A new chapter in education and community growth unfolded today, September 19, 2025, at The Abba’s Orchard Montessori School site, Spine Road, Sta. Barbara Heights, as the ceremonial groundbreaking officially marked the school’s first Iloilo campus.
The milestone event brought together township leaders, local officials, and school founders, united by a shared vision: a community where learning and living flourish side by side.
Voices of Vision
The program opened with a warm welcome from Ms. Jennifer Ann P. Fong, First Vice President for Sales and Marketing of Sta. Barbara Heights, Global-Estate Resorts, Inc. In her message, she emphasized how Abba’s Orchard strengthens the township’s vision of being not only a place to live, but also a place to learn and grow.
Mr. Joseph Christopher N. Barrameda, Founding Director of The Abba’s Orchard School, followed with an inspiring keynote. He expressed gratitude to GERI for inviting the school into Sta. Barbara Heights and spoke about the Montessori philosophy that sets Abba’s Orchard apart—an approach rooted in discovery, independence, and hands-on learning, including the farm-based Erdkinder curriculum for adolescents.
Adding to the significance, Hon. Dennis S. Superficial, MD, Mayor of Sta. Barbara, highlighted the role of education in shaping vibrant, future-ready communities.
Shared Mission
Closing the program, Ms. Maria Angelica Paez-Barrameda, also a Founding Director of The Abba’s Orchard School, delivered heartfelt words underscoring the school’s mission of discovery-driven learning.
The event was further graced by Ms. Adalia “Dolly” Nepomuceno (GERI Head of Business Development), Hon. Charles Louigi Badon (SB Member, Vice Chair of Tourism), and Hon. Christine Marie D. Robles (SB Member, Chairperson for Education), reflecting the strong community support for the project.
Afterward, guests gathered at the Phase 3 Clubhouse of Sta. Barbara Heights for a fellowship lunch, where conversations naturally shifted toward investment opportunities and the township’s promising future.
Discovering True Montessori®
Opening in S.Y. 2026–2027, The Abba’s Orchard School’s first Iloilo campus will rise on a one-hectare, tree-lined site within the 173-hectare Sta. Barbara Heights township. It will initially offer Casa and Elementary programs, with plans to expand to the Erdkinder level—a distinctive farm-based Montessori curriculum designed to give adolescents real-world learning experiences.
For 25 years, The Abba’s Orchard School has grown primarily through word of mouth and now stands as the only school system in the Asia-Pacific region offering a high-fidelity Montessori curriculum from infancy through adolescence. Its Pedagogical Quality Center (PQC), staffed by Montessori guides rigorously trained under the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI), ensures globally benchmarked standards across all campuses.
For Sta. Barbara Heights, this partnership goes beyond the establishment of a school. It signals the continuation of a vision to create a township where education, community, and quality living grow hand in hand.
Together, we celebrate not just a groundbreaking, but the start of a legacy—where True Montessori learning takes root in a township designed for families to live, learn, and thrive.
