Grand View Colleges of Butuan ... Where the Future Begins

Grand View Colleges is a non-stock, non-profit and non-sectarian institution for learning that caters to the poorest of the poor yet intellectually deserving students in Mindanao. It was established in 2005 to respond to the growing demands of the less fortunate for high quality and affordable pre-school, grade school, secondary and tertiary education. It operates through a fund generated from capital contributions of the members, supporters and sponsors.

THE BENCHMARK

Mission

Grand View Colleges’ mission is to make high quality education accessible to all, most especially the disadvantaged individuals. Its goals are:

1. Offer complete pre-school, grade school, secondary and tertiary programs that are responsive to the needs of the learners and the society of which they are a part;

2. Develop and produce globally competitive graduates who can easily adapt to the ever changing global trends by equipping students with excellent academic foundation, scientific and technical knowledge and skills;

3. Develop students to have strong sense of values, ideas, moral character and spirituality for them to have personal dignity in dealing with the real world; and

4. Provide students the opportunities to develop leadership and professionalism, and sense of peace, justice and equality in preparation for their future endeavors as active participants in nation-building.

Vision

Grand View Colleges’ vision is to be at the forefront of national development and progress by educating the masses, shaping globally competitive workers who will unleash the nation from the bondage of poverty. 

THE BEGINNING

While strolling in the mountainous Barangay of Dumalagan in Butuan City, Mindanao one sunny day, the Grand View Colleges founder Manuel A. Esteves saw a group of children wandering. He asked why they were not in school. The children said they wanted to but their parents were poor and could not afford supporting their studies. Upon hearing the tiny voices full of disappointments, he felt something was tearing his heart. He felt the pains of the children for not able to go to school and reach their ambitions. Then, he came to realize that he could be an instrument to the less privileged young ones to finish their studies.

Passion for education and service runs in the blood of Manuel Esteves. His grandfather Jose Aquino Esteves was the first principal of the Department of Education in Dumalagan.

To fulfill his realization of being an instrument of the poor to have access to education, Mr. Esteves, with only Two Thousand Pesos (P2,000.00) or around Forty US Dollars (US$40) in the pocket, organized the group that would help him materialize his plans. Members of this group would soon become the incorporators of Grand View Colleges, Inc. namely, Abigail S. Villarba, Wingel A. Montalbo, Eleazar Perales and Erlinda D. Patanao. Even with scarce resources, the group has been painstakingly pursuing a grand dream of providing high quality education to the poorest of the poor.

From its humble beginning, Grand View Colleges today boasts of over sixty members, supporters and sponsors who continuously make it an institution to reckon with in CARAGA Region. It is the only institution in the region that has able to produce graduates from pre-school to college in just a span of five years. Moreover, it takes pride of the employability of its college graduates; 80% of them are now gainfully employed in different public and private entities.

THE PEOPLE BEHIND

Success is impossible without the right people working hard to realize it. In Grand View Colleges, distinguished and accomplished individuals are behind its success. Most of them are highly acclaimed in their respective fields. They are not just members of the Board of Trustees but they are also part of the management overseeing the day-to-day operation of the school.

Manuel A. Esteves, MBA                                

Founder, Incorporator and Trustee

President

                                                                  
                                                                        ·         Publisher and Columnist          
                                                                       Grandviews.com

·         Author and Publisher              

Workers News, Workers Bulletin
Mindanao Workers Directory

·         Production Manager, Host and
      Former Hard Hitting Commentator

 DXJM Butuan

·         Columnist/Bureau Chief

 People’s Daily Forum

·         Former Dean

Isaiah International College, Inc.

