Historical Roots of SAIDI
SAIDI FOUNDATION, INC. as it is now had evolved from facets of a dream the Founder, Sr. Jacqueline Blondin, MIC nurtured within her through the years. She did it one step at a time, as she responded to needs presented to her.
* Summer Educational Media Institute (SEMI) 
Concretely, she started with a course requirement while studying for a master’s degree at the Ateneo de Manila University in the summer of 1965 entitled Educational Media Course and Workshop. It was an eight-week course which would later expand and become the Summer Educational Media Institute (SEMI). This program sought to respond to a felt-need of the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines’ (CEAP) member-schools to train administrators and teachers in educational media techniques. SEMI ran until 1971. Records show that the workshops trained 286 teachers, 44 audio-visual coordinators, 63 school administrators, and 11 language and audio laboratory directors.
It is worth mentioning at this point that SEMI was Sr. Jackie’s way of sharing her degree, MA in Education, major in Educational Media, with the educators.
* Southeast Asia Educational Media Institute (SEAMI)
Then like an infant, SEMI grew in scope, even geographically into the Southeast Asia Educational Media Institute or SEAMI in 1972.
*Southeast Asia Instructional Development Institute (SAIDI)
The name SAIDI originally was an acronym for Southeast Asia Instructional Development Institute. The workshops have been put together as an Institute in 1973.
SAIDI Transitions
SAIDI, on September 15, 1975, had become not only an instructional development institute but an interdisciplinary development institute offering three courses: MA in Instructional Development and Technology, MA in Organization Development and Planning and Ph. D. in Organization Development and Planning.
SAIDI had its first headquarters in Intramuros, Manila from 1965-1983. In 1981, the SAIDI headquarters changed hands, having been bought by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) from Sr. Jackie's congregation. SAIDI, had to be transferred in 1983 to Antipolo, in a two-hectare lot donated by Primo and Luz Santos. From then on, the complex gradually grew and it had become a landmark in Antipolo where it continues to reach out to its clients and stakeholders. It was in 1983 that the institution started to be referred to as SAIDI FORMATION CENTER.
SAIDI FORMATION CENTER TO SAIDI FOUNDATION, INC.
Keeping in step with national and international developments, the legal personality of SAIDI Formation Center became the SAIDI FOUNDATION, INC. which is the official name of the institution. It is governed by a Board of Trustees composed of members of the Philippine Hierarchy, diocesan and religious priests, religious sisters, and lay people. The present Chair and President, Dr. Eligio Ma. Santos, is the first lay person who had been elected Chair of the Foundation and is incidentally one of the first graduates of SAIDI’s School of Organization Development. It had been a Foundation since January 14, 1984 when it was given full recognition as a non-profit, non-stock corporation by the Securities and Exchange Commission of the Republic of the Philippines.
About SAIDI Foundation
ARFI Facilities
The whole SAIDI complex is a two-hectare lot with seven buildings. These are structures built through the years as the programs of SAIDI grew to meet the current needs.
One of these, the ARFI building, is situated in the most quiet place of SAIDI to ensure the ARFIans the peace and quiet needed for an effective formative process.
The Chapel provides a haven of rest to the ARFIans and visitors. Set in an area surrounded by trees and plants, it is cool throughout the day and structured in a flexible manner to allow for freedom of movement during prayer time and liturgical celebrations.
To keep the ARFIans in shape, a swimming pool; a tennis cum basketball court; and an exercise place are provided as well as ample space to walk and run.
A computer room cum library is conveniently situated in the ARFI building where the ARFIans can read, accomplish reflection papers and other requirements as well as do their emailing and surfing.
A corner of the library where the copies of the formation programs ARFIans have accomplished since 1977 are kept for reference purposes.
It goes without saying that they have comfortable individual rooms, a spacious conference room, community rooms, recreational and dining areas, all in one building.