The Founder

Mrs. Lydia Cuevas-Vicente

Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila School is a dream made into reality through the person of Mrs. Lydia Cuevas-Vicente, an educator who believes in the love of God and the goodness of man.

Coming from a humble family of the late Teodoro Cuevas and Natividad Mariano, Mrs. Vicente first saw light on September 5, 1938 in San Mateo, Rizal. She is the second and only daughter in a brood of five children of the Cuevas family. On June 15, 1967, she was married to Mr. Clementito Vicente, also a native of San Mateo, Rizal. They were blessed with four sons and a daughter.

Mrs. Lydia C. Vicente spent her elementary years in San Mateo Elementary School and finished secondary education as honorable mention at Doña Aurora High School. She obtained her Elementary Teacher’s Certificate with honors and her BSEEd from Philippine Normal College (now Philippine Normal University). Then she pursued her Masteral studies in Education major in Guidance and Counseling at the Ateneo de Manila University.

At the age of 18, she started teaching preschool at Stella Maris College, Quezon City and eventually became its coordinator for preschool and Teacher Trainor for BSEEd student teachers. In 1966 to 1978, she committed herself to teaching at the Ateneo de Manila Grade School, Quezon City. But while still a faculty member, in 1976, she co-authored a series of Filipino and Mathematics textbooks for elementary level for two leading local publishers until she, herself, wrote several volumes of modules and learning materials for preschoolers. This led her to leave the teaching profession and engage herself to being an author, publisher and entrepreneur.

In 1986, the EDSA Revolution left in Mrs. Vicente a strong desire to help change the worsening condition of the country. After attending a five-day retreat, she understood that with her gift of being an educator, the best way she could help is through an educational institution where a new breed of young people can be developed as Christian leaders and be catalysts of change in society. Thus, the founding of Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila School (LRMS) in 1990.

As President and Director, Mrs. Lydia Cuevas-Vicente beams with joy and thanksgiving in overseeing the growth of Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila School in the span of twelve years. Together with her two sons, she hopes and prays that, with the grace of God, LRMS may not only be the fulfillment of her dreams for her beloved youth and country but a gift that she could offer back to her Creator for His greater glory.