Mamerta T. Medrano, MAED

Trustee

Vice-President and Administrator

·         Former Regional Supervisor
      Department of Education
      Region 13

·         Former Administrative Officer
      City Division
      Department of Education

·         Former Senior Education
      Program Specialist
      Department of Education

Abigail S. Villarba, BSC

Incorporator and Trustee

Corporate Secretary and School Registrar

·         Treasurer

Starstone Homeowners Association

Lucia B. Velmonte, MAED

Trustee

Corporate Treasurer, Principal - Elementary Department and

Presidential Spokesperson

·         Master Teacher

Department of Education

·         Retired Guidance Coordinator

Department of Education

Dominga L. Catalan, MAED

Trustee  and Guidance Coordinator

·         Former Principal
      and Presidential Adviser
      Grand View Colleges

·         Former OIC District Supervisor
      Elementary Schools
      Butuan City

·         Retired Master Teacher II

Department of Education

Charries A. Palabrica

Trustee

·         Teller, Green Bank of Caraga

THE STAFF

Members of the management and teaching staff are known experts in their fields. They come from all walks of life with diverse interests, educational backgrounds and experiences. Some are teaching part-time, as they pursue fulfilling careers and professions. All are committed to pursuing educational excellence and bringing Grand View Colleges to the forefront of national development and progress.

 




Seated are members of the management staff. Below are some of the faculty members.

THE STUDENTS

Grand View Colleges’ students mostly come from poor families in urban and rural communities, including the indigenous people in upland communities. Some are supported by the local government units that have territorial jurisdiction over them. Some are under scholarship slots provided by the school. Some are enjoying foreign-funded scholarships. They are underprivileged but committed and determined to broadening and deepening their knowledge and skills to keep pace with the challenges of today’s knowledge society.  

The Graduates

Eighty percent of the graduates of Grand View Colleges are gainfully employed in various government agencies and private companies. This only proves that Grand View Colleges is a no non-sense institution of learning.

THE PARTNERS / PART OWNERS

The lifeblood of Grand View Colleges is the growing number of members, supporters and sponsors. Without these people, this institution could not have been survived its tumultuous beginning. Thus, it continuously invites more people to be a part of its growth and development.

Partner’s Rights

-       Can vote in the election of officers of Grand View Colleges.

-       Can be voted as one of the officers of Grand View Colleges.

-       Can examine all records of the school during office hours.

Steps in Becoming a Part Owner

-       A letter of intent

-       Fill-up application form.

-       Attend a 30-minute briefing through personal appearance or teleconference with the president anytime.

-       Pay the membership fee and the capital contribution.

-       Attend a Board meeting for confirmation through personal appearance or teleconference.

THE ACADEMIC PROGRAM OFFERINGS

-       Pre-School Education

-       Elementary Education

-       High School Education

           -      Two-Year Office Management

Future Program Offerings:

- Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication

- Bachelor of Arts in Corporate Communication

- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

- Associate in Mass Communication

- Associate in Corporate Communication

- Associate in Business Administration

-       Information  Systems Management

-       Education

-       Development Communication

-       Hotel and Restaurant Management

-       Tourism and Hospitality Management

-       Engineering

-       Banking and Finance

-       Food and Beverage Technology

-       Criminology

-       Security Services

-       Automotive and Electrical

-       Rubber Technology

-       Agricultural Business Technology

-       Caregiver and Nursing Assistants

-       Bartending

-       Housekeeping

-       Computer Programming

-       Computer Technology

-       Pipe Fitting and Plumbing Course

-       Graduate Studies

-       Other TESDA and CHED Programs

THE MODE OF TEACHING

Grand View Colleges is recognized by the Department of Education (DepEd) and Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA). It is now working on getting recognition from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for its future four-year courses offering.

The main characteristics of learning at Grand View Colleges are:

1.    Research

2.    Lecture-Discussion

3.    Oral Presentation

4.    Case Study and Analysis

5.    Written Examinations

6.    Workshop

7.    Practicum

THE CAMPUSES

Main Campus:

-       Purok-16, Alviola Village, Baan Km. 3, Butuan City

Other Campus (Sponsored by LGU):      

 

-       Tubay, Agusan del Norte

CONTACT

Grand View Colleges

Purok-16, Alviola Village, Baan Km. 3

8600 Butuan City

Philippines

Tel. Nos.                    : (085) 345-6593 / 345-6539

Mobile Nos.               : (Smart) 0939-8756697 / (Globe) 0909-2698858
email address            : grandviewcollegesofbutuan@gmail.com
                                  : estevesmanuel@ymail.com
Blogspot                    : grandviewcollegesofbutuan.blogspot.com