The Updated History of Saint Joseph School Foundation, Inc.
Written by Lou Joshua M. Francisco MATP
In the firmament of Catholic education in Zamboanga, the Saint Joseph School Foundation, Inc. (SJSFI) holds a sacred and distinctive place, not born of privilege, but of missionary zeal, communal perseverance, and the unwavering will of a people determined to anchor their children in faith and learning. To recount its story is to revisit a chapter in the quiet evolution of Filipino-Chinese Catholicism, an emergence that, though largely unchronicled, has helped shape the cultural and spiritual fabric of the city.
It all began in 1965, in the wake of Vatican II, during the hopeful yet uncertain period of postwar national reconstruction. The Chinese Catholic community in Zamboanga, eager to raise their children in the light of the Gospel, longed for more than Sunday worship. They envisioned an institution that would form both heart and mind. Answering that call was Rev. Fr. Paul Lee, a Chinese diocesan priest and the first parish priest of Saint Joseph Parish. With the support and visionary encouragement of Msgr. Juan Elasco, O.P., a Dominican priest who ministered to the Chinese faithful, Fr. Lee established a modest school behind the parish church along Nuñez Street. It opened its doors with 77 Kindergarten and Grade I pupils, a fragile seed planted on uncertain soil, yet nourished by deep faith.
But like nations, schools need space to grow. On June 23, 1965, Fr. Lee formally requested a parcel of Church-owned land from the Office of the Archbishop of Zamboanga. ¹ His appeal was granted on July 3, 1965, by then Archbishop Luis Del Rosario, S.J., who ensured that the dream of a permanent Catholic school would take root on land under the Archdiocese’s juridical ownership.² The Archbishop’s deep involvement in the school’s development is further evidenced in a letter dated June 15, 1965, addressed to Fr. Manuel Velasco, O.P. In it, Archbishop Del Rosario expressed his strong preference for Fr. Thomas Chao to assist Fr. Paul Lee in the administration of the soon-to-be-built school in Canelar Moret. Citing Fr. Chao’s experience as director of the Chinese school in Tagbilaran, Bohol, and the Archbishop specified his desire for Fr. Chao to arrive in Zamboanga City by the second week of July 1965. ³ This correspondence reflects not only his active support but his strategic role in shaping the school's leadership and foundation. On December 30, 1970, the blessing and laying of the cornerstone took place in Canelar Moret, symbolizing the community’s resolve to build a better and larger Saint Joseph School. By January 1973, the elementary classes had fully transferred to the new site, establishing complete Elementary and High School Departments. ⁴ The blessing and inauguration of the new campus occurred on April 8, 1973, graced by distinguished guests including Rt. Rev. Joseph Feng, parish priest and rector of Sacred Heart Parish in Tacloban City; Most Rev. Juan B. Velasco, O.P., D.D., Vicar General for the Chinese Apostolate in the Philippines; Most Rev. Lino R. Gonzaga, D.D., former Archbishop of Zamboanga; Most Rev. Carlo Van Melckebeke, Apostolic Visitor for Overseas Chinese; and Rt. Rev. Stanislaus Chang, V.G., from Hsinchu, Taiwan. ⁵
The years that followed were marked by steady expansion. Enrollment surged, and by 1973 the school had grown to accommodate 489 students with a teaching staff of 29, both Chinese- and English- speaking. The new three-story building housed classrooms, a library, and an auditorium. Saint Joseph had evolved beyond a mere parish extension; it had become a living institution. If Fr. Paul Lee was the founder, then Rev. Fr. Aloysius L. Chang was the builder. Entrusted with the school’s next chapter, he served not as a mere administrator but as a devoted shepherd, believing in simplicity, discipline, and the power of Catholic education. Over four decades, Fr. Chang built incrementally: an annex in 1976, a chapel in 1981, a rectory in 1985, and the eventual acquisition of 8,400 square meters of adjoining land.
Yet no priest builds alone. On April 28, 1970, Archbishop Lino R. Gonzaga contracted the Dominican Sisters of the Holy Rosary of the Philippines to administer the school.
