Bayanihan Spirit Helps Establish Mabalacat City College - Dapdap

What started out as a simple request for a school transport turned out to be a multi-million education project which involved the national, provincial, local government and the private sector. Mr. Javier Taruc, the Punong Barangay of Dapdap, Mabalacat City, wrote a letter to Governor Lilia Pineda requesting for a donation of a vehicle that will to transport Dapdap students to Mabalacat City College at Dolores.

Mayor Marino P. Morales prepares the ground
for the construction of MCC Dapdap

But Gov. Pineda wanted something lasting. She, instead, donated PhP10,000,000.00 for the construction of higher education facilities for Mabalacat City College to hold classes at Barangay Dapdap. This came in as a wonderful news to Mayor Marino P. Morales who then asked the City Government of Mabalacat to pledge PhP10,000,000.00. Then, the bayanihan spirit kindled. Dr. Rolando R. Buan, a US-based Kapampangan surgeon and philanthropist, and Fiesta Communities, Inc. responded by donating a one-hectare lot for the campus. Congressman Joseller Guiao joined the bandwagon by pledging  another PhP 10,000,000.00. The members of the administration, faculty, staff and student body of Mabalacat City College, on their part, promised to provide and maintain quality instruction, research and community services.

The festive ground-breaking ceremony was held last September 5, 2014. It was attended by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Pampanga led by Hon. Cris Garbo and Hon. Cherry Manalo; the Sangguniang Panglunsod of Mabalacat City, headed by Vice Mayor Christian C. Halili; the MCC Academic Community presided by Prof. Carmelita P. Sotto; the Sangguniang Barangay of Dapdap headed by Punong Barangay Javier Taruc; and the officers and personnel of Hausland Development Corporation, developer of Fiesta Communities, Inc., headed by Mr. Wilfredo Tan.

After the ceremonies, the Board of Trustees of MCC met and approved the opening of the branch to be headed by Atty. Robert John I. Donesa, Branch Administrator.

Mrs. Carmelita P. Sotto, Mabalacat City College President

          

The education landscape at Mabalacat City, Pampanga will not be complete without Prof. Carmelita Pangan Sotto. Her accomplishment in championing the instruction at Mabalacat, Pampanga from basic to higher education is one of a legacy.

Prof. Carmelita P. Sotto

Born on October 21, 1951, Prof. Carmelita P. Sotto hails from a not so well-off but a very successful family with members making names in the community. She finished her primary education at Mabalacat Elementary School (1963) and her secondary education at St. Anthony Junior College (1966).

She then proceeded to the University of Santo Tomas and earned a Bachelor of Elementary Education degree in 1971. She also held degrees of Master of Education (Special Education) and Certificate in Teaching (Special Education) from the University of the Philippines.

Prof. Sotto rose through the ranks from a Grade 1 Teacher to a District Supervisor. She was a Grade I Teacher (1973-1978) at San Francisco Elementary School; a Special Education Teacher for the Mentally Retarded (1978-1984) at Dau Elementary School and a Head Teacher V (1984-1987) at Lakandula Elementary School, all at Mabalacat, Pampanga. In 1987, she was promoted to Principal I and was assigned at Lakandula Elementary School (1987-1990); then as Principal II (1990-1994) at Dau Homesite Elementary School; she did have a short stint as Principal II at Santa Lucia Elementary School and at Talimundok Elementary School all at Mabalacat, Pampanga.

She started her colorful career as a District Supervisor in Santo Tomas, Pampanga (1996-2001). Then, she was assigned back to her beloved Mabalacat as District Supervisor of Mabalacat North District (2001-2003) and at Mabalacat South District (2003-2008).

In 2008, she headed the establishment of Mabalacat East District which she supervised from 2008 to 2012. Also in 2008, she was hailed as the “Most Outstanding Supervisor in the Philippines” defeating thousands of supervisors in the country who vied for the title. She also sat as a Committee Member for the establishment of Mabalacat City College where she eventually served as Vice President for Administration and Finance (2008-2014).

Prof. Sotto affectionately refers to her family as her greatest treasure. She is married to Hon. Eduardo D. Sotto, a member of the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Mabalacat City, Pampanga. They have three (3) children: Eunice Cielo (nurse), Eugene Carlo (criminologist) and Eubert Chino (tourism manager) and (4) grand children: Einee Coleen, Juan Mateo, Vince Eduard and Sophia Eiva.

On July 31, 2014, the Board of Trustees headed by Mayor Marino P. Morales designated Mrs. Carmelita P. Sotto as the next President of Mabalacat City College effective September 1, 2014.