Brief History of MOMA
From its birth as a municipality until 1963, Barobo had no secondary to accommodate elementary-level graduates. The parents had to send their children either to the municipality of Lianga or to San Francisco, Agusan del Sur, or other places to obtain a secondary education.
During that time, Rev. Fr. Joannes Hoff, a Dutch Missionary Priest, was assigned to Lianga-Barobo Parish. Part of his mission was constructing the church here in Barobo parish to strengthen the evangelical role of the Diocese of Surigao. The local government, headed by Mayor Felix P. Urbiztondo, consulted Rev. Fr. Hoff on establishing a catholic school to offer secondary education to the faithful people of Barobo. They believed Barobo was the best venue for a Diocesan Secondary school because it is located at the heart of the province.
Most Rev. Charles Van den Ouwelant, M.S.C. †
http://surigaodiocese.blogspot.com/2010/10/most-rev-dd.html
Because of these, Rev. Fr. Hoff presented the proposed construction of the school to the Bishop of Tandag, Msgr. Charles Van Den Owelant. Because of the significance of the project to the Barobo parishioners, Msgr. Owelant approved the structure of the school building.
With the help of Leodegaria Espina, Rev. Hoff took the first step by asking for financial support from generous Barobohanons. Their problem then was the site of the proposed school building. They were able to raise money to purchase a part of Martinote’s ancestral land for the school site.
The school building was constructed under the management of Mr. Nemesio Gran with some carpenters and laborers.
As the founder and Chairman, Rev. Fr. Hoff organized the Board of Trustees with Mayor Felix P. Urbiztondo as Vice-Chairman, Mrs. Leodegaria Espina – Secretary, Mr. Marcial San Pablo – Treasurer, and Mr. Ignacio De Castro as a member.
The school was named after the Patron Saint of Barobo parish, the MOTHER OF MERCY decided by the Board of Trustees.
As per Bureau requirements, the Mother of Mercy Academy (MOMA) was duly registered with the Security Exchange Commission in Manila.
During that time, the school year 1964-1965 opened for First Year lever with Mr. Fabio Fudalan as Principal and Mrs. Pongos as Faculty Member.
Through the years, enrolment rose considerably due to the immense popularity of the created institution. Students from neighboring municipalities came in droves to avail themselves of Catholic Formation that the institution offered.
As soon as enrolment grew, the institution attracted some of the best administrators and teachers through the years in English, Filipino, Science, Math, and the Arts.
To this day, Mother of Mercy Academy continues to tread the path of excellence in cultivating Christian values, pursuing the highest level of academic excellence, and enhancing the innate talents of students in the field of performing and visual arts.
It is no wonder then that MOMA has made its presence felt throughout as one of the most advance institutions of learning.