Saint Paul School of San Antonio

Saint Paul School of San Antonio is a private, non-sectarian, Catholic school located at Cando Street in Poblacion, San Antonio, Nueva Ecija, Philippines. The school was established in 1969 by Bishop Vicente Reyes and the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres (SPC).

Saint Paul School, the interior

History

In 1969, Bishop Vicente P. Reyes of Cabanatuan requested the Provincial Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres (SPC) to manage the school. The four SPC sisters: Sr. Caritas de St. Paul Sevilla, Sr. Mary Asella Cariaga, Sr. Marie Edissa Conel and Sr. Jeanne de Rossaire Marquez left St. Paul College of Manila to open the first catholic school in San Antonio, Nueva Ecija. With the help of the Superior and College Dean respectively of St. Paul College of San Miguel together with the Provincial Assistant for Education, Rev. Fr. Pedro Balagtas who was then the parish priest of San Antonio, prepared the necessary papers ad facilities for that school year, the beginning of the new foundation. The school opened in June 17, 1969 with 32 kindergarten pupils and 88 students in the first year high school using the old rectory. In 1971, new classrooms were added to accommodate the growing school population. During that time the school had kindergarten, Grades I, and II and the first three years of high school. Classes were added during each succeeding school year to complete all grade levels in the Grade School and High School Departments.

Sr. Mechtilde Seva, SPC, became the Superior, High School Principal from 1978-1986, followed by Sr. Mary George Siriban, SPC, from 1986-1989, Sr. Jovita Pe Benito, SPC in 1992 while Sr. Lutgard of the Sacred Heart Ramirez, SPC was appointed as school head and principal from 1996 up to 2006. It was during the term of Sr. Lutgard of the Sacred Heart Ramirez, SPC, that St. Paul School of San Antonio enrollment increased yearly. During the management of Sr. Lutgard of the Sacred Heart Ramirez, SPC additional buildings were added and there were also renovations. The old gym was converted to classrooms and the floor level served as the school canteen. A new gym was constructed between St. Anthony Abbot Bldg. and the old rectory, now named Bishop Vicente P. Reyes D.D. Bldg., together with the school stage.

In June, 2006 to 2009 Sr. Myrna B. Castante, SPC served as School Head and Principal. Sr. Myrna initiated important changes. The salary scale was regularized together with the instrument for Performance Evaluation. All school employees, teaching and non-teaching staff assigned have their job description. Documentations and records were professionalized. Subject Area Leaders and Year Level Coordinators were appointed. Offices were properly designated to serve better stakeholders, parents, teachers and students. The Computer laboratory was installed separately for the Elementary and High School Level complete with the Office of the School’s Computer Expert, Mr. Cyrus Ecle. A public paging system was installed with help of the FPTA. In 2008-2009 the Pauline Year _ a new statue of St. Paul our School Patron was blessed and now presiding over all our activities in front of the Gym.

On May 15, 2009 Sr. Nora Giron, SPC was appointed principal for the following school year 2009-2010. Sr. Nora had a lot of dreams and plans to make St. Paul School a model school. Even before classes started she begun meeting with the teachers, updating them and introducing basic changes for better teaching and learning techniques.

The SPC sisters made their exit in May 2010 and the school administration was turned over to the Diocese of Cabanatuan City. The Superintendent of Catholic Schools, Rev. Fr. Michael Feliciano I. Veneracion officiated at the Holy Mass and introduced to the school community the newly appointed director and principal Rev. Msgr. Felipe L. Dayao, Jr.^[1]

On March 28, 2013, School Director Rev. Msgr. Felipe L. Dayao, Jr. died due to Cardiac Arrest. His funeral held in St. Rose of Lima Chapel in Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija. Most of employees, students, and alumni of the school that he became the principal, as well as his close friend attended his funeral. His remain was buried in Crypta Graveyard in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija.

On April 5, 2013, it was announced that the new director of St. Paul School of San Antonio was Rev. Fr. Michael Feliciano I. Veneracion. He went to the campus in April 12 and approved the renovation of gymnasium of the campus this summer.

Campus

• Bishop V. Reyes Building is the first and largest building in the campus. It was named after Bishop Vicente Reyes, the founder of the school. It houses the pre-school and grade school classrooms, four 1st year (now grade 7) classrooms, the offices, the faculty room, and the libraries.
• Saint Anthony Abbot Building is located on the east part of the campus. It houses both the second year high school classrooms (2nd floor) and the third year high school classrooms (1st floor).
• Our Lady of Chartres Building is located on the north, behind the stage of the campus. It houses the two 1st year classrooms (1st floor), the fourth year high school classrooms, TLE cooking room, science (except for Physics) laboratory (2nd floor).
• Pere Chauvet Building is located near the Bishop V. Reyes Building, and is the latest building founded in the campus. It previously held grades three, four, or five classrooms but now houses the Physics and computer laboratories, the school canteen, and a grade two classroom.
• Our Lady of Divina Pastora Building is a one-storey building that houses grade one classrooms and is located near the Pere Chauvet Building.

Notable Alumni/Former Students

• Leif Estrada, artist and designer, although not an official alumni of the school, he attended it during his elementary studies. He graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture degree from California College of the Arts in San Francisco, and currently attending Harvard University's Graduate School of Design.

References