The beginnings of Bacolod Boys Home
The Bacolod Boys Home, the home for the abandoned and neglected children and youth, was left in good hands by Fr. Gratian Murray, known as the Father of Boys Home.
He established this in the 1960s after he visited the city jail and was shocked to see that the young prisoners were joined together with the adult prisoners.
This prompted him to approach close friends like the late Col. Alcadio Lozada together with other concerned citizens and organized the Police Advisory Council. Mr. Jake Becker of the former ILCO of Fabrica, donated the building that started the Bacolod Boys' Protectory.
Later on with the support of the City Police and the City Official and helpful Negrenses, the Bacolod Boys' Home was established at Barangay Granada on May 1, 1960. The growth continued when the Lopez-Lizares and the Bantug Family donated the 6 has. of land and on September 12, 1965 the construction begun for the building that housed 20 boys.
Thirty years later the Bacolod Boys Home has grown and eventually increased the number of orphans served to 200. At present it also provides free basic education to more than 2,000 boys with promising careers. Many of them are now in the Integrated Police Force; Armed Forces of the Philippines, United States Navy, different career path and 10 became priests.
The Bacolod Boys' Home became a non profit and a non-stock corporation. A Foundation was established to ensure the continuation of its program named -- Bacolod Boys' Home Foundation Incorporated which was eventually registered to the SEC with nos. 141112. The foundation's articles of incorporation states its primary role of managing and operating the center and to conduct businesses necessary to insure the continuance of the establishment and the operation of the Foundation.
At the start there was the establishment of Saint Jerome School. Eventually named as Saint Dominic Savio Vocational Course given after one of the student saints of Don Bosco. It was set up to give a 4 year vocational training skills on: Basic Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Bamboo Craft, Diesel and Auto-mechanic, Driving, Basic Electricity and Electronics. Other projects were set up like the candle-making, poultry, piggery, goat and cattle rising, cows, and bakery to enhance the skills of the boys for them to become self-reliant.
Looking into the future of the work Fr. Gratian came into a temporary agreement with the Salesians of Don Bosco thru Fr. Edgardo Espiritu SDB who has been his student at the early years at La Salle Bacolod. The growth continued and other areas of the center were established. The Vocational Course and Elementary school aided temporarily by the Salesians of Don Bosco started in 1988 to cater to the younger children and the nearby haciendas and sugar workers of the barangay. The school continued to grow and catered also to the high school education.
The death of Fr. Gratian Murray on December 12, 2000 was a great loss to so many abandoned children and youth. Nevertheless the transfer of management and operation to Bro. Guz Boquer FSC of the La Salle University representing the Bacolod Boys' Home Foundation Inc. sustained the work.
Standardizing of the work soon started. Later the operation and maintenance of St. Dominic Savio Elementary School was transferred to the LGU City of Bacolod. Subsequently, the school was renamed as Fr. Gratian Murray AFSC Integrated School in recognition of the great venerable work of the late Fr. Gratian.
The long term progress and formation of the poor and abandoned boys were seen and the need of a religious congregation to continue the work was identified. The center was offered to the Society of the Salesians of Don Bosco South Province. Eventually the work was accepted and delegated to Fr. Fernando V. Peralta SDB who acts as the Chaplain and the Temporary Executive Director at present.