Manila Science High School

Coordinates: 14°34′49.75″N 120°59′09.65″E / 14.5804861°N 120.9860139°E / 14.5804861; 120.9860139

Manila Science High School
Science, Truth and Country (Agham, Katotohanan at Bayan)
Location
Taft Ave. cor. Padre Faura St. Ermita City of Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines
Information
Type	Public, Special Science
Established	1963
Principal	Fernando B. Orines
Number of students	approx. 1,200
Medium of language	English, Filipino, French
Campus	1 hectare
Color(s)	Royal Blue and White
Nickname	MaSci
Affiliations	Division of City Schools - Manila
Website	Official website

Manila Science High School (Filipino: Mataas na Paaralang Pang-Agham ng Maynila) (colloquially MaSci) is the Pilot Science High School in the Philippines. It is located on Taft Avenue at the corner of Padre Faura Street in Ermita, Manila, and was established on October 1, 1963.

History

Former President of the Philippines Ramon Magsaysay was the first to envision a Science High School in the Philippines in his 1956 State of the Nation Address where he underscored “the great need of stepping up the development of fundamental and applied research in science and technology which has long been neglected.”

Taking action, the Philippine Congress passed Republic Act 1606^[1] creating the National Science Development Board to work with the Science Foundation of the Philippines in advancing scientific and technological research. This was closely followed by Republic Act 2067,^[2] known as the Science Act of 1958 which proposed to integrate, coordinate, and intensify scientific and technological research and development to foster invention.

In conjunction, the Department of Education implemented RA 1606 by issuing Department Orders 1 and 5, series of 1958, for the launching of Science Talent Research.

November 25, 1959 marked the evolution of the first pilot science high school in Manila. With 36 students screened through a competitive examination, this nucleus of a science high school had its beginnings in a single-storey building in Intramuros. On its second year, this nucleus was called the Special Science Class. March 28, 1963, witnessed each of the 32 graduates of the Special Science Class receive a gold medal. It is the first time in the history of Philippine education wherein each member of the graduating class is a gold medalist.

On October 1, 1963, the Manila Science High School was born by virtue of Municipal Resolution 426 signed by Mayor Antonio J. Villegas. Credit for the school's early success goes to the Manila Science High School Principal Augusto Alzona – the "Father of Manila Science High School". Modeled after the Bronx High School of Science, the special science curriculum is designed to meet the needs of scholars gifted in science and mathematics. However, opportunities, training, and experiences in varied fields are also available.

After five years in Intramuros, the Manila Science High School moved to its present site in 1966 with its second principal, Mr. Honesto Valdez (1963–1977). By 1977, Phase I of the Main Building was completed while the construction of Phase II was ongoing.

In September 1977, Mrs. Evelina P. Barotilla (1977–1988), the third principal, saw the completion of the Manila Science High School Complex and the renovation of the H.A. Bordner Building. The Home Economics Building was built in 1980. The whole construction project was financed by the Special Education Fund under the chairmanship of Dr. Josefina Navarro, Superintendent of City Schools, Manila.

The construction of the Php 7.5 million Technology Creativity Laboratory began in 1998 during the administration of Mrs. Daisy H. Banta, (1988–2000), fourth principal. The project was made possible by the Special Education Fund through the joint efforts of Mayors Gemiliano Lopez and Alfredo Lim, together with DECS-Manila Superintendent, Dr. Erlinda G. Lolarga.

The new millennium ushered in the arrival of Mrs. Susan A. Yano, fifth principal