History of Central Luzon College of Science and Technology
“We Teach, We Train, We Touch, We Transform”
Focused on its vision to provide quality and globally competitive education for the Filipino youth, Central Luzon College of Science and Technology, or CELTECH College, is fully committed to being a leading career development and education center for maritime, healthcare, business and public administration, applied science, and technical-vocational courses to meet the manpower requirements of an industrializing and economically strong Philippines in the third millennium.
Conceptualized as a fashion school on May 20, 1959, by Doña Helen P. Legaspi and opened formally in San Fernando, Pampanga, as the Artistic Vocational School (AVS) on September 24 of the same year, CELTECH College, as it is known today, has evolved into a model institution of higher learning by providing low-cost and affordable quality education to the financially disadvantaged and hardworking youths of Pampanga, Tarlac, Bataan, and Zambales provinces.
In recognition of this pioneering and enterprising work of Mrs. Legaspi in quality vocational education, the Artistic Vocational School, the forerunner of CELTECH College, was awarded the Most Outstanding Vocational School in Pampanga by the Lira Pampanguena. In 1964, the need for a bigger building to accommodate its increasing student population led to the construction of a four-story building at B. Mendoza St., in San Fernando, which is the present site of its San Fernando campus. By 1967, a branch of AVS was opened in Angeles City, and shortly thereafter had its first commencement exercises with 205 vocational graduates.
The school proved that it was not just an ordinary vocational school when it won first prize in the National Hair Styling Contest in 1968. In 1970, Doña Helen P. Legaspi was cited as the Most Outstanding Vocational Educator of the Philippines, owing to her dedication towards the improvement of vocational education. That same year, the Olongapo City branch was opened with complete technical, vocational, and secretarial courses.
Three years later, through the initiative of its Branch Administrator and Executive Vice President Renato P. Legaspi, the school management acquired a lot and a building at Rizal Ave., East Bajac-Bajac in Olongapo City. It has since been renovated into a five-story structure and is now known as the Rizal campus of CELTECH College.
In 1975, the 24 Radio Telephone and Radio Telegraphy Operator graduates successfully passed the National Telecommunications Commission’s 2nd Class Radio Operator’s licensure examination. Topping the national level was an AVS graduate, Israel Portugal, with a rating of 92.6 percent. From 1977-2002, AVS became a consistent champion in both the provincial and regional skills competitions in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Electronics, Electrical, and Automotive Technology.
In 1981, the school pioneered the offering of Maritime courses in Olongapo City, Zambales, and Region III. By this time, the Board of Trustees had changed the name of the school to Central Luzon Technical Institute (CLTI). With a continuing increase in enrollment, the Board acquired the former Olongapo Doctor’s Hospital in Upper Kalaklan, and CLTI became Central Luzon Institute of Technology (CLIT) in 1984.
Now known as the Kalaklan campus, the building has been renovated into a towering structure that houses most of its curricular programs. Equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, it has fully air-conditioned classrooms and laboratories, a mini hospital, a mini hotel, and an auditorium. It also has a complete laboratory for the Automotive and Electrical courses, a modern photo and crime laboratory for Criminology, a College library with a 200-seating capacity equipped with its own Internet room, and a school cafeteria that serves complete meals.
The installation of Dr. Renato P. Legaspi as the second President of the College in 1987 started an unprecedented pace of development in response to the needs of the school’s expanded curricular offerings. He traveled extensively to the United States, Southeast Asia, and Canada, representing the country in international conferences on education and laying down the groundwork for linkages with companies, colleges, and universities for on-the-job training, scholarships, research grants, and future employment of graduates.
By 1999, the school passed the International Standard Organization ISO (9001:2000) as certified by the Anglo-Japanese American Environmental Quality System (AJAEQS) and accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Society (UKAS) in London. Shortly thereafter, its Maritime programs passed 100% compliance with the STCW 95/CHED IMO requirements.
