Talk:Arellano High School

Contested deletionEdit

This page should not be speedy deleted as pure vandalism or a blatant hoax, because... the subject-matter is a historical and current fact; only, create policies on composition and style may have been violated. This will be corrected. --Percivalcruz (talk) 14:39, 3 April 2012 (UTC)

When the Americans occupied the Philippines after defeating the Spanish armada in Manila Bay in 1898, subsequently a public high school system was created along with other public services. It is said that Spain's greatest contribution in the Philippines is Christianity. The American's is public education. The first American-established public high school in Manila was Manila High School. In 1921, Manila High School was split into two: Manila South High School, later renamed Araullo (Manila South) High School and Manila North High School, later renamed Arellano (Manila North) High School. The two pioneer public high schools expanded into many branches or annexes, these later on became independent public high schools on their own right. Many of the first public high schools were named after Filipino legal magistrates trained in the American legal system, among them, Cayetano Arellano (who became the first Filipino Chief Justice of the Supreme Court), Manuel Araullo, Victorino Mapa, Florentino Torres, Ramon Avancena, Jose Abad Santos, and others.

Arellano (Manila North) High School is located on Teodoro Alonzo Street, Sta Cruz, Manila, Philippines.

The first principals were Americans, the very first being Mr. Eugene Willis Porter (1921-22), followed by Mr. Ralph Sams (1922-25), in whose term the school acquired its present site. It was also during the time of Mr. Sams that the first graduation was held. The third American principal was Mr. Isadore Cohen (1925-26).

According to school historian, Elizabeth M. Bartolome-Crisrobal (Class 1951), as early as 1926, under the administration of the last American principal, Mrs. Mabel Carlson (1926-41), the school became one of the country's leading institutions of learning. It was during this time that its students began winning prizes and honors in various competitive activities. This period was also memorable for the strike staged by the students to protest discriminatory acts of the American teachers against the students.

In 1930, the school was renamed in honor of Justice Cayetano Arellano.

The school, which was made into a garrison during the Japanese occupation of the city, was recognized in 1945 with Mr. Juan C Laya as the first Filipino principal (1945-48). Before the end of the year, Arellano (Manila North) High School was the only public school with two official publications: The Chronicler and Ang Tambuli. Under the able administration of Mr. Laya, the school annexed two units at La Chambre Building on Reina Regente Street in Binondo to accomodate the growing number of post-liberation students. These units later became the Jose Abad Santos High School.It was also during this period that the AHS Alumni Association was organized in 1946. To date, it is the only alumni group of a public secondary school that has remained active with projects that benefit the alumni but also the students, faculty and the school as well. Fund-raising activities were undertaken for big projects like the improvement of the library, the purchase of new instruments and uniforms for the Drum and Bugle Corps and for the Rondalla ensemble, the renovation of toilets, the cementing of sidewalks and many others. The signature projects of the Alumni Association are the Scholarship Program and the Leadership Training Program. To this day, Arellano High School is one of only two schools in Metro Manila, which has a brass band.

It was during the administration of Mr. Angel Framo (1948-49) that the Arellano High School became the largest public school in Manila. It has annexes in Halili, Rizal Avenue, Mayhaligue, O'Donnel, Zurbaran, Santander and Lope de Vega. In 1949, during the incumbency of Mr. Sixto Palaypay (1949-59), the annexes in Halili and Rizal Avenue became Manuel L Quezon High School. It was during the incumbency of Mr. Fortunato Asuncion, who was the principal from 1959-69 (he was the first alumnus to become its principal), that the five other annexes were integrated to become the Teodora Alonzo High School. It was also on the same year that the Arellano Vocational Evening School was opened for technical and vocational courses.

When a strong earthquake destroyed Ruby Tower in 1968, Arellano High School, which is located just in front of the devastated buildings, served as a temporary medical and relief center. The entire student population extended its help for the victims, and for this effort the school was conferred the Presidential Service Award. In 1968, the school opened the Evening Academic Classes to accomodate working students. This project was managed by the Assistant Principal, Mr Mateo Angeles, who was then Offiecr-in-Charge.

During the term of Mr. Benedicto Q Mojica (1969-74), several noteworthy projects were undertaken. Some of which were the creation of a credit union for the Faculty and Staff (1969) and the conversion of the retail store into laboratory store (1973). Also, the Phase 1 of the total building program for Arellano High School was recommended and approved in August 1974 through the assistance of then Superintendent of City Schools, Dr. Josefina R Navarro. When the construction of Phase 1 building was started in December 1974, Dr. Miguela C Alarcon was the principal. It was during her stay in AHS when the school tried out two trend-setting innovative educational approaches: classes under the In-School Off-School (ISOS) and Bilingual Education were started. It was also during this time (1976) that the school's rating in the National College Entrance Examination (NCEE) rose from 14th to 2nd place. The completion of the 4-storey building under Phase 1 also took place during Dr Alarcon's administration.

