Catholic college in Tagum City since 1948

St. Mary's College of Tagum, Inc. (SMCTI)

Q: What is the SMCTI motto

The motto is Initium Sapientiae Timor Domini, Latin for The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The core values are Faith, Excellence, and Service.

Q: What senior high school tracks does SMCTI offer

An Academic Track with Accountancy, Business and Management, General Academic, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, plus a Technical Vocational Livelihood Track with Home Economics and Information and Communication Technology.

Initium Sapientiae Timor Domini The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom

A private Catholic college along the National Highway in Barangay Magugpo East, Tagum City, Davao del Norte. Founded in 1948 by the P.M.E. Fathers and administered by the Religious of the Virgin Mary (RVM), SMCTI runs an Ignacian Marian education from kindergarten to law, with basic education, eleven tertiary degrees, graduate studies, and a Juris Doctor program.

Visit the official website Enrollment notes

1,402Basic Education

3,191Tertiary Education

592Graduate Education

199Juris Doctor

Learners enrolled for school year 2025 to 2026, as published by the school.

01 Identity

The school at a glance

The facts the school publishes on its own pages, gathered in one place so families, learners, and suppliers can confirm details quickly.

Full name: St. Mary's College of Tagum, Inc.
Short name: SMCTI
Type: Private Catholic college, RVM, Ignacian Marian
Founded: 1948, by Fr. Lionell Labelle, P.M.E.
Former names: Tagum Catholic High School, Holy Cross of Tagum, Holy Cross College
Motto: Initium Sapientiae Timor Domini
Core values: Faith, Excellence, Service
Address: National Highway, Magugpo East, Tagum City, Davao del Norte, 8100
Communities: Grade School, Junior High School, Senior High School, Tertiary, Graduate Education, Juris Doctor
Accreditation: Member of PAASCU
Student portal: portal.smctagum.edu.ph
Official website: smctagum.edu.ph

02 History

From Tagum Catholic High School to a regional college

St. Mary's College has served Tagum City for nearly eight decades. The record below follows the milestones the school publishes on its own history page.

1948 to 1960

Founding and the RVM years

In 1948 Father Lionell Labelle, P.M.E. established the Tagum Catholic High School near the parish church, and the school won government recognition the following year. It was renamed Holy Cross of Tagum, with Foundation Day kept on 14 September for the Feast of the Triumph of the Holy Cross. At the request of the P.M.E. priests in 1950, the RVM Sisters of the Immaculate Conception College in Davao City took over administration under Mother Jesusa Andrada, RVM, the first Directress. The Grade School opened in 1953.

1961 to 1979

College status and a growing campus

The Associate in Arts and Collegiate Secretarial Science programs in 1961 gave the school college status and the name Holy Cross College. It added BS Commerce in 1963 and the BS Education and BS Elementary Education degrees in 1968, then took the name St. Mary's College. That same year the high school boys separated from the girls, with the Maryknoll Fathers administering the boys department. The Sisters' convent, the canteen, and a dormitory followed in 1969, UNICEF donated science laboratory equipment in 1971, and the Home Economics building rose in the Silver Jubilee year of 1972.

1980 to 1999

Graduate links and community service

Six classrooms completed the main building in school year 1980 to 1981, alongside a new library and an instructional media center in the former radio station. Ateneo de Davao University extended its graduate courses to the campus in 1981 to 1982, and the CPA Review Center opened in May 1982 with the first computer education offering. Civil Engineering began in school year 1983 to 1984. In 1990 the school set up the Mother Ignacia Research and Development Center, which helped organize the Liboganon multipurpose cooperative and a cogon grass paper project.

2000 to now

Law, accreditation, and a global outlook

The campus earned a five year renewal of its PAASCU accreditation for its integrated departments in May 2013 and inaugurated the College of Law and Graduate School building the same year, along with a renovated air conditioned chapel. The school community revised its vision, mission, goal, key directions, and core values in 2024. In 2025 SMCTI opened partnerships and mobility programs with international universities and took part in the PAASCU and CEAP national gatherings.

