HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL Carlos L. Albert High School was formerly known as GALAS HIGH SCHOOL, Quezon City, and an annex of Quezon City High School. It was established in 1955. It started with only five faculty members, a head teacher-in-charge in the person of Mrs. Emma San Antonio. The principal was Mrs. Commemoracion Concepcion, of the main school (QCHS). It later became Galas Annex of Quezon City High School with less than a hundred students who made up two first year sections occupying a building that served as a chapel and located along Cordillera Street in Barangay Aurora near Aurora A. Quezon Elementary School Quezon City. Three years later in 1958, Eulogio Olegario, a former science teacher, took over the baton from Mrs. San Antonio. Mr. Olegario had continued to carry out the difficult task of building a bright future for the student population that by then had grown to about five hundred (500). Mr. Olegario was later transferred to another school. It was during the time Mrs. Virginia Medel, the third to be assigned as head teacher-in-charge of the school that Galas Annex became a complete high school offering four level of high school education. Two more buildings were rented, one located in Aleman Street (Lourdes Castillo Street now) and another at the corner of Cordillera and Luskot Street. On October 1963, the school gained independence under Mrs. Medel who was elevated to the position of principal. Five years later, in the SY 1968 enrolment increased by leaps and bounds that there was no other recourse but to look for a space to allow the school accommodate more enrollees who kept pouring in when told about the quality of education that one gets from it. The school’s Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) was instrumental in looking for a site to permanently house the 1,500 students who by then were doing their best to internalize their lessons amidst dilapidated classroom and poor facilities. The PTA lobbied for a site and succeeded when the Quezon City Council offered two sites to choose from one adjoining the Galas Market and another, a whole block along Brixton Hill beside the Most Holy Redeemer Parish Church where the school is now located. The school constituents contented with a problem which made the acquisition issue a little hot to handle. The site, 1.8 hectare in area and donated to the Quezon City government by Don Gregorio Araneta, was originally intended for a public market. Unfazed, the PTA who’s the president was Atty. Pacifico Tunac, together with the school authorities asked the city council to make the school as the beneficiary of the donation. A resolution, whose principal author was Councilor Rafael Mison Jr., was passed. The rest is history. It took time before the site became ready for the construction of a school building. The site was forested and reptiles inhabited it. On rainy days, it was a lagoon. The Bureau of Public Works was tasked to level the whole site by filling the portions that were low-lying and rugged. The clearing of the area was pain tasking but it had to be completed up to the middle of fiscal year 1979 to enable the city council to include in its appropriation of the amount needed to put up the school building. In 1972, when the first school building was about to be completed, Mrs. Medel was transferred to another school to make way for a new school head in the person of Mr. Justo Ramos. Mr. Ramos was warmly welcomed by some 1,800 students and 80 teachers with high expectations that he would continue the unfinished task that needed more just determination to transform the forested snake-infested area into bulwark of learning. The builders finished constructing Ramos building, the first ever school structure in the new site, by October 1972. It was a two-storey semi concrete building with six rooms built on one corner of the site, just stone’s throw away from the Most Holy Redeemer Parish Church. The PTA spearheaded several income generating projects to build a fence. Only the Brixton Hill side was fenced as the PTA ran short of funds. By end- 1973, the teachers and students of Galas High School have a new home, and they all eagerly trooped to the new building. Mr. Ramos initiated moves to elevate the status of the school. He identified teachers who could form the nucleus of leaders who could put the teachers’ competence to a higher level. This he did by administering tests to teachers. He also made sure that the direction should not only towards better academic performance by the students, at the same time, stressing the need to develop their skills in sports. It was late 1973 when a home grown talent was assigned to be the new principal of Galas High School. Miss Gloria V. Navarro, then head teacher of the Physical Education Department, became its fifth school head. Being a part of the school from its inception, Miss Navarro knew the problems of the school. Promoted from being a PE teacher to Department head, Miss Navarro focused on the improvement of physical facilities of the school. There was only one school building with 1,800 students, but she made up for this by accommodating two classes in one classroom, and by building makeshift rooms where some students could hold classes. The back to back classes in the chapel did not escape from the probing eyes of the media. It was featured in a broadsheet and Miss Navarro saw this as an opportunity to bring the matter to the attention of some government agencies. Commodore Hilario Ruiz, of the Philippine Navy who responded to the