Our History – Bataan Heroes College

Bataan Heroes Memorial College, established in 1979, is a private, non-sectarian, co-educational institution, duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as a stock corporation.

BHMC is among the institutions under the Capitol System of Schools established by Engr. Sesenio S. Rosales and Gloria Laureana S. Rosales.

Capitol University

Cagayan de Oro City (1971)

Capitol University Medical Center

Established (1973)

Francis Learning Center

Cagayan de Oro City (1986)

Ginoog City Colleges

Ginoog City (1981)

Lyceum of Iligan Foundation

Iligan City (1996)

Iligan Capitol College

Iligan City (1964)

The Founding Vision

BHMC was intended by its founders to serve as a monument to the heroes of Bataan in World War II who left behind legacies of courage, human endurance, burning patriotism, and the indomitability of the Filipino spirit—values deemed worthy of emulation and inculcation in the youth.

Gloria Laureana S. Rosales was born in Limay, Bataan and had spent the war years from one Bataan town to another, witnessing the Death March. The ultimate and extreme sacrifice of Filipino soldiers left an indelible impression on her. This moved her to return to Bataan and, along with her husband Engr. Sesenio S. Rosales, establish Bataan Heroes Memorial College to honor and perpetuate those legacies.

Our Journey Through Time

1979

Foundation & Early Years

BHMC began operations in SY 1979–1980 with 293 freshmen enrolled in nine initial course offerings: General Engineering, Maritime Education, Commerce, Liberal Arts, Secondary Teacher Education, Secretarial, Agriculture Technology, and Secondary Education courses.

Madame Gloria Laureana S. Rosales, Chairman of the Board of the Capitol System of Schools, headed BHMC as its first College President.

Foundation Day

On December 8, 1979, a thanksgiving mass was officiated by Msgr. Celso N. Guevarra, Bishop of Balanga, in honor of the Immaculate Conception. December 8 was declared the foundation day of the College—chosen for both its religious and historical significance, echoing events that began on December 8, 1941 in the Philippines during World War II.

1980

ROTC & Leadership

On March 20, 1980, the ROTC department was activated as the 526th NROTC unit of the Philippine Navy. Rear Admiral Ernesto R. Ogbinar (AFP Flag-Officer-In-Command, Philippine Navy) served as Guest of Honor and Keynote Speaker, while LTSG Teofilo B. Escocio Jr. (Philippine Navy) was assigned as first commandant.

Atty. Casimiro B. Juarez Jr. and Dr. Fe Rosales Juarez took over as President and Executive Vice-President, respectively—both serving on the Board of Directors. Within five years, government recognitions were issued by the then Ministry of Education, Culture, and Sports (MECS) to all degree programs.

2005

Program Expansion

The College widened its offerings with new programs:
BS in Criminology
BS in Computer Engineering
BS in Electrical Engineering
BS in Electronics Engineering
Government recognitions were granted by CHED before the first batch graduated in 2005.

K–12 Era Begins

The College reopened the High School department (now Junior High School: Grades 7–10), adapting to the new K–12 educational system in the Philippines.

Senior High School & TVET
The Senior High School department welcomed its first batch. BHMC also ventured into technical-vocational programs under TESDA:

Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW)
Computer Systems Servicing

2017

First K–12 Graduates

By the end of AY 2017–2018, BHMC graduated its first ever batch of Grade 12 Senior High School students, marking a significant milestone in the institution's history.

2018

Becoming Bataan Heroes College

In AY 2018–2019, the institution adopted the name Bataan Heroes College (BHC), omitting "memorial." In the same year, BHC welcomed its first K–12 college entrants with new bachelor's programs:

BS Architecture
BS Accountancy
BS Entrepreneurship
BS Accounting Information Systems

Legacy & Impact

Through the decades, BHC has thrived amid the challenges of Philippine education and remained relevant to the community. Our alumni—entrepreneurs, professionals, and experts across fields—continue to serve as pillars in the Philippines and abroad, carrying forward the legacy of courage, excellence, and service that defines Bataan Heroes College.