Laguna College of Business and Arts (LCBA), formerly known as the Laguna Institute, is a private, non-sectarian institution located in Calamba, Laguna, Philippines.
Established in June 1930, LCBA holds the distinction of being the first secondary school in Calamba, a historic city in the province of Laguna, located about 50 kilometers south of Metro Manila.
Pedro Evangelista Llamas or Don Pedro Llamas (1884–1946) was a pioneering educator and public servant from Pagsanjan, Laguna. Born on August 1, 1884, to Gabriel Llamas and Eleutera Evangelista, he pursued his education internationally, attending St. Joseph Catholic School in Hong Kong and earning a Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from the University of Michigan. In 1912, he married Josefa Gomez Francia, with whom he had nine children namely Herminio, Guadalupe, Fidel, Amor, Luis, Jose, Mario, Carlos and Eva.[1]
In 1916, Llamas was elected Municipal President of Pagsanjan, serving until 1920. Although widely supported by his constituents, he declined re-election due to health concerns. Driven by a passion for education, he founded Pagsanjan Academy in 1923 to address the lack of local secondary schools. Recognizing the growing need for further educational opportunities, he also noted that children from Pagsanjan had to travel to neighboring towns such as Sta. Cruz, Los Baños, or even Manila for secondary education, while Calamba lacked such institutions. In response to this gap, Llamas established the Laguna Institute in 1930, further expanding educational access for the youth of Pagsanjan and surrounding areas. Pagsanjan Academy later came under the co-management of the Laguna College of Business and Arts administration.
Despite challenges, including the disruptions of World War II, his schools persevered, with Laguna Institute reopening in 1950 after a brief closure. Llamas passed away on January 13, 1946, at the age of 61 due to heart failure. His legacy as a champion of education continues to impact his community, inspiring future generations in Laguna.
Laguna Institute (L.I.)
The Laguna Institute formally opened in June 1930, initially enrolling 95 students in its first and second-year high school levels. The original campus was housed in a rented, two-story green and white building located on a 500-square-meter (5,400 sq ft) lot along Burgos Street, which at the time was still unpaved. By 1933, the school was officially recognized by the Department of Public Institutions as an accredited high school.
Operations were suspended during World War II and remained closed until 1945. In 1950, Laguna Institute expanded its offerings by inaugurating both elementary and college departments. The tertiary programs initially included Associate in Commercial Science, Elementary Teacher's Certificate, and Associate in Arts. Over time, additional degree programs were introduced, including Bachelor of Secondary Education, Bachelor of Elementary Education, Bachelor of Science in Commerce, Bachelor of Arts, and Junior Secretarial Courses.
In 1995, the institute further diversified its academic offerings by launching programs in Bachelor of Science in Secretarial Administration, Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering, and Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, attracting a new generation of college students.
Laguna College of Business and Arts (LCBA)
College Programs and TESDA Programs
Laguna College of Business and Arts (LCBA) provides college degree programs such as Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management, Bachelor of Elementary Education with a major in Preschool Education, Bachelor of Secondary Education with majors in Physical Science, Biological Science, and Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE), Bachelor of Science in Psychology and more. ]
In addition, LCBA offers a variety of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) courses, including Computer Programming NC IV, Practical Nursing, Housekeeping, Food and Beverage, Commercial Cooking, and Bartending.
Elementary Department Reopening
After its closure in 1953, the elementary department of LCBA was reopened in 1989. Prior to this, the school reintroduced pre-elementary education in 1987, offering Nursery, Kindergarten, and Preparatory levels, thus revitalizing early education within the institution.
School of Graduate Studies
LCBA's graduate school was established in the 1977–1978 academic year, initially offering a Master of Arts in Teaching[2]. Over time, the programs expanded to include:
Master in Management (MM), with majors in Public Administration and Educational Management
Master in Business Administration (MBA)
Master of Arts in Education (MAEd), with majors in English, Filipino, Social Studies, Administration and Supervision, and Guidance and Counseling
Master of Science in Psychology
Senior High School Department
In 2016, LCBA launched its Senior High School Department, introducing academic strands tailored to the needs of Grade 11 and 12 students in Calamba City and Laguna.[1] These strands include:
Accountancy, Business, and Management (ABM)
LCBA Multi-purpose Hall (stage area)Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
General Academic Strand (GAS)
Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS)
Technology-Vocational Livelihood (TVL)
Name Change
The institution was originally known as Laguna Institute before officially adopting the name Laguna College of Business and Arts (LCBA) in its 50th anniversary in 1980[2].
