Pilar College

The college provides Catholic education to the children and the youth of Zamboanga City and the southwestern part of Mindanao.

father Superior of the Jesuit Mission in Mindanao, the Sisters returned to Zamboanga to resume their work in the school and in the parish as catechists.

Classes included Bible Study (Historia Sagrada), Christian Doctrine (Catecismo), Christian Manners (Urbanidad Cristiana), Spanish Grammar (Gramatica Espanola), Arithmetic (Arithmetica), Geography (Geographia), and Home Arts, Flower-making, and House-keeping (Labores for girls).

From the Cartilla and advanced Spanish lessons, the Sisters gradually worked to open the Primary and Elementary Courses in 1914.

Government Recognition for the High School was granted in 1928 permit to open the Junior Normal College was given in 1940.

Immediately after liberation in 1945, the Sisters resumed classes for the elementary and High School levels in one-floor building of sawali and nipa in La Purisima St, where Ateneo de Zamboanga University is located at present, through the initiative of Mother Carmen Perez, the principal.

On June 21 of the same year, Bishop Luis de Rosario, SJ, DD blessed and laid the cornerstone of a semi-concrete, two storey building facing the sea.

In 1949 classes were transferred to this new building which stood at the old site of the Nuestra Senora del Pilar Hospital.

The one-room Chapel was replaced by a beautiful two-wing concrete building, as envisioned by an RVM Architect, S. Ma.

In line with the thrust to upgrade the education, Pilar College undertook the process of accreditation of the High School.

Among the most significant activities were the solemn con-celebrated Masses of Thanksgiving held at the launching and the closing of the Centennial Year, the Field Demonstrations, Motorcade with the Centennial Queen and Princesses, The Historical Exhibit, a testimonial Dinner and Award Night with a tableau-Vignette depicting “Pilar College Through The Years”.

The new “Mother Ignacia Building” houses twenty classrooms, the high school and the college Library, Clinic, Guidance Center, and several offices.

The Grade School which was visited by the PAASCU Team in February 1994 and October 1995, was granted accreditation on January 25, 1996.

The squad was formed in 2010 and won second place in Hola Zamboanga Cheerdance Competition 2010, and finally became Champions on 2011 and ranked third in 2012.