Message from the President and CEO

Pilgrim Institute, now Pilgrim Christian College, was born in 1948 out of the dreams and aspirations of a group of dedicated men and women who felt the need for a school aimed at giving quality education hinged on the development of Christian character in 1948.  These men and women who shared the same vision were: Atty. Pedro Melendez, Mr. Isabelo Gatchalian, Rev. Roberto Gahuman, Mrs. Feliza Pena-Lojo, Col. Luis Franco, Mr. Felix Caburian, Sr., Mr. Leoncio Madronal, Mr. Clementino Chavez, and Mr. Paterno Velez.

On June 6, 1948, the school opened a complete four-year secondary education with 250 students.  Classes were held at the Carruth Hall, a pre-war girls’ dormitory converted into a church, library and student center after World War II.

Pilgrim Institute was awarded government recognition in 1950.  In 1964, the old stock corporation was dissolved and was later on reincorporated on March 11, 1965 as a non-stock, non-profit educational institution to qualify as a church-related school under the United Church of Christ in the Philippines.

After three previous attempts in 1951, 1954 and 1967, the college department was finally reopened in 1986 during which time the school was renamed as Pilgrim Christian College.  The college department initially offered two complete four-year collegiate courses namely: Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication major in Journalism and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration major in Management. 

On April 8, 1988, Pilgrim Christian College was granted a three-year (3) accreditation for its high school department by the Association of Christian Schools and Colleges (ACSC) Accrediting Agency thereby classifying Pilgrim as Level II in the accreditation listing of the Federation of Accrediting Agencies of the Philippines.

In 1992, four new collegiate courses were offered namely: Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education (BSED) major in Mathematics, Technology and Home Economics, Physical Education, Health and Music; Bachelor of Elementary Education (BEED) major in Early Childhood Education, Bachelor of Science in Accountancy (BSA), Bachelor of Science in Business Administration majors in:  Marketing Management, Financial  Management in  and Associate in Office Administration (AOA). In 2013, CHED approved the offering of AB Theology and BS in Real Estate Management. In 2014, permission was granted to offer BS Entrepreneurship, BS Accounting Technology, BS Tourism Management and BS Environmental Science.  All collegiate courses were granted government recognition.

Campus life is inspired by the motto: Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be the Glory).  It is the institution’s commitment to continually provide the academic community opportunities towards the holistic development and transformation of the students.

Pilgrim Christian College continues to strive to bear an active and effective witness of Jesus Christ in the evangelical tradition.  It serves as an educational arm of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) as a church-related institution, and it continues to work cooperatively with 17 other member-schools of CREATE-UCCP (Church Related Educational Action Towards Empowerment), a consortium of church-related educational institutions of the UCCP. Through the years, Pilgrim Christian College has done its share in bringing about change where this was needed, expertise where this was missing, and leadership where this was wanting. Today, it is relentlessly pursuing spiritual, academic and service excellence with renewed dedication and firm determination.