The Early Years
The story of Divine Light Academy is linked to the transformation of Las Piñas as a backwoods suburbia to a vibrant young city of Metropolitan Manila and to the life-affirming experience of a middle class couple.
In the middle 70s, the Municipality of Las Piñas was undergoing transition. The vast marsh and grasslands previously committed to agriculture were being developed into middle class residential villages whose residents were primarily urban professionals from the Greater Manila Area.
The Founding Couple
Two of these young urban professionals were Engineer Antonio D. Sese, a junior manager from one of the country's leading car companies and Mrs. Leonila D. Sese who was a teacher-administrator in an upscale school in Alabang, Muntinlupa.
The couple could have chosen to just go along with their successful career if not for a light that flickered into their imagination. Earlier, they were faced with a problem on how to deal with their preschool children at a time when day care centers and nursery schools were unheard of. And it dawned on them that they were not the only parents in the same situation.
Many of their neighbors were in the same predicament—wanting their very young kids to be in a place that could prepare them for grade school. And so in 1977, Mrs. Sese took the risk of resigning from her job to become manager-owner-teacher of a little neighborhood preschool inside her family residence in Rosas St., Doña Manuela Subdivision.
Kiddies Learning Center (KLC) Founded
Started with 23 kindergarten and 21 Prep pupils in a family residence. Mrs. Sese had no grand dreams—quite contented that in the morning, she ministered her students while the rest of the day was devoted to her own family needs.
Growth and Development
Thus, the establishment of Kiddies Learning Center (KLC) was a response to a need made apparent by the growth of sprawling residential subdivisions in the area.
The little light that was KLC slowly caught the attention of other parents, for here was a place where their children could learn and play. Parents felt secured that while they were out working, their kids were having a swell time acquiring the necessary life skills and values needed for elementary schooling.
Soon enough, additional classrooms were constructed to meet the burgeoning demand. Only on its fifth year, KLC embraced some 255 preschool children. Impressed with its unique homey environment and quality teaching-learning process, more parents expressed a strong clamor to open a grade school.
Triple Milestone Year
- Opening of Grade One course
- Inauguration of two-storey building in Rosal St. (main campus)
- Enrollment reached 481 pupils
From KLC to Divine Light Academy
Meanwhile, the main stretch of the Alabang-Zapote Road has been slowly transformed into a commercial hub of banks, convenient stores, movie houses, and other centers of shopping and amusement. By 1988, Las Piñas was a convergence of middle class living and a vibrant commerce.
Divine Light Academy is Born
On the occasion of its decade anniversary and the graduation of its pioneer grade school batch, the light was now a flame under the name of Divine Light Academy (DLA).
By this time, the school had an enrollment of 1,096 pupils from nursery to grade six, with a faculty roster of 31 and a non-teaching staff of 14.
Expansion and Growth
Molino Campus Opens
On the eve of Las Piñas' transformation as a new city in Metro Manila, DLA expanded its educational mission by opening a campus in Molino, Cavite inside Town & Country Subdivision.
High School Program Launched
DLA-Las Piñas opened its own high school department in the School Year 1998-1999, complemented by additional classrooms, additional science and computer laboratories, an audi-gym and a covered court.
New Preschool Building Opens
In July 2011, the Preschool Department located in Building 1, at Cadena de Amor Street moved to the newly-constructed 3-storey building facing Alabang-Zapote Road in Las Piñas. The much-awaited building houses five preschool classrooms and offices for the Preschool Department, Genyo E-Learning Laboratory, and the Home Economics Room. Other amenities include the modern gymnasium with bleachers at the third floor with a mini Café, and covered and secured parking spaces at the ground floor.
Modern Era and Beyond
The DLA schools have also embarked on upgrading their existing physical plant and facilities and established programs geared toward social transformation, community outreach, and other science and technology-related endeavors in order to bring more light to the community of the 21st century.
Embracing the K-12 Program
In 2011, the school bravely embraced the K-12 Program of the Department of Education with the firm belief that it will address the needs of our 21st-century learners. Additional buildings, classrooms, laboratories, and learning resource centers were built to accommodate the Senior High School in both campuses. Alongside this is the extensive training of its faculty and administrators, especially with the introduction of the K-12 program.
PAASCU Candidate Status
The academic community geared up for its PAASCU preliminary and formal surveys to gain a clearer self-image and work for continued improvement. The school was granted a candidate status in 2015.
PAASCU Member Status & PEAC Certification
DLA achieved PAASCU member status in 2016. In the same year, DLA also passed the Private Education Assistance Committee (PEAC) Certification Program.
40th Foundation Anniversary & Robotics
Robotics was introduced as a subject in Grades 9 and 10. These achievements were the capstones of the school's 40th Foundation Anniversary in November 2017.
ECCD Certification
The Local Government of Las Piñas awarded DLA the Certificate to Operate for Three Years for complying with the requirements of Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Center-Based Programs for 0-4 years old children.
Resilience Through the Pandemic
One of these major challenges, not only for DLA, but for the rest of the country and the world, was the two-year pandemic which disrupted every aspect of life. DLA, being a resilient and innovative school, was able to surmount the difficulties brought about by the very sudden lock-down which prompted the whole academic community to go online in its delivery of instruction.
With the Administration's full support and the cooperation of the parents, the teachers, as well as the students, we were able to continue teaching and learning whenever and wherever they were. Learning went on until the virus slowly dissipated and allowed everyone to go back gradually to the most anticipated onsite classroom instruction. The school, driven by its professed vision and mission continues to be of service to our students by providing Christian formation, academic, and service programs.
Counting the blessings of the past 40 years, DLA has remained steadfast in its mission-vision of producing students who are fully-integrated persons through the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and values necessary to bring out the light from within themselves for the glory of God, the good of the country, and their fellowmen.
Responding to these challenges, the DLA schools rest their strengths on their quality of instruction and excellent academic support programs that incorporate Catholic Christian morality and our rich Filipino heritage. Implementing these are the competent faculty and staff who are continuously challenged to meet the demands of excellence through various professional updating and development seminars.
What started as a dream between two people with a burning desire for educational service has blossomed into a powerful vision — a vision that parlays the hope and aspirations of the youth.
The DLA children will come and go but the foundation that was painstakingly built by their mentors and administrators will remain a force that will guide them through life. They will always "Walk as Children of Light".
"This was the real light – the Light that comes into the world and shines on all mankind."
John 1:9
(Reference: Student Handbook 2024, pp. 1-4)