BRIEF HISTORY

The College of Commerce has come a long way after it was founded in 1937. Fr. Bernard Bonk, SVD was the founder and the first Dean of the college of the then San Carlos College , now the University of San Carlos . The Cebuano Studies Center of the university has preserved copies of The Carolinian of the early 1940s which contained bits of information about the first Dean and founder of the college.

Fr. Bernard Bonk, SVD was in charge of the financial affairs of the Society of the Divine Word in the United States Province before he was transferred to the Philippine Province. As a young priest, he was singled out for post-graduate studies in business by the Society to prepare him for his important role. He went to De Paul University in Chicago for his commerce degree and finished his Master of Arts degree at Harvard University Boston. He was in charge of the financial affairs of the society for fifteen years.

The SVD Fathers took over the administration of San Carlos College in 1935. They immediately realized the need for competent administrators for the growing departments of the College. When the need for a College of Commerce became clear, the local superiors could only think of Fr. Bonk to be Dean and founder of the new College of Commerce . He also took the post of Vice Rector and Treasurer of San Carlos College.

During his Sacerdotal silver jubilee celebration in September 30, 1940 , Fr. Bernard Bonk, SVD was described as an educator, a missionary and above all a priest.