HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF HCDC In school year 1951-1952, the Religious of the Virgin Mary Sisters opened an annex of the Immaculate Conception College (now known as the University of the Immaculate Conception) at Sta. Ana Avenue, Davao City. The annex was built upon the request of parents living at Sta. Ana District, and with permission from the local bishop since the school building was erected on a land owned by the Roman Catholic Apostolic Administrator of Davao. The ICC annex provided kindergarten, elementary, and secondary courses for boys and girls, but by school year 1955-1956, it became a separate school and was named the “Holy Cross Academy of Davao.” In April 1956, the RVM Sisters informed the Most Reverend Clovis Thibault, PME, the first Apostolic Administrator and Bishop of Davao, about the RVM General Council’s decision to transfer the ownership of the school. This decision was executed through a Deed of Absolute Sale in which the RVM Congregation, represented by Superior General Mother Maria Catalina Dychitan, sold the school building including “all that goes with the functioning of a school” to the Roman Catholic Apostolic Administrator of Davao. Bishop Thibault then asked the Foreign Mission Society of Quebec ( PME Fathers ) to maintain “Holy Cross Academy of Davao” and to establish an exclusive school for boys. A land lease agreement was subsequently made between PME Regional Superior, Rev. Fr. Lionel Labelle and Bishop Clovis Thibault had asked the PME Fathers to establish a technical and industrial school. The PME Fathers took over the school management in 1956-1957, with Rev. Fr. Jean Lalonde as the first school director and Rev. Fr. Leopold Charlesbois as assistant school director. The school was renamed “Holy Cross of Davao School, Inc.” When Fr. Lalonde left in 1959, Fr. Eloi Montambault, PME was appointed school director until Fr. Lalonde’s return in 1961. Fr. Lalonde served as school director until 1968. In school year 1964-1965, the school allowed the admission of girls to the elementary department. College courses were offered in school year 1966-1967, and the school was renamed “Holy Cross of Davao College, Inc.” In 1968, Rev. Fr. Generoso C. Camiña ( the first Filipino PME and presently Bishop of Digos) was appointed Rector. He was succeeded by Mr. Emilio P. Palma Gil who was appointed school president on July 1, 1969. Due to the lack of Filipino personnel needed to operate the school, the PME Fathers decided to transfer the ownership of school buildings, including the CYO gymnasium, its furniture and equipment, and all the rights and privileges of operating a school, to the Roman Catholic Bishop of Davao. On July 10, 1976, a Canonical Deed of Donation was made between PME Regional Superior Rev. Fr. Roland Denies and Archbishop Antonio Ll. Mabutas, DD, J.C.D.. ms and offices were blessed on February 13, 2003 during the Educator's Day celebration. To keep its facilities updated, renovations were made in SY 2002-2003. In the third floor of the Thibault Hall is the spacious and equipped air-conditioned college faculty room which was blessed on February 6, 2003. Other offices in the hall are: ReEd office, Commerece Laboratory, 4 College Computer Aided Instruction (CAI) rooms and the graduate school library. In the second floor are the Masscom Center, the high school registrar's office, campus ministry and high school AVR as well as the conference room. On the ground floor are the bookstore and the chaplain's office beside the testing room of the guidance office. Since conservation of cultural heritage is one the roles of the college, a museum is provided at the ground floor of the Mabutas Hall. Four (4) classrooms in the 3rd floor of the Mabutas Hall are used by high school student during the day and by college students in the evening. founders: the RVM Sisters, PME Fathers and the Archdiocese of Davao.