1948Tagum Catholic High School founded
1950RVM Sisters take over
1953Grade School opens
1961College status as Holy Cross College
1968Renamed St. Mary's College
1972Silver Jubilee
1982CPA Review Center opens
1988Ruby Jubilee
1990Community development center
2013Five year PAASCU re-accreditation
2024Vision and mission revised
2025Internationalization engagements

Milestones come from the school's own history page. Dates and program names can change as the college adds or retires offerings, so confirm current details with the registrar before you enroll.

03 Vision and mission

What the college commits to

SMCTI published a revised vision, mission, goal, key directions, and core values, drawn from its Ignacian Marian identity.

Vision

We, at St. Mary's College of Tagum, Inc. (SMCTI), are witnesses to the loving compassion of Jesus, the Teacher. True to our Ignacian Marian identity, we open new horizons with hope, grounded in solidarity, and continually journey with our learning communities towards inner and social transformation for the common good.

Goal

To live the vision and mission, the college offers all its human resources to transform the SMCTI academic community into enlightened, renewed, creative, compassionate, and empowered individuals living and sharing life to the fullest.

"I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly." John 10:10

Mission

Grow deeper in discernment and interior freedom, and be prophetic witnesses of faith, hope, and love in today's world.
Continuously form Ignacian Marian learners who witness to faith, excellence, and service in varied social and cultural settings.
Contribute to the total development of the human person through a Catholic orientation in accordance with the norms of the Church.
Constantly pursue innovative programs, approaches, and educational and technological strategies to develop global citizens.
Build up resources and capabilities and create new paradigms to address social harmony towards a dignified life.
Expand the educational thrust for the poor.

Core values

Every SMCTI learner is formed around three values that also appear on the school seal: Faith, Excellence, and Service.

Quality transformative Ignacian Marian education towards service for the common good.

Responsible partnership and relevant institutional social programs.

Sustainable programs to favor the disadvantaged sectors of society.

04 Programs

What you can study at SMCTI

The college runs one continuous pathway from kindergarten through basic education, eleven tertiary degrees, graduate education, a Juris Doctor program, and technical vocational courses.

Basic Education, K to 12

Grade School, Junior High School, and Senior High School.

Grade SchoolKindergarten to Grade 6
Junior High SchoolGrades 7 to 10
Senior High SchoolGrades 11 and 12

Senior High Academic Track

Senior High TVL Track

Graduate Education

Advanced degrees for teachers and school leaders.

Master of Arts in Elementary EducationM.A.E.E.
Master of Arts in EducationM.A.Ed.

M.A.Ed. specializations

Higher Education, tertiary degrees

Eleven degree programs across business, education, health, engineering, and public service.

Bachelor of Arts in PsychologyAB Psych
Bachelor of Science in AccountancyBSA
BS in Business AdministrationFinancial Management, Human Resource Development Management
Bachelor of Elementary EducationBEEd
Bachelor of Secondary EducationEnglish, Filipino, Mathematics, Biological Science
BS in Civil EngineeringBSCE
BS in NursingBSN
BS in Hospitality ManagementHotel and Restaurant Management
BS in Tourism ManagementBSTM
BS in Computer ScienceBSCS
BS in CriminologyBSCrim

College of Law

Juris DoctorGraduate law degree

Technical and vocational courses

Short courses under the Technical Vocational Livelihood track and the RVM Technical Training Program.

Programs and specializations depend on current CHED, DepEd, and TESDA approvals. Confirm the curriculum and permit status of the exact course you plan to take with the registrar before you enroll.

05 Student life

Services, facilities, and the digital campus

The campus supports learners with guidance, libraries, laboratories, a clinic, and a campus ministry, plus online systems for grades, schedules, and records.

Guidance Service Center

Counseling and assistance for students making choices, adjusting to campus life, and working through personal concerns, with staff available for guidance services.

Libraries and online resources

The I.B.E.D. Library and the College Library serve learners and faculty, with an online public access catalog and databases that include World Book Online, Gale, CHED Connect, and Magzter.

Laboratories

Science, Engineering, Nursing Skills, Anatomy and Physiology, Speech, and Call Center laboratories, plus a Hospitality Management laboratory at the Marian Mini Hotel for hands on training.

Campus Ministry and chapel

The Campus Ministry leads liturgical, devotional, and recollection activities, and the air conditioned school chapel serves students and personnel in their religious life.

