History of Core Gateway College, Inc.
During the post liberation period (1945-1949_, the Philippine Civil Affairs Unit III helped in the rebuilding
of San Jose, Nueva Ecija. It was during those times after World War II that San Jose was like sea of ashes;
it suffered from the ravages of war, from destroyed houses to bad roads to limited transportation.
Within the four long years of struggle, the education of youth was paralyzed. The city then, started
building and rebuilding itself from broken homes, broken families and shattered dreams. In those times
of rebuilding, schools were opened and reopened. Since the city was living peacefully and full of homes
again, Dr. Anacleto E. Agaton, who had envisioned of building an educational institution, brought to life
the Colleges of the republic.
It was then Dr. Anacleto E. Agaton, an educator in heart and in mind who studied in the 90’s in such
distinguished institutions in Columbia University (Superintendent of Schools), Cornell University (Master
of Arts in Education), Yale University (AB Law) and New York University (Doctorate in Jurisprudence),
brought to reality his dream of a college that would serve the city and its surrounding towns with a
complete education. He formally established the Colleges of the Republic (COR) in June 948 after its
incorporation in April 29, 1948.
COR was given government recognition numbers 243, 267, 275, 276 and 278 series of 1949 on July 1,
1949 for the following courses: Elementary, Academic Secondary, Four-Year Education (Bachelor of
Science in Education), Elementary Teacher Certificate (ETC) and Associate in Arts.
The principal reason the Colleges of the Republic was established was the huge need in San Jose and its
surrounding areas for a conveniently located institution that would provide a solid college education for
a large number of high school graduates that would have had to face the huge expenses of going to
Manila or other cities order to obtain a college degree. There were also numerous public school
teachers who need complete degrees in Education that they had been unable to pursue because of
World War II. With a college within the proximity they were able to continue to keep their teaching jobs
while studying in the evening and on Saturdays. This is why the courses initially offered by COR were
primarily geared toward degrees in Education.
In 1956, additional courses- the Master of Arts in Education, Four-year Normal (Bachelor of Science in
Elementary Education), Collegiate Commercial Course and Four- year Liberal Arts (AB) – were authorized
to be offered by the College. It was during that time when summer classes were opened for secondary,
undergraduate and graduate courses. In 1975, the Five –Year night course, Five-month Stenography,
Five-month Typewriting course and Two-year Junior Secretarial Course were given government
recognition.
Several new offerings were launched in the succeeding years. In the ‘90’s, COR opened its doors to the
age of Information Technology when the Bachelor of Science and Associate in Computer Science were
initiated. Because of the growing numbers of parents of toddlers who are eager to set foot in a school
during this decade, COR gave birth to its Pre-elementary course after it earned recognition (No. E-20
series of 1996) in 1996. Another graduate program, Master of Arts in Public Administration, became
accessible.
For over half a century COR has provided the people of San Jose City and its neighboring communities
with quality education. The school, through 68 years of teaching has come to understand the needs of
the community and the special role that an educational institution plays in promoting the growth and
well-being of a developing city. In order to keep abreast with current trends and changes, COR
continually improves it in terms of facilities and services.
Dr. Agaton’s vision has been kept alive through the years. Thousands of students have passed through
its doors since 1948 and many have gone on occupying distinguished positions in government agencies,
in the academic and in the private sector
The Colleges of the Republic, now CORE GATEWAY COLLEGE, INC (CGCI) grows with the city each year.
As it does, the students, teachers and administration continue its commitment to provide distinctive
quality and unmatched services. In November, 2015, CGCI changed in management. At present, it is
managed by the owners of Friendship Superstores, who are based in Tarlac City.
