Saint Paul School of San Antonio

Saint Paul School of San Antonio (SPSSA; colloquially, "S.P.S.") is a private Diocesan Catholic school located at Cando Street, 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

St. Paul School, the first and only catholic school in San Antonio, Nueva Ecija had its humble beginning in 1969. It was the same year when 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. 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 had collaboration in preparing the necessary papers and facilities for that school year. From then on, it paved the foundation of St. Paul School. The school opened on 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. Grade levels and high school levels were added during each succeeding school year to complete all stages

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 constructed. Side by side to these were also renovations to old classrooms. The timeworn 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 were given specific job description for a very proficient performance of their tasks. 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 Elementary and High School Level had a separate computer laboratory which were maintained andmanned by the Office of the School’s Computer Expert, Mr. Cyrus Ecle. For a better communication within the campus, a public paging system was installed with help of the FPTA. School Year 2008-2009 was declared as the Pauline Year. To highlight the celebration, a new statue of St. Paul our School Patron was built. The sacred monument of St. Paul was placed in front of the gym symbolizing that the Patron Saint blesses everyone.

On May 15, 2009, Sr. Nora Giron, SPC was appointed principal for the following school year 2009-2010. Just like the previous administrators, Sr. Nora had a lot of dreams and plans to make St. Paul School a model school. She motivated the teachers to update themselves with the latest trends and developments in methodologies and strategies in teaching.

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] His service to the academe was terminated when he passed away on March 28, 2013, due to Cardiac Arrest.

Rev. Fr. Michael Feliciano I. Veneracion succeeded the position of the late Msgr. Dayao on April 5, 2013. He went to the campus in April 12 and approved the renovation of gymnasium of the campus that summer.

However, on June 2014, Mrs. Jovita P. Villas was appointed by Bishop Sofronio Bancud, SSS, DD as the new directress of the school up to this date.

At present, St. Paul School of San Antonio is continuously growing as an institution with Christ as the center of all its endeavor.

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 principal's and director's office, registrar office, finance office, guidance office, faculty, clinic (shared with grade 12 GAS), alumni office, elementary library, audio visual room, and classrooms (kindergarten, one grade 2, grades 3-7, two senior high)
• Saint Anthony Abbot Building is located on the east part of the campus. It houses classrooms (three grade 8 and all grade 9), science laboratory, and high school library
• Our Lady of Chartres Building is located on the north, behind the stage of the campus. It houses classrooms (five grade 8 and all grade 10)
• Pere Chauvet Building is located near the Bishop V. Reyes Building, and is the latest building founded in the campus. It houses the school canteen, computer laboratories, and classrooms (a grade 2 and senior high)
• Our Lady of Divina Pastora Building is a one-storey building that houses grade one classrooms and is located near the Pere Chauvet Building.
• School Convent is the former residence of Sisters of St. Paul de Chatres and is located beside Pere Chauvet Building. It houses the TLE (Technology and Livelihood Education) room and residence of some employees that were far from home.

Notable Alumni/Former Students

• Manuel Torres - former administrator and owner of San Antonio High School, BHT Cable respectively, and now defunct E. Jose Trans.
• August Panlilio - general manager at CDO Pjar Trading Company in Tanauan, Batangas.
• Virgilio Eduardo - president of San Antonio Business Club and owner of Novich Resort and Hotel.
• Alejandra de Guzman-Mesina - principal of San Mariano East Elementary School.
• Ligaya Francisco-Perez - owner of Luz Catering and a grocery.
• Lodie de Ala - branch manager of Citibank and has talent-related role in GMA Network.
• Randy Fernandez - trucking business owner.
• Augusto Ortiz - Municipal Planning and Development officer in San Antonio, Nueva Ecija.
• Robert Marcelo, MD - Municipal Health Officer in San Antonio, Nueva Ecija.
• Armando Cruz - Municipal Budget Officer in San Antonio, Nueva Ecija and owner of A.M. Cruz Trucking and Wella Resort.
• Margarita de Guzman-Ortiz - principal of Lawang Kupang Elementary School.
• Alice Eduardo - president and Chief Executive Officer of Santa Elena Construction and Development Corporation.
• Angelita Salonga-Esquivel, MD - Physician in Salonga Clinic.
• Hon. Julieta Estrella-Maxwell - Vice Mayor of San Antonio, Nueva Ecija and former councilor and FPTA president of SPSSA.
• Hon. Vilma Gonzales-de Leon - FPTA president and Barangay Councilor of Julo, San Antonio, Nueva Ecija.
• Fr. Arnold Abelardo - missionary priest and founder of Ako ang Saklay, Inc.
• Angelito Manarang - FPTA vice president of SPSSA and trucking business owner
• Ester de Guzman-Ramos, PhD - District Supervisor of DepEd Nueva Ecija-San Antonio District.
• Danilo Salonga - owner of D.B. Salonga Builders.
• Leandro Agapito - owner of 4L Stations.
• Rogelio Dionisio - Barangay Captain of Papaya, San Antonio, Nueva Ecija.
• Hon. Arvin Salonga - Mayor of San Antonio, Nueva Ecija.
• Dominic Toledo - former FPTA president, founder of St. Paul School of San Antonio, Alumni Association, and business owner.
• Alma Mallare-Sta. Ana - owner of Al Shaneen Catering, Spendwise, and two (2) 7-Eleven branches (San Antonio and General Tinio)
• Rev. Fr. Richmond V. Nilo, PhD - Parish Priest of St. Vincent Ferrer Parish in Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija.
• Mary Grace Frias-Diaz - former branch manager of GM Bank San Antonio Branch.
• Rev. Fr. Abraham Cruz - Parish Administrator of St. Stephen the King Parish in Laur, Nueva Ecija.
• Maria Roma Vida Silva - Officer-in-charge of Municipal Social Welfare and Development in San Antonio, Nueva Ecija.
• Anabelle Hipolito-Perez - catering business owner.
• Alon de los Reyes-Estanislao - English book subject author.
• Louie Mel Maliksi - working in CNN. Current Governor and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Institute of Electronics Engineers of the Philippines - UAE Chapter. Awarded as Engineer of the Year of 2017 by The Filipino Times (newspaper in UAE).
• Hon. Emiliano Zapata - Barangay Captain of Poblacion, San Antonio, Nueva Ecija.
• Hon. Dave Garcia - Barangay Councilor and elected Barangay Captain of Maugat, San Antonio, Nueva Ecija.
• Pia Corpuz-Umali - former secretary of SPSSA.
• Lourdes Sta. Cruz-Mesde - Pharmasave Drugstore-Sta. Rosa Branch owner
• Ivy Miranda - elected Barangay Captain of Sta. Cruz, San Antonio, Nueva Ecija
• Ara Angeles-Ecle - Principal of Elementary Department of SPSSA.
• Anna Kristaline Talens-Balagtas, MD - owner of Santo Rosario Medical Laboratory and Diagnostic Center and Medical Officer in Dr. Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center.
• Ptr. Errymar Gonzales - co-founder of Glorious Church.
• Renan Pacson - fashion business owner.
• Raymond Senia - Director of Moral Recovery and Spiritual Uplift Program in Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology.

References