distressed call of Miss Navarro, sent his Seabee to put up four three-room pre-fabricated buildings where Mathay Hall now stands. Miss Navarro’s blueprint for school development continued. In 1976, the Bureau of Public Works, upon the recommendation of the city government, started the construction of another school building. Two years after, a concrete eighteen room, two-storey school building was inaugurated and was named after Miss Navarro which at present is being occupied by the First Year students. Since Galas Annex of Quezon City School was no longer located in Galas District, some of the school authorities requested to change it to Don Gregorio Araneta High School to no avail. In 1976, the city council passed a resolution renaming Galas Annex of Quezon City High School as Carlos Lukban Albert High School in honor of Quezon City Vice-Mayor Carlos L. Albert, who died before the end of his term due to a lingering illness. He deserved to be immortalized by the residents of Quezon City for he led the conversion of Cubao district to a business hub of Quezon City. In the earlier years of CLAHS, one of its main attractions was a lagoon located exactly at the middle of the campus where some could have a good catch of white and black catfish and mudfish which abounded during the rainy season. Visitors awed in administration for this special attraction. Despite the good things found in the campus, CLAHS has its unpleasant history too. It had become a battlefield in the rumbles of the warring gangs because the school was open, as only its front part had fence. Miss Navarro requested the school board to finance the complete fencing of the school for it was open to burglars and the teachers and students were not safe to thugs who could freely walk in and out of the campus. It was approved and acted immediately by the board. The community predicted that the school’s goal would be achieved in a short span of time. In the gatherings and occasions when community elders and civic leaders were present, praises were echoed, commending the faculty’s industry, patience, concern and commitment. Teachers did not realize their works were worth commendable and reaped glory for the school. In early 80’s, two civic organizations adopted the school for its effort on bringing about quality education for the young people in the community. The Rotary Club of Sta. Mesa West offered scholarships to poor but diligent graduates. Rotarian Mike Pecache and Robert Comia led the club in providing assistance for the scholars. The Uptown Lions headed by Mr. Henry Tong and Dr. Manuel Trinidad, likewise, provided yearly incentives in the form of medals, certificates and cash awarded to the civic-spirited students. Several graduates of the school were beneficiaries of college scholarships, courtesy of the Uptown Lion’s Club. Other civic organizations like Soroptomists International, the Inner Wheel and Z-Club also extended their hands in recognizing individual students and groups that showed good discipline. Miss Navarro solicited funds tirelessly for the beautification of the school. For three successive years, 1983-1985, the school handed down the winner in the beautification contests which were held under the auspices of the city government. It was installed on the Hall of Fame on the succeeding year. While the administration focus was towards the development of the school facilities, the teachers were silently shaping the future for the students. They helped one another in the search for effective teaching strategies. As a result, the academic performance of the students improved tremendously catapulting the school to one of the best performing public high schools in the city. Awards came from the students winning in academic competitions. The school’s athletes found themselves too classy against opponents in the different sports events, bringing home medals and trophies. As expected in 1986, Miss Navarro romped away the coveted Most Outstanding Principal Award. The time came when the school authorities realize the need for bigger space. At that time, physical education teachers held classes along Brixton Hill while others stay in the church yard. Bigger school activities had to be held in vacant lots outside the campus usually in the place where the SO-EN Building now stands to accommodate large audience. The campus was wide but the lagoon ate up what was supposed to be a playing field and an activity center of the school. The lagoon had to go. In 1990, the national government through the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) Secretary Isidro Carin͂o, put up the science and home economics building in the west portion of the campus. However the shortage of classroom prevented it from being so. The building is now called Carin͂o Building which houses the Second Year students and the canteen. Three (3) years later in 1993, the then Mayor Ismael Mathay Jr., approved the construction of a covered court. Miss Navarro never saw its completion including the construction of the Belmonte Building which former Congressman Feliciano Belmonte promised in the same year. She retired in June 1993. In her place came another lady who is witty and firm on her decision making. Mrs. Sheridan Evangelista, a former head teacher in social studies, took the cudgels and immediately laid out plans for more improvement of the school. It was during her term that the Mathay Hall was constructed. The construction of the Belmonte Building also began when she came. She requested the school board for additional fund so that the