Despite its official name change to Laguna College of Business and Arts (LCBA) in 1980 , locals—particularly jeepney drivers and tricycle drivers—continue to refer to the school by its original name, Laguna Institute.
Accreditation
In 2013, the institution began its application for accreditation with the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation(PACUCOA). Following a successful evaluation, it was granted Level 1 Formal Accredited Status for its Business Administration, Bachelor of Science in Psychology, High School, and Elementary programs on February 3, 2016, as endorsed by the Federation of Accrediting Agencies of the Philippines(FAAP)[2].
Statue of Jose Rizal at LCBA
The institution was also granted Candidate Status for its Master in Business Administration, Master in Management (major in Public Administration), and Bachelor of Elementary Education programs in 2017. Other academic programs are currently undergoing the accreditation process. The institution’s Graduate School and all college programs are officially recognized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), while its Basic Education programs have received recognition from the Department of Education (DepEd), the Private Education Assistance Committee (PEAC), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). [2]
Future Aspirations
LCBA continues to pursue higher standards in education, with aspirations to achieve autonomous status by 2027 and university status by 2030 (in time for the institute's centennial). The institution remains committed to its goals of fostering academic excellence in research, community engagement, instruction, and licensure examinations, ensuring its graduates meet societal needs and contribute to national development.[2]
Campus
The Laguna College of Business and Arts (LCBA) campus is situated in the heart of Calamba, Laguna, within the thriving CALABARZON growth region. Spanning 300,000 square meters (3,200,000 sq ft), the campus features classrooms across all educational levels, each designed to accommodate 40 to 50 students.
The campus includes various facilities to support sports, extracurricular activities, and school events. These include a multi-purpose quadrangle, an audio-visual room, cyber hubs, Information Resource Centers (IRC) for Graduate Studies, College, High School and Elementary, a multi-purpose hall, a gymnasium, a science laboratory, and a parking lot.
To enhance learning and research, the school provides Wi-Fi Internet hotspots across the campus, benefiting both students and personnel.
Programs
Tertiary Programs
Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering (BS CpE)
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (BS CS)
Bachelor of Science in Accountancy (BSA)
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BS BA) Majors: Human Resources Development Management (BSBA-HRDM) and Marketing Management (BSBA-MM)
Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education (BS SEd) Majors: English, Mathematics, Physical Science, Biological Science, Filipino, Technology and Livelihood Education, and Social Studies
Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (BS EEd) Majors: Preschool Education
Bachelor of Science in Psychology (BS PSYCH)
Bachelor of Science in Office Administration (BS OA)
Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management (BS HRM)
Bachelor of Science in Travel Management (BS TM)
Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship in Culinary Arts (BS ENTREP)
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (BS POLSCI)
Graduate School Programs
Master in Management Major in Public Administration (MMPA)
Master in Business Administration (MBA)
Master of Science in Psychology (MSP)
Master of Arts in Education Major in Administration and Supervision (MAEd) Majors: Administration and Supervision, English, Filipino, Social Studies, Guidance and Counselling
TESDA Technical Courses
Programming NC IV
Commercial Cooking NC II
Housekeeping NC II
Food and Beverages Services
Bartending NC II
Basic Education
Senior High School - Grades 11-12
Strand/Tracks: ABM, STEM, HUMSS, GAS, TVL
High School - Grade 7 to 12
Elementary - Grade 1 to 6
Pre-school
Administration
The Laguna College of Business and Arts (LCBA) is led by a dedicated administrative team committed to ensuring the institution's academic excellence and growth. The current administration includes:
Jose Ted Llamas Gonzales – President
Geraldine Gonzales – Chief Operations Officer
Dr. Eula Javier – Principal of Basic Education Department
Dr. Melchor Villapando – Dean of the School of College Studies
Dr. Alfredo Perez Jr. – Academe Director and Dean of the School of Graduate Studies
Notable alumni
The institution has produced distinguished alumni who have made significant contributions in various fields. Among its graduates are two National Scientists of the Philippines, recognized for their groundbreaking work in biochemical genetics, cytogenetics, and biochemistry. The school has also nurtured leaders in public service, including a current provincial governor and a city mayor, both of whom began their educational journeys at the institution, with one completing both high school and college studies there.
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