SCPS / TAKLA History

STA. CLARA PARISH SCHOOL HISTORY

1962-1963>               As extension to the Boys Department of St. Mary’s (just on the other side of the street), Sta. Clara Parish School in Pasay City started with 32 boys entering Grade V, Rev. Fr. Severino Casas was, then, assistant parish priest of Sta. Clara de Montefalco.  In charge of the education of the boys were Mother Remedios Enriquez, RVM and Mother Fermina Casino, RVM.

1963>                         Grade VI Class was opened in addition to the Grade V Class and two male teachers were taken in to help the RVM sisters.  Through the effort of Rev. Fr. Casas, SCPS was granted a permit by the Department of Education to open a high school department to accommodate the first batch of Grade VI graduates.  With the granting of the permit, SCPS came to its own and Rev. Fr. Casas became its first director.

1964>                         Three new teachers were added to the faculty.  The first group of highschool students was housed in the building in front and to the left of the church opposite the first school building.  In 1970, the building was destroyed by a strong typhoon and was replaced with a two-storey building which stood until 1994.

1965-1966>               Eight new teachers joined the faculty.  In 1966, a new three-storey building was constructed on the right side of the church.  This remained unfinished until 1980.

1966-1967>               RVM Sisters administered the school until this school year.  Sr. Ma. Celina Marquinez, RVM was the last of them.               

1967-1968>               Under the first year of principalship of Ms. Mercedes U. Gallardo, 21 High School Seniors together with 72 elementary graduates, became the first graduates of the school.  The memorable event was graced by the presence of Rufino Cardina Santos.

1969>                         On July 7, SCPS was granted Government recognition.

1975>                         When Rev. Fr. Casas became the Parish Priest of Pinaglabanan, San Juan, he was replaced by Rev. Fr. Pastor de Guzman who served as Assistant Parish Priest and Director of the school for one year.

1976>                         After Rev. Fr. Augusto Ignacio retired as Parish Priest of Sta. Clara de Montefalco, he was replaced by Rt. Rev. Msgr. Laureano Caoili who, at the same time, took over the position of Director of the school.

1976-1977>               The intermediate level of the elementary course was gradually phased out.

1978-1979>     The school stopped accepting applicants to Grade V.

1980-1981>               SCPS became the only secondary school exclusively for boys in Pasay City.  Msgr. Caoili remained Director of the school until his death in 1981.  Mr. Merlito B. Garcia who was the Vice-Principal, became Principal after Ms. Gallardo.

1981>                         After the death of Msgr. Caoili, the Most Rev. Gabriel V. Reyes, then Auxiliary Bishop of Manila, became the Parish Priest of Sta. Clara de Montefalco.  He solicited the services of the Congregation of the Religious of the Virgin Mary (RVM) to attend to the operation of the school.  Sr. M. Annie Balatayo, RVM was appointed as Directress, Mr. Antonio U. Suarez came in as Vice-President.

1985>                         Sr. Ma. Herminia Gornes, RVM came as replacement of Sr. Anne Balatayo RVM, Mr. Garcia decided to return to full-time classroom teaching and resigned as Principal.

The year saw the return of Sr. Ma. Celina Marquinez, RVM to SCPS as Directress and Principal.  She stayed until 1992.               

Mr. Suarez resigned from the school.

Sr. Ma. Julie Advincula, RVM came after Sr. Celina but stayed only for a year.  She came with Sr. Ma. Virginia Hallazgo, RVM who took the functions of the School Treasurer with the retirement of Ms. Tomasita Villanueva.

1993>                                                  Msgr. Severino G. Anatalio was installed Parish Priest of Sta. Clara de Montefalco.  He has also assumed the Chairmanship of the Board of Trustees of the school.  Sr. Ma. Lidivina Cabrera, RVM became the new Directress-Principal.

1996-1997>               The school year marks the end of a generation for the school with the graduation of the last batch of the all-boys department.           

1997-1998>               Sr. Virgilia was replaced by Sr. Fortunata Odullo, RVM as School Treasurer.  A five-storey building has been completed behind the oldest school building which provides 12 additional classrooms and a mini-auditorium on the fifth floor.  One of the existing rooms in the oldest building was turned into an air-conditioned and an AV room was made available beside it.  The faculty room, the Registrar’s and Cashier’s offices were also air-conditioned and provided with restrooms close by.

1999-2000>               The Parish Office and Sto. Niño Building at the back of the church were turned over to the school in exchange of St. Joseph building to house the administration offices, the faculty room and four classrooms.  The construction of a five-storey building has been completed.  It was named after the building which was exchanged with the parish.

2000-2001>               This was the eighth and last year of Sr. Ma. Lidivina Cabrera, RVM with the school since she was reassigned to St. Mary’s Academy – Yakal, Manila A.  Insigne took her place.

2001-2002>               Even while feeling her way and adjusting to the school system, Sr. Marina started making plans for the restructuring of the organization of the school faculty and personnel for a more effective and efficient service to its clientele.

2002-2003>               The reorganization of the school personnel was fully implemented.  Sr. Marina was reassigned to St. Mary’s Academy – Nagcarlan Sr. Ma. Corazon Agoncillo became the new Directress-Principal.

2003-2004>               In the first year of Sr. Cora, she emphasized the importance of inner direction and reflection to the school personnel.  The Revised Basic Education Curriculum (RBEC) was implemented for the first time.  The initial phase of the construction of a new building in place of the old Administration Building started.