Their presence brought Dominican pedagogy, moral formation, and spiritual guidance, raising the school's mission far beyond the boundaries of academic instruction.⁶ In 1992, the Archbishop Francisco R. Cruces Building was completed, housing the clinic, science laboratories, and a conference room. In the early 2000s, a gymnasium was constructed, and soon followed by a computer lab, speech lab, and a modern Audio-Visual Room, signaling that Saint Joseph School embraced not just tradition, but progress. Through Fr. Chang’s prudent fiscal leadership, the school was firmly grounded in strong spiritual, financial, and communal foundations. His legacy was not solely one of prudence but of a shared vision, sustained by priests, sisters, parents, and laypeople alike.
A new chapter began in 2015 with the appointment of Msgr. David M. Alonzo, Ph.D., as President. That same year, SJSFI received PEAC-FAPE certification, granting government subsidies and benefits to its Junior High School students and faculty. In 2016, the school opened its Senior High School, signaling a commitment not only to national education reforms but to holistic formation. The years that followed saw major renovations: modernization of the library, science, speech, and computer labs. When Fr. Chang passed away on March 1, 2016, Msgr. Alonzo became School Director in 2017, leading the school through continued transformation.
In 2018, the installation of solar panels reflected not only a move toward modernization but also a theological act of stewardship, embodying care for creation and sustainability. However, as the COVID-19 pandemic cast a shadow over the world, Msgr. Alonzo’s health deteriorated. He passed away on April 4, 2020. Subsequently, Archbishop Romulo T. Dela Cruz appointed Rev. Fr. Sergio T. Dela Noche, Jr. as the new School Director. Fr. Sergio officially assumed leadership in July 2020, bringing with him a profound understanding of ecclesial life and a forward-thinking educational vision. Under his direction, SJSFI began charting a new course: to become an Institute of Technology in Basic Education in Zamboanga, a center of innovation grounded in Catholic humanism.
To study the history of Saint Joseph School Foundation, Inc. is not merely to trace dates or buildings. It is to witness a living drama of faith and identity, a testament to perseverance, and a reflection of the Church’s enduring mission in the world. Like the Philippine nation itself, the school has weathered poverty, struggle, and sacrifice. And yet it endures, not through power or wealth, but through a love of truth, a dedication to formation, and a faith bold enough to build.
¹ Fr. Paul Lee, St. Joseph's Church, Zamboanga City, to Most Rev. Luis del Rosario, SJ, D.D., Archbishop of Zamboanga, "Formal Application to Use Portion of Lot for Catholic School," June 23, 1965, handwritten and typed letter, Archives of the Archdiocese of Zamboanga.
² Most Rev. Luis del Rosario, SJ, D.D., Archbishop of Zamboanga, to Reverend Paul Lee, Parish Priest, St. Joseph's Church, Zamboanga City, "Grant of Free Use of Lot 149 for St. Joseph's School," July 3, 1965, handwritten and typed letter, Archives of the Archdiocese of Zamboanga.
³ Fr. Juan B. Velasco, O.P., D.D., Bishop of Amoy and Vicar General for China, to Most Rev. Luis del Rosario, D.D., Archbishop of Zamboanga, "Letter Regarding Assignment of Priests for Chinese Mission and School in Zamboanga," June 15, 1965, handwritten and typed letter, Archives of the Archdiocese of Zamboanga.
⁴ Saint Joseph School (Zamboanga City), Saint Joseph School 25th Anniversary: 1965-1990 (Zamboanga City: Saint Joseph School, 1990), Archives of the Archdiocese of Zamboanga.
⁵ Saint Joseph School (Zamboanga City), Saint Joseph School 10th Foundation Anniversary: 1966-1977 (Zamboanga City: Saint Joseph School, 1977), Archives of the Archdiocese of Zamboanga.
⁶ Most Rev. Francisco R. Cruces, D.D., Archbishop of Zamboanga, and Congregation of the Misioneras Dominicas del Santísimo Rosario, "Contract Made and Entered into by and between the Most Rev. Francisco R. Cruces, D.D., Archbishop of Zamboanga, Inc. and St. Joseph School," April 28, 1970, handwritten and typed agreement, Archives of the Archdiocese of Zamboanga.