The late Mr. Nemesio Gaviola and his wife, the former Consuelo Fernandez were on their way for a short vacation in Calasiao, Pangasinan. When they noticed that the town of San Manuel, Tarlac is a very remote town and that they have the intuition that there is no existing high school in the vicinity yet. To confirm his assumption, they passed by the Office of the Municipal Mayor to inquire about the town. It is happed that the couple has decided to close their Secondary School in Tayuman because of the tremendous increase in the building rentals. Upon their knowledge that there is no school in the community, they immediately decided that they will put up a high school in the community. This was in 1948. The school was named San Manuel High School and was housed near the church. Later on, the couple was able to purchase a lot near the San Manuel Municipal Building. The school was later renamed to Our Lady of Remedies Academy in honor of the town’s patron saint, Our Lady of Remedies. Driven with passion to contribute for the educational upliftment of the town’s people, their siblings, Michael, the eldest son. Fe, Thelma, Rene and Andrew took their own parts of this achievement, the existence of the first educational institution in San Manuel.
The high school started with only 16 enrollees in June 1949 but as years passed, its population has greatly increased.
The school is not only serving the youth of San Manuel but also the neighboring towns of Anao, Tarlac, Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija and Rosales, Pangasinan.
In 1987, in as much as the school have produced quality graduates who have excelled in their chosen course in college, the people in the community suggested to the school administration that the levels of education be offered so that their children will be assured of a brighter future so the Gaviola Family decided to open the pre-school department to cater to the young kids who have shown early interest in their studies, this was followed of the opening of the Elementary department together with the College Department. This is the rationale why the administration decided to change the name of the school to OLRA College Foundation, Inc.
As of this date, the school offers Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy, Midwifery, Associate in Radiologic Technology & Nursing Aid in Paramedical Department. Other courses offered are Bachelor of Secondary Education, Major in English, Bachelor of Elementary Education, Bachelor of Arts, Major in Political Science, Associate in Computer Science, Computer Programming, Computer Technician, General Clerical Course, Associate in Hotel & Restaurant Management and Caregiver Course.
In the year 2000, the Arenas Family thought wise that the College level should have its own identity as an independent school, so the family members, who also acted as the Board of Trustees of the school decided that the school OLRA College Foundation – Tertiary Level be renamed to CARTHEL SCIENCE EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION, INC. CARTHEL is an acronym for the first names of the couple CARLITO V. ARENAS., M.D., College President and THELMA G. ARENAS, R.N.,R.M.MAN, Executive Vice President and Finance Officer who exerted all their time, effort and resources to make the campus as modern as it is mow. The members of Board of Trustees comes from their own family, SHARON MAE A. CAROLINO, R.D.,RM.,MAN, Vice President of Health Services, GARRY JAMES G. ARENAS, BS Psychology Vice President for student Affairs and Guidance Director and MELANIE ANN G. ARENAS, BSE BIO, MD., Vice President for Community Extension Services and Marketing Director, MA. LIZA ARNI G. ARENAS, RN, MAN, Vice President for External Affairs, CARLITO G. ARENAS JR, RMT, MD, Vice President for Health Services . The campus stand proud in a 3.5 hectares lot comprised of modern buildings and equipped with adequate facilities to meet the needs of the students such as air conditioned classrooms, audiovisual and power point services, computers and air conditioned health and transportation facilities and professional services of a school nurse, school doctor and pool of guidance counselors.
This school Year 2007-2008, horizons were widened when the CARTHEL High School Department, the future CARTHEL Montessori, Pre-elementary and Elementary, Junior High School.
Due to public demand other courses in the College Department like Bachelor of Science in Criminology, Bachelor of Science in Midwifery and Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management were opened in 2014 to cater students of San Manuel, Tarlac and nearby municipalities.
In 2015 Senior High School Department was also opened and given birth and started giving quality education to younger generations. .
