In part 1 of this series, I said that Sta. Rosa, Laguna has two faces, the Old and the New. I have so far focused my discussion on the latter.

I cited a principle from my second post, Perfect type of housing, part 2:

Inherent geographic characteristics, scarcity and cost of land, population density and availability of commercial establishments, varied job opportunities and conveniences determine the suitable type of housing in a given area.

I gave an overview of Sta. Rosa – its brief history, its different barangays (or towns) and the population of each and its major thoroughfares. The different economic zones in New Sta. Rosa and in its neighboring areas were enumerated and described to emphasize that Sta. Rosa offers ample job opportunities for everyone.

I also said that there is so much to discuss about Sta. Rosa that I will divide my discussions into several parts.

In my maiden post , I asked you to make a reality list when deciding on the type of house that you want. They may include, among others, the following questions:

• How close to work do you need to be?
• How many children do you have or are planning to have?
• Will your little kids have to walk to school, commute, or will you have to drive them? When they grow up, where will they study?
• How far away from your church should you be?

These questions lead us to the various institutional organizations in New Sta. Rosa and the outlying areas.

Institutional Organizations

Schools

Laguna Bel Air Science High School is DECS-accredited. The Philippine Science High School (PSHS) in Quezon City provided expert assistance in the evaluation of its teaching staff and its curriculum and facilities to ensure a high standard of education with emphasis on mathematics and science. No less than former secretary of the Department of Science and Technology, William Padolina, and PSHS Director Vicenta Reyes formally inaugurated the school on the 25th of May 1997.

About Philippine Science High School: It’s the only school in the country that is not under the Department of Education; it’s an attached agency of the Department of Science and Technology.

Green Fields International School (GFIS) operated for four years as a language school for overseas students who wish to develop their English communication skills and was then known as Sandra’s Language Center. GFIS formally opened last school year (2008-2009) and offers nursery, kinder, preparatory and elementary courses. What was then Sandra’s is now the school’s ESL (English as a Second Language) Department.

Ateneo de Manila University Graduate School of Business (Ateneo-Regis MBA Program) – Ateneo and Regis University, a recognized Center for Adult Learning in Denver, Colorado, in the United States, entered into a Program Development and License Agreement in October 1997. Under the agreement, the two Jesuit institutions, through the Ateneo Graduate School of Business and Regis University’s International Studies Program and its Graduate School of Business, committed to develop an MBA program designed specifically for professionals who seek to further their management skills .

Schools in neighboring areas

Brent International School is located just a tad north of Sta. Rosa in Brentville International Community in Mamplasan, Binan. Founded by the late Protestant Episcopal Bishop Charles Henry Brent (1862-1929) in Baguio City in 1909, Bishop Brent’s ministry was marked by three major themes: education, eradication of drugs and Christian Unity. While in the Philippines, he began a crusade against opium traffic which he expanded to the whole of Asia. The current Brent opened in 1999 and was originally called the South Campus (it had campuses in Baguio, Pasig and Subic which were eventually incorporated separately). The Pasig campus closed down in 2007-2008 and Brent Manila now only operates out of its Binan campus.

De La Salle Canlubang or (DLSC), is a member-institution of De La Salle Philippines and the world-wide system of Catholic institutions inspired by the charism of its founder, St. John Baptist de La Salle. According to its website, DLSC is “the first campus in the country to incorporate a science-oriented curriculum throughout all levels of its academic programs.”

Don Bosco (or DB) was established in 1963 in Canlubang. In 1966, it was divided into two communities: the Post Noviate and Don Bosco College. In 1998, DB accepted its first batch of high school students and became co-educational. In 2008, the Canlubang community was again restructured – the Carreno House of Formation (seminary) and the Don Bosco College. So Today, there are three Salesian communities within Don Bosco Canlubang – the seminary, the college and high school communities.

St. Scholastica’s College Westgrove opened in 2001; its first building was donated by Ayala Land, Inc.

University of the Philippines Los Banos needs no introduction. It’s Hon. Mayor Arlene Arcillas-Nazareno’s (Sta. Rosa’s current Mayor’s) alma matter where she obtained her B.S. Biology degree.

Soon-to-open Schools

Xavier School will open a co-educational learning institution in Canlubang in 2012. The 15-hectare campus will be located in the heart of Nuvali, Ayala Land’s flagship project. It will be just across Treveia, one of the many residential components of Nuvali.

The University of Asia and the Pacific is set to open its School of Health Science in Canlubang. I can’t confirm yet where exactly it will be located. The image in the middle above shows the architect’s perspective of its building.

University of Santo Tomas was ranked 470th in 2008 by QS among the top universities in the world (Ateneo, U.P. and De La Salle ranked number 254, 276 and 455, respectively). This 400-year old university is the oldest in Asia and the biggest Catholic university in the world, in terms of student population.

Soon, UST will start constructing a 44-hectare teaching hospital campus in Sta. Rosa; it’s going to be 5 times the size of its Espana campus that’s 21.5 acres. (Don’t drop your jaws yet; UP Diliman sits on a 493-hectare property: )

The campus will be huge, that, according to my sources in UST, it is envisioned to include a commercial complex and a residential development within that are aimed for the families of its doctors, faculty members, officials, employees and students.

Aside from the medical science and allied courses, UST Sta. Rosa will also be a center for IT learning.

There are also rumors that the Asian Institute of Management will put up a campus in Nuvali. Again these are just rumors going around.

Hospitals and Wellness Centers

Southern Luzon Hospital and Medical Center is a world-class hospital that envisions “instilling wellness to humankind through capturing the invigorating power of nature in healing.” At seven stories, it is not a typical hospital for it features facilities and services like that of a five-star hotel. SLHMC ensures quality service through a strong embodiment of qualified medical practitioners, modern technology and the essence of life.

FortMED Medical Clinics in Paseo de Sta. Rosa has state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment apparatus including modern imaging techniques, laboratory equipment, with up-to-date cardio-pulmonary testing capabilities, contemporary day surgery, trauma and emergency care, and full-service consultation rooms. The clinics have in-house pharmacies with ample supply of medicines. Another FortMED Clinic is located in Sen. Gil Puyat, Makati City.

Humana Diagnostic Clinic – like FortMED, Humana offers diagnostic, laboratory and treatment services. Aside from its Sta. Rosa clinic,  it has facilities in Makati City, Quezon City, and Ortigas Center where it also offers skincare treatment. Humana doesn’t have its own website and is largely identified with Medicard.

University of Sto. Tomas Hospital – As mentioned, UST will soon construct a teaching hospital in Sta. Rosa. I will provide update as to how it will look like as soon as I get hold of them.

These are just the schools and hospitals in and around the New Sta. Rosa.

Again, I remind you this:

• How close to work do you need to be?
• How many children do you have or are planning to have?
• Will your little kids have to walk to school, commute, or will you have to drive them? When they grow up, where will they study?
• How far away from your church should you be? (Needless to say, UST Sta. Rosa will have a church)

I haven’t touched yet on the recreational, commercial and real estate development in New Sta, Rosa.

Be informed that on Thursday, October 1, my friends and I will explore the real estate developments in Sta. Rosa. I’m particularly excited about riding the water taxis in the lake of Nuvali. We will also try its dedicated bike lanes.

Thanks a lot and do watch out for more!