In keeping with its continuing developments, CLIT became Central Luzon College of Technology (CLCT) in 1999, and finally, in November 2001, it changed to its present name, Central Luzon College of Science and Technology (CELTECH College). As the only ISO 9001:2008 accredited school in Olongapo and one of the fastest-developing schools in the region, it has three campuses in Olongapo City, Zambales, and San Fernando, Pampanga.
CLCST prides itself not only for its modern facilities but more so for its highly trained graduates, annually yielding a high percentage of passers in the TESDA trade tests in Electrical, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technology, and Caregiver courses, as well as in the Professional Board Examinations in Customs Administration, Marine Engineering, Marine Transportation, Teacher Education, Criminology, and Nursing. Danilo Corpuz, a graduate of BS Marine Engineering, topped the board exam for Fourth Marine Engineer Officer.
Continually growing and keeping in step with the need to cater to the educational aspirations of the youth in Region 3, particularly in the Subic and Clark economic zones, Olongapo City, Zambales, Bataan, Tarlac, and Pampanga, CLCST aspires to be a model institution for values-driven and globally competitive education that guarantees employment locally and overseas.
Through the years, Central Luzon College of Science and Technology has grown bigger through the offering of additional courses and increasing student enrollment. It continues to grow even better with time, as evidenced by exemplary performance in various fields of discipline, with its graduates shining in national licensure examinations, and its alumni doing well in private employment, in the practice of their trade and profession, and in public service.
CLCST has received recognitions that serve as testaments to its delivery of quality educational services. One of which is the ISO 9001:2015 Certification by SOCOTEC. Moreover, the Commission on Higher Education has granted the College government recognition in all of its programs. The College of Criminal Justice Education is rated among the top schools in the country, notably having graduated one Criminology Board Examination 2nd Placer, Top 7 in the Customs Brokers Licensure Examination, Top 6 in the Nursing Board Examination, and consistent Officer-in-Charge Engine and Naval Watch Theoretical Examination passers.
As of today, Central Luzon College of Science and Technology caters to more than three thousand students coming from Zambales, Olongapo City, San Fernando, Pampanga, and neighboring provinces of Luzon. Programs offered now range from Senior High School with all academic and TVL tracks, and College Programs such as Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation, Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering, Bachelor of Science in Criminology, Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management, Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management, Bachelor of Science in Customs Administration, and Bachelor of Science in Information Technology. At the same time, the College offers TESDA Programs such as Cookery NCII, Front Office Services NCII, Electrical Installation Maintenance NCII, Housekeeping NCII, Automotive Servicing NCII, Food and Beverage Services NCII, Bartending NCII, Bread and Pastry Production NCII, Health Care Services NCII, and Caregiving NCII.
The institution is also in the midst of upgrading its laboratory and library facilities and renovating some structures in compliance with the standards set by CHED and accrediting agencies. Part of its blueprint for development is the recruitment of highly qualified faculty, coupled with the implementation of a comprehensive faculty development program. A review of its management structure is ongoing in order to meet the requirements of a growing organization. The present course offerings are likewise under review for accreditation under the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation, Inc. (PACUCOA) in light of the institutional efforts to revisit the vision-mission of the school after six decades of outstanding service to the moral formation and professional education of the Filipino youth.
Vision: Inspired by the College credo: We teach, We train, We touch, We transform, CLCST seeks to be a destination center of academic excellence...
Mission: Guided by its Vision, CLCST is committed to provide high quality education in science and technology, culture and the arts and to develop competent, productive, innovative, creative socially responsible, morally upright, and globally competitive professionals...
Philosophy: CLCST adheres to the philosophy of transformative education for personal integrity, professionalism, social responsibility, productive citizenship, enlightened nationalism and global competitiveness.
Core Values: Trust, Teamwork, Professionalism, Quality and Excellence, Commitment and Passion to Serve, Loyalty.
Slogan: Transforming Lives