In 1977, upon the promotion of Dr Alarcon to the position of Assistant Superintendent of City Schools, Mr. Salvador T Parial (1977-83) took over. Under his able leadership, the school continued to uphold its traditions and to reap honors such as the most coveted Presidential Trophy for the Best Secondary School Paper in the Philippines, won in 1979 and 1981 by the twin school publications, The Chronicler and Ang Tambuli. The school continued to maintain its ranking as one of the Top Five Schools in the NCEE rating. During the incumbency of Mr Parial, the stage was renovated and the construction of the 4-storey building under Phase II began. It was also during the term of Mr. Parial that the Alumni Association launched a full-scale scholarship program for deserving but diligent students.

The management of the construction of buildings under Phase II program fell into the able hands of Mr. Carlos M del Rosario (1983-93) who transformed the school into a spacious, clean and beautiful institution. He utilized even the smallest vacant spaces in the school quadrangle (where makeshift classrooms were built) for plants, which added beauty into an otherwise cramped, hot, uncomfortable site. Under this administration, major projects were undertaken like the construction of a 3-storey red-tiled facade edifice for SchoolDepartment Heads; the Parent-Teachers Association wing with eight classrooms; the garage for school vehicle; Reading Center; the Student Center which houses the guidance office; and the Medical-Dental Clinics. Mr. Del Rosario also managed other projects like the construction of a concrete bridge connecting the classrooms; the air-conditioned Media Room complete with sound system facilities, video and slide projector; the Alumni Room with built-in cabinets; Computer Room, the water pump system for the concrete water tank for the Canteen and the comfort rooms.

In line with its policy to improve further the physical set-up, the school has carried out beautification projects; the construction of the school quadrangle, concrete sidewalks, fish-pond, benches and plant boxes; the renovation of the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes; the repair and the repainting of walls, roofing, posts and railings; the installation of lamp posts around the Student Center; and the planting of trees and shrubs inside the campus.

When Mr. Del Rosario left the school in 1993 due to an illness, Mrs. Feliciana C Villa was appointed principal in 1994. During her incumbency, the school became a Node School of the Department of Science and Technology for the creation of two special science classes per year level,wherein science subjects intended for university level are offered to students with exceptional performance in Science subjects. It was also around this time that the school became known as Cayetano Arellano High School.

Upon the retirement of Mrs. Villa in November, 1996, Mrs. Julita C Antonio became the principal. It was during her administration that an alumnus, Mr. Eduardo Fajardo of Class 1964sponsored the conversion of the library into a topnotch, centrally air-conditioned library, which boasts brand nes titles of new volumes of reference books and other teaching materials. He also donated an air-conditioned Audio-Visual Room complete with computer sets and hig-end entertainment system.

Miss Remedios E. Quiray, a balik-Arellano teacher (1968-81) was then appointed principal in January, 1999. It was during her term that Mr. Fajardo undertook the renovation of the school toilets and the repair of the drainage of the quadrangle. The concrete stage was re-modelled and flowering plants and trees were planted to make the quadrangle a pleasant sight.

Arellano High School has never failed to render the best service to its students, its Faculty and Staff, the parents, its alumni, the community, and the city as a whole. Ably supported by an active Alumni Association, concerned individual alumni and alumni classes, and the Parent-Teachers Association, the school has undertaken noteworthy activities that redound to the benefit of the students, the Faculty and the Community. A blend of the old and the new, of the past and the present, coupled with a determined dedication to uphold its vision and mission, as well as an unswerving faith in a rosy vision for the future.

Oustanding Alumni: Sen. Lorenzo Sumulong Poet Laureate Alberto Segismundo Cruz Gen. Alfredo Santos Artist Ben Cabrera Writer Adrian Cristobal Justice Reynato Puno Justice Andres Narvasa Cong. Martin Isidro Atty. Deogracias Eufemio Ernesto Valencia Carlos del Rosario Alvaro L. Martinez Manuel Camitan Magboo Alfonso T. Navales Dr. Charles S. Ham Dr. David Herrera Dr. Bonifacio Lascano Engr. Edilberto de Jesus Fiscal Noli Ma. Cortes Dr. Francisco del Mundo Victorino G. Ferriols Atty. Luis Teodoro Thelma Navarette Clemente Rene E. Cristobal Bayani B. Ibarrola Col. Ignacio S. Capili Jr. Rosendo N. Feleo Ildefonsa Hermosa Gelasio L. Dimaano Dr. Rufino J. Fajutrao Dominador P. Canlas Arturo S. Masonsong Gonzalo C. Trinidad Arturo M. Sanvictores Richard T. dela Rosa Herminia T. Ramos Atty. Augusto J. Salas Arch. Ricardo R.Poblete Eugenia A. Leonardo Engr. Marciano R. Pascual Elizabeth M.B. Cristobal Benito C. Malonzo Engr. Herman T. Gamboa Horacio Y. Sese Ramon V. Marzan Estrelita E. Gamboa Engr. Gamaliel T. de Armas Jr. Doroteo I. Romero Rosauro G. Ocampo Preciosa F. Refucio Atty. Joaquin F. Yuseco Luningning Feliciano Go Severiano O. Luz Col. Jose M. Foronda Reynaldo S. Lanuza Simeon Silverio, Jr. Aristeo Fernando Dr. Emil Ruidera Jesse Tiamson Anita Sese-Schon