Clinic and daily services

The Medical and Dental Clinic handles primary care with a full time nurse and scheduled doctor and dentist, while the canteen, bookstore, and cashier cover daily student needs.

Registrar and records

The Registrar's Office handles academic records, subject encoding, and the issuance of documents, working within CHED policies and the college's own guidelines.

Online systems for learners

Student portal, for account access and student records.
Grade Viewer, for viewing marks each term.
Library Management System, for the catalog and lending.
Open Access Research Output Archive and Directory System.
Institutional Calendar of Activities.
Alumni Registration Form for graduates.

06 2025 at a glance

A school looking outward

In 2025 SMCTI highlighted international partnerships, research wins, and participation in national Catholic education gatherings.

International

Partnership with Universitas Negeri Malang

The college entered a new global engagement with Universitas Negeri Malang in Indonesia, alongside a short term mobility program for the Teacher Education Program.

Benchmarking

Visits to Adamson and De La Salle

Selected faculty and administrators conducted benchmarking visits to Adamson University and De La Salle University to study teaching and learning practices.

Accreditation

PAASCU 2025 General Assembly

SMCTI took part in the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities general assembly on transformative education.

Catholic education

CEAP National Convention 2025

The Management Council joined the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines national convention in Manila.

Research

Best Oral Presentation, PAFTE XI

Two research entries from the Teacher Education Program won the Best Oral Presentation award at the PAFTE XI Regional Student Research Congress 2025.

Hospitality

Wins at the HumbA Challenge

BS Hospitality Management students took top awards at Tagum's HumbA Challenge and the inter school mocktail and cocktail showdown.

07 Enrollment and visiting

Find the campus, talk to the school

The campus sits along the National Highway in Barangay Magugpo East. Enrollment is handled on site, and an entrance examination applies to incoming first year Nursing and Accountancy students. Confirm current schedules and requirements with the Admissions Office before you travel.

Campus contact

St. Mary's College of Tagum, Inc., National Highway, Magugpo East, Tagum City, 8100 Davao del Norte, Philippines.

Need school uniforms, PE sets, or organization shirts

We print school uniforms, PE sets, intramurals shirts, and org jerseys for schools across Davao del Norte, with official BIR invoices. Message us on any channel below and we will quote your order.

Viber chatTap to chat on mobile WhatsAppDirect sales desk Call the hotlineMon to Sat, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM Email salessales@phshirt.com

08 Answers

Common questions

Where is St. Mary's College of Tagum located

The campus is at National Highway, Barangay Magugpo East, Tagum City, Davao del Norte, 8100. A map and contact details appear in the enrollment and visiting section above.

Is St. Mary's College of Tagum a Catholic school

Yes. SMCTI is a private Catholic school administered by the Religious of the Virgin Mary (RVM). It describes itself as an Ignacian Marian institution, rooted in the spirituality of Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo.

What programs does SMCTI offer

Basic education from kindergarten to Grade 12, eleven tertiary degrees that include Nursing, Accountancy, Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Criminology, Hospitality Management, Tourism Management, Psychology, Business Administration, and Education, plus graduate education, a Juris Doctor program, and technical vocational short courses.

What is the SMCTI motto

The motto is Initium Sapientiae Timor Domini, Latin for "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." The core values are Faith, Excellence, and Service.

What senior high school tracks does SMCTI offer

The Senior High School program runs an Academic Track with Accountancy, Business and Management, General Academic, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, plus a Technical Vocational Livelihood Track with Home Economics and Information and Communication Technology.

Is St. Mary's College of Tagum accredited

SMCTI is a member of PAASCU, the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities, and reports accreditation work across its basic education and tertiary programs. Confirm the current level of the specific program with the school.

Does SMCTI have a student portal

Yes. Students use the online portal at portal.smctagum.edu.ph, and the school also runs a Grade Viewer, a Library Management System, and an open access research archive.

How do I enroll at SMCTI

Enrollment is handled on site. Incoming first year Nursing and Accountancy students take an entrance examination, and all enrollees pay a reservation fee at the cashier. Ask the Admissions Office at oisac@smctagum.edu.ph for the current steps, documents, and schedule.

Sources checked: the SMCTI official website home, history, vision and mission, programs, student services, and seal pages, plus the school's official Facebook and Instagram accounts. Figures are as published by the school and can change each school year.

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