Dr. Clarita De Guzman Jimenez, Educator & Historical/Cultural Advocate

Dr. Clarita De Guzman Jimenez

Educator & Historical/Cultural Advocate

Dr. Clarita De Guzman Jimenez is a multi-faceted woman of towering achievements.

Although an alumna of Bayambang Central School and Bayambang National High School Class of 1955, it was in Pangasinan Normal School -- later called Central Luzon Teachers College, PSU College of Education, and PSU-Bayambang Campus -- where she would spend decades of her life as college student, elementary school teacher, Social Science professor, and College Dean.

As a quiet advocate of the preservation and conservation of her hometown's cultural and historical heritage, she gives importance to the local culture and narrative like no other.

With select collaborators, she authored the town's first published coffee-table book, "Subol na Pananisia," which is about the history of the St. Vincent Ferrer Parish Church, and much earlier, an unpublished manuscript on the town's history, "Down Memory Lane," together with Dr. Annie Manalang, Dr. Anecita Gloria, et al., most of whom were fellow PSU educators.

Today, she continues to serve as an active member of the Bayambang Municipal Council and Arts (BMCCA) "gratis et amore."

At PSU-Bayambang Campus, Dr. Jimenez's tenure as College Dean was marked by significant achievements. On November 16-19, 1992, Dr. Jimenez earned credentials as a national accreditor, and quickly did preliminary work to get PSU-Bayambang accredited by the Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines (AACCUP), Inc. For this reason, Jimenez was dubbed as the “mother of accreditation” in PSU-Bayambang.

As a national accreditor, Dr. Jimenez would travel to all state colleges and universities in the country. This milestone attests to her commitment to academic excellence and institutional development.

She is also regarded as the "mother of the College of Nursing" (now Institute of Nursing) where the course Bachelor of Science in Nursing was first offered. Introducing a BSN program is a challenging endeavor, requiring rigorous planning and adherence to stringent academic standards. Her leadership and determination ensured the successful launch of this program, which continues to benefit countless students.

Apart from her academic pursuits, she was also one of the original founders of Rotary Club of Bayambang, among other things.

Even in retirement, Dr. Jimenez remains deeply involved in serving her community. She is an active member of the Bayambang Retirees Association (BRA) and a tireless church worker, the committed servant behind the St. Vincent Ferrer Parish Church's Ministry on Historical and Cultural Heritage.

Behind her seemingly stern persona as an academic, Ma'am Clarita (or 'Tita Tita' to relatives and close friends) is a warm person who loves to crack jokes and has quite an offbeat sense of humor like a true Pangasinense.

Her enduring dedication and contributions continue to inspire and enrich the lives of those around her.

Dr. Jimenez is the wife of Prof. Bernardo Jimenez and mother to fellow Laboratorians, Jude, Noel, and Dr. Mira Jimenez.