coupled with scholarships offered to deserving students, the enrolment data became very impressive and it reached 6,294. PCST has particularly carved a niche in the field of education as visibly seen in its enrolment and facilities when Urdaneta became a city. It was also during the start of the millennium year when a free tuition to the students of Special Science High School was offered. PCST was acknowledged by the chief of the Secondary Education Division of DECS Region 1 as the only school in the country to have undertaken such innovation. The School with a very modest start has now grown and developed so fast because of the creativity, determination and hard work of its president Dr. Romeo T. Padilla, who was once a classroom teacher with an Agricultural Education degree. His dream to give extensive services to the community was strengthened after finishing his doctoral degree in Education. Mrs. Corazon T. Padilla, his spouse who was also a classroom teacher and a holder of a master's degree in Education played a vital role in the management of PCST. Their three children are involved in the management of the institution as well. The eldest, Rhonda Padilla-Cruz is the vice president for academic affairs. Ms. Cruz is a BS Pharmacy graduate and a holder of a Master's degree in Public Administration currrently pursuing a doctorate program at St. Louis University. Another daughter, Donna Padilla-Taguiba, a doctor of Optometry is the vice president for finance. She holds a master's degree in Public Administration and master's degree in Business Administration currently pursuing a doctorate program at University of the Cordilleras. Son Romeo T. Padilla, Jr. holds an Undergraduate, graduate and doctorate degrees in Public Administration. He is the vice president for administration. His wife, Amapola Caguimbal-Padilla, a pharmacist, is the college registrar. The two sons-in-law have earned key positions in the College. Michael V. Cruz, a BS Psychology holder with MPA units, is the head of the Office Administration department and coordinator of students affairs, while Edward . Taguiba, a BSN graduate with a special training in Computer Science, is the head of the Computer Science Department. The management of school affairs is personally attended to by Dr. Padilla and ably assisted by his spouse and children. The school has dependable well-trained and competent set of faculty members, academically supported by a set of experienced and full-time members of the administration. |