The history of Mary Help of Christians School, Inc. Canlubang, Laguna. St. John Bosco and St. Mary Domenica Mazzarello founded the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco) in 1872. From its humble beginnings in Mornese, a simple village in Italy, the congregation is now a presence in more than 70 countries all over the world with more than 17,000 FMA's (an Italian acronym for Daughters of Mary Help of Christians) who live and work with the young ib the style of the Preventive System.

   In 1955, the communists' takeover of China forced the FMA missionaries stationed there to move to Hong Kong and then to the Philippines where they started a variety of apostolic works such as the oratory youth centers and schools. After 48 years of its educative presence, the Salesian Sisiters of St. John Bosco of the Philippine Province can be found in 15 communities in Luzon and Visayas. They involve themselves in various forms of apostolic presences such as the oratory youth centers, catechetical apostolate, schools, street children, boarding houses, student centers, technology centers, and in many other various forms of human-social promotion such as medical-dental and livelihood programs.

   Mary Help of Christians School started its operation in June, school year 1973-74, with only a preschool department. It was handled by the Sisters of St. Joseph Community, Canlubang whose Superior was Sr. Anna Maria Mattiussi. The two bungalows near the Don Bosco Seminary served as the classrooms for the morning and afternoon sessions, Sr. Margarita Gapuz was directly in-charge of running the preschool. The Educating Community was already in its germinal stage with the collaboration and support of the parents of Canlubang and Calamba.

   In 1974, the preschool was transferred to St. Mary Mazzarello Novitiate. Sr. Margarita Gapuz continued to be its principal up to March 1976.

   When Philippine province still belinged to the Chinese Province of Hong Kong, our Provincial Superior, Mother Franca Dardanello, saw the need to build a school to meet the demand of the growing numbers of enrollees. And so with the help of the Chinese benefactors from Hong Kong, the construction of the Mary Help of Christians School building began.

   Mary Help of Christians School was finally built and inaugurated on May 28, 1979. The first superior of the new community was Sr. Anita Miranda. The school opened in June with 567 students.

   The new school building, though not yet completed, was used in 1976. Sr. Nora continued to be the school principal.

   The school structure did not appear as it is now. At first, only one wing of the building was built. The school was still surrounded by tall grasses amd it was not yet fenced all around. Since the grounds were not yet cemented, one could imagine how muddy it was during rainy seasons and how dusty it was when the wind blew during the dry season. IN addition to the building, there was a hall where assemblies and school masses were held.

   Mary Help of Christians School was finally completed abd inaugurated on May 28, 1979.

   Aside from being a school, Mary Help of Christians School is a house of formation. It is a place for the apostolic experience of the young Junior Sisters and the young people in formation. The Sisters and the people in formation were the ones who handled all the activities and services of the school. There were no salaries needed for the faculty and maintainance of the school, and so the institution was providing quality education while charging its recipients a very low tuition fee.

   In 1984, the school Directress, Sr. Felicidad Boado, started a series of evening meetings with the parents to sensitize them about their role in the Educating Community. And so the Educating Community finally came into being with parents who were willing and enthusiastic to be involved in the Christian formation of their children.

   The school year 1988-1989 has been a very significant academic year in the history of MHCS as it marked the opening of its doors to the first batch of high school girls. A new three-story building was annexed to the old elementary building, the construction of which was completed in April of 1988. This is the providential answer to urgent request of both parent sand students for a secondary education, on the grounds that MHCS has already gained credibility as regards academics and Christian formation of the young. On February 26, 1991 the school received the Government Recognition No. 003x. 1991 for a complete secondary course. In the school year 1994-1995, the school ranked 40 among 250 schools in the country in the National Aptitude Test (NSAT).

   To this day, its 30 years of educative presence proved to be fruitful not only in the lives of the young it educates but also in the growth of the Educating Community.

   The sharing of life, collaboration, and unity of vision among the sisters, lay collaborators, parents, and young people made the school what it is today. After 30 years, Mary Help of Christians School's journey of loving service and dedication to young people goes on.