Holy Angel University

Establishment Holy Angel University (HAU), located in Angeles City, Philippines, was established in June 1933 as Holy Angel Academy (HAA) by Don Juan D. Nepomuceno and Fr. Pedro P. Santos. Initially, it provided Catholic education to 78 high school students and became the first Catholic co-educational high school run by laypersons in the country. Postwar growth After World War II, the academy expanded its offerings, adding a tertiary department in 1947 and transitioning to a 4-year collegiate program. In 1961, the institution was renamed Holy Angel College (HAC), under the leadership of Don Juan D. Nepomuceno. It continued to grow, introducing various engineering and business programs. University status On December 4, 1981, HAC achieved university status and became Holy Angel University (HAU). The university's growth continued, with expansions in both physical infrastructure and academic offerings, including graduate programs and technical courses. ==Campus==

The university sits in an 8-hectare urban campus. The university campus features the Epiphany of Angels Park that has an exhibit of the Seven Archangels and the Holy Guardian Angel. The university houses the original image of the Holy Guardian Angel commissioned by Don Juan Nepomuceno in the University Chapel. The university library is housed at the second and third floors of the San Francisco de Javier building; along with the university theater in the ground floor and the chambers of the University President in the fourth floor. Juan D. Nepomuceno Center for Kapampangan Studies CKP, named after Don Juan D. Nepomuceno, a philanthropist and former Angeles City Mayor, was established in 2001 after HAU hosted the First International Conference on Kapampangan Studies which focused on the study of Kapampangan language, history and culture. It is housed in the 3-story Don Juan D. Nepomuceno Building in HAU and contains a gallery, a museum and a library. Under Robby Tantingco, Director, it publishes SingSing, a quarterly magazine whose name is derived from "Atin Cu Pung Singsing," and Kapampangan Research Journal. On March 21–22, 2024, CKS spearheaded the First International Conference on Kapampangan Cuisine and Food Tourism at HAU. It featured 35 parallel sessions and 10 plenary sessions on Pampanga's culinary history, culture, food, and traditions. In the 1600s, Pampanga became the “food basket.” The titles of Pampanga as “Culinary Capital of the Philippines” and “Culinary Heartland of the Philippines” came from popular acclaim and an article by Condé Nast. 'The future of Kapampangan food is bright,' said chef Jam Melchor, Philippine Culinary Heritage Movement founder. ==Academics==

As a Roman Catholic learning institution, aside from the major and professional subjects, all undergraduate students are required to take 12 units of Catholic Theology classes. The students are also required to attend 8 units of physical education class, and a choice from ROTC, civic welfare service training (CWTS) and literacy training service (LTS). The university is home to eight undergraduate colleges, with the School of Business and Accountancy as the oldest. The university also has a high school and laboratory elementary school. The Commission on Higher Education granted autonomous status to the university and recognized three of its programs as Centers of Development, namely in Business Administration, Industrial Engineering and Teacher Education. It is also accredited by the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU) and the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE). ==Notable alumni and faculty==

• Dennis Anthony Uy - Founder and CEO of Converge ICT • Emma Tiglao - Filipino actress, model, news anchor, TV presenter, and Miss Grand International 2025 • Ivan Mayrina - Filipino broadcaster, journalist, reporter and news anchor currently working in GMA Network. • Calvin Abueva - Filipino professional basketball player • Ronnie Liang - Filipino singer, actor, and a licensed pilot. • Francis Nepomuceno - Filipino politician • Rafael Yabut - Filipino engineer • Cesar L. Villanueva - was the former Dean of the Ateneo Law School in Makati, Philippines. • Antonio Aquitania - Filipino actor, comedian, host, and model. • Florentino Lavarias - current archbishop of San Fernando. • Teresito Sison - Faculty member who was also a seminarian-activist during Martial law under Ferdinand Marcos; campaigned for the rights of teachers, farmers, and of laborers in Clark Air Base, but died in 1980 due to health decline after being tortured in various Martial Law detention centers. Honored as a martyr of the fight against authoritarianism at the Philippines' Bantayog ng mga Bayani memorial. • Francesca Taruc - Filipina actress, TV host, model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Freedom of the World Philippines 2018. • Rabin Angeles - Filipino actor, model, singer and dancer • Vicky Vega - former vice mayor of Angeles City • Alex Cauguiran - former member of the Angeles City Council • Edgardo Pamintuan Sr. - former mayor of Angeles City • Amos Rivera - Vice Mayor of Angeles City since 2025 ==References==