Don Bosco Academy, Pampanga

Don Bosco in the Philippines

The presence of Don Bosco in the Philippines began in 1912 when two Salesian priests arrived in the Parish of Nuestra de los Remedios in Malate, Manila. Ten years later, the Rt. Rev. Msgr. William Piani,SDB and Rev. Louis Morrow,SDB were appointed Delegate and Secretary respectively. The Salesian mission in the Philippines took a more definite shape with the designation of Rev. Fr. Charles Braga, SDB as the first Provincial Superior. He paved the way for the establishment of a permanent Salesian Society in the country.

The first Salesian educational institution, St. John Bosco Academy, was founded in 1951 in Tarlac, Tarlac. A second institution was established in 1952 at Victorias, Negros Occidental, and was followed by other schools in Mandaluyong in 1953, in Cebu and in Makati in 1954 and eventually Pampanga in 1956.^[1]

Development

The years that followed saw an ever-increasing enrollment of students that paved the way for the construction of more buildings and facilities inside the DBA campus.

The grade school curriculum offering expanded to add Grades 3 to 4.

In 1963, a fourth edifice was added. This was the two-story Juniorate or Salesian School for Minor Seminarians, a seedbed for many future Salesian priests and lay brothers in the Philippines. A large multi-purpose gymnasium was also built on the same year to house the sports and cultural facilities of the school.

As DBA's fame grew, it saw a continuous expansion of its campus facilities and a significant increase in student population to a point that the school had to regulate enrollment admissions in the form of entrance exams and interviews. In less than a decade, a young school exclusively for boys, seminarians and out-of-school youth flourished rapidly to meet the growing interest in the charism of Don Bosco.

Relocation

Lahar covered most of the buildings of Don Bosco Academy in 1995. The school almost transferred in another province if not for the intervention of Archbishop Paciano Aniceto, D.D. of the Archdiocese of San Fernando. Through the generous offering of the Benedictine Sisters, they allowed Don Bosco Academy to hold classes in their school shifting with their students (Monday to Wednesday for the Scholasticans and Thursday to Saturday for the Bosconians). This continued until Don Bosco Academy was given a second founding in 1996 in the northern town of Mabalacat, Pampanga. Much like the persistent nature of its founder, Fr. Godfrey Roozen,SDB Don Bosco Academy was transplanted in this area and the Salesian charism and system of education continued.

Generous benefactors in the form of the heirs of the late Mr. & Mrs. Tomas and Maria Dizon donated a four-hectare land in Barangay Mabiga of this town to the rebuilding of Don Bosco Academy. By moving to the north of the province, the Salesians of Don Bosco have expanded their presence and service to more Kapampangan.

In May 2009, the School opened its newest wing, consisting of the St. Francis Auditorium, where some events are held. The Savio Hall holds meetings or some classes if the rooms are not available. Lastly, the General Science and Biology Laboratories and the computer rooms have been moved to the newest wing.

In 2010, Don Bosco Academy inaugurated the gymnasium for badminton together with the expansion of the dining hall of the Salesian Residence in time for the visit of the Regional Superior of the Salesians of Don Bosco, Fr. Vaclav Clement, SDB.

At about August 2011, a new room was built, the Collaborative Classroom, wherein a section will spend 1 day of a regular school day in this classroom, bringing their laptops for various activities. Each day a section is scheduled, starting from the 4th years going down to the Grade Seven.

With the help of the Parents' Council, the Grade School football field was improved in the summer of 2012. Top soil was placed on it and drainage system was installed to avoid the flooding of the field.

In early 2014, two flagpoles were built as part of the A.P. Club's and school year's legacy project.

On March 11, 2015, the renovation on the school chapel started.

A new wing on the High School Building is currently being considered for the expansion for the K-12 program. Don Bosco Academy is now accepting girls but only for Senior High School.

Levels offered in Don Bosco Academy, Pampanga:

Preschool (exclusive for boys):

• Kinder

Grade School (exclusive for boys):

• Grade 1

• Grade 2

• Grade 3

• Grade 4

• Grade 5

• Grade 6

High School:

Junior High School (exclusive for boys):

• Grade 7

• Grade 8

• Grade 9

• Grade 10

Senior High School (for boys and girls):

• Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)

• Accountancy, Business and Management (ABM)

• Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS)

Religious Sodalities

• Auxilium - A club which focuses on devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, particularly to Mary Help of Christians. It is the usual sodality with the highest number of members. The Marian Rally, which is usually held during October, is an event hosted by the club where different schools are invited to devote themselves to Mary.
• Knights of the Altar (KOA)- This sodality is formed by members called to serve on the altar. They are active during EPC masses, often assisting the mass celebrant.
• Savio Friends - This club is focused on getting to know more about St. Dominic Savio and how to apply his examples in the daily lives of high school boys.
• Juventus - This club is about being one with Don Bosco himself. This also known as the media team of the school.
• Music Ministry - This club is for music and instrument enthusiasts. The club is divided into two groups: the choir; and the instrumentalists. The club is responsible in providing Church music during masses.

Interest Clubs

• Siuala - has been the official publication of Don Bosco Academy Pampanga for more than twenty years. The school paper has housed the best writers and artists of the Academy and has been a training ground for students who share the passion for writing and the visual arts. Siuala is derived from a Kapampangan term which means "voice". It serves as an instrument of communication between the students, parents, alumni, faculty, Salesians and the rest of the Academy.
• Teatro Busko - This school organization develops the student's skills in acting, singing, dancing and creative thinking.
• Catechists - A club for those who want to help in teaching young kids about the Bible.
• Dewey's Peers - It is club formed by book enthusiasts and those who spend most of their time helping out in the library.
• Don Bosco Choir - This club is for those who want to share their talent in singing through singing in masses.
• PhotoGuild - The club for aspiring photographers. They are in charge of taking photos of school events which go public.
• Bayung Pluma - the first Grade School newspaper. The publication started in the year 2009. Bayung Pluma is derived from a Kapampangan term "Bayung" which means NEW, and the term "Pluma" which means PEN.
• Quiz Circle - A club composed of those who want to enhance their academic skills through quiz bees and contests.

Academic Clubs

• Kamfil (Kapisanan ng mga Mag-aaral sa Filipino)
• Math Club
• Science Club
• English Club
• Com-Arts (Computer-Arts)
• Araling Panlipunan Club (A.P. Club)
• Boys Scouts of the Philippines Pampanga