perimeter fence could be heightened. The playing field was improved. Most importantly, she streamlined the school policy and defined it to fit the teachers and students. It was also during her time that the PTA was revived. When she left, she turned over the management of the school canteen to the faculty. Mrs. Evangelista was promoted and transferred to another school in 1997. She was replaced by an equally intelligent lady, Dr. Sally Barcelona, whose first move was to allow the participation of teachers in policy making. She believed that in order to realize the school’s vision, everyone on the academe should have a hand on decision making. It was during her time when the Belmonte Building was completed. She transferred the office of administration from Navarro Building to the first floor of the newly constructed building in order to reach 100 percent of students and teachers. She stayed in the school for more than a year and got a promotion in January 1999. It was the turn of a male administrator in the person of Mr. Alfredo Dela Cruz to continue the work left unfinished by those who preceded him. He assigned learning centers for each of the five disciplines where exchange of teaching strategies and ideas on how learning can be made easier for students take place. Mr. Dela Cruz underscored the need to enhance the organizational climate in the school. Seminar workshops were held stressing the importance of cooperation and empathy, zeroing in towards effective and efficient transfer of knowledge from teachers to students. In the year 2000, the uniform of the boys was changed, from the usual khaki pants to black cotton pants because black does not absorb dirt very easily. In the following year the uniform for girls was changed to white blouse with checkered green skirt. It was noted that the old one has lost its exclusivity as it was readily available everywhere. Mr. Dela Cruz retired in November 2007. He was replaced by Dr. Cynthia Vidad, who stayed for only one (1) month. Dr. Vidad was promoted to P-III; hence she had to go to a P-III school. In January 2007, Mrs. Corazon Lomibao continued the task of building a bright future. The renovation of the Ramos Building started by putting of a conference room in the first floor and the completion of the DepEd Building at the back of the Carin͂o Building and the improvement of the stage. In September 2008, Mrs. Corazon Lomibao was replaced by Dr. Modesto G. Villarin, equally competent, innovative and hardworking. He introduced the electronic grading system via Electronic Class Record (ECR), which is of great help for the teachers. He assigned IT teachers for each year level to assist and consolidate the grades and come up with a printed Summary Grading Sheets to be given for each class adviser. And to keep abreast with the modern technologies, he also introduced the Wi-Fi and Globe Connect, in cooperation with Globe Telecommunications Network. These innovations enable the students, as well as, the teachers to easily get connected to the internet, which is very helpful in gathering up-to-date information for their assignments, researches and lessons. The Globe Connect, on the other hand, informs the students, parents and guardians about the latest events and activities in the school including the class suspension if there were typhoons, and the like, through a text message. To enhance the teachers’ performance and competencies, Dr. Villarin conducted class observations with the aid of the Teaching-Learning Observation Guide (TLOG), which aims to identify the teachers’ weaknesses and gives recommendations to help them overcome areas that need to be improved, as well as, to augment their teaching skills and capabilities. He likewise organized the Board of School Governance (BOSG), based on the School Based Management (SBM). The board is composed of parents, teachers, students, alumni, concerned citizens and public servants, because he believed in the power of united effort in order to secure a wonderful and purposeful future of the students, and to improve school performance. Dr. Villarin also brought the “Handuraw” in CLAHS. It is a dance theatre composed of dynamic students from various year levels, who display exemplary talents in dancing and acting, trained by Mr. Stephen Cantara. The Handuraw dancers just then, became the Albertans’ pride because they compete and perform not only in CLAHS, but also outside the school. It was during his time when the typhoon Ondoy in September of 2009, ruined and washed out almost everything that he and the previous administrations had invested and established. The important files and documents, the computers, and essential facilities and appliances were destroyed. It was really a traumatic part of the history. But with the determination and perseverance of Dr. Villarin, together with the faculty members and school personnel, Carlos L. Albert High School got up from the catastrophe, and is continuously soaring up high. The reconstruction of the Mathay Building was also done in his term, where the said building was repainted and added with grills to avoid accidents, especially on the third floor of the building. In February of 2010, Dr. Villarin was promoted to Principal IV, so, like Dr. Vidad, he had to transfer to a P-IV school. Mr. Getulio E. Oliveros Jr. took the place of Dr. Villarin. He is the current school head of CLAHS, who continued and adopted the legacy that the former administrations had left.
Posted on: Thu, 25 Jul 2013 12:58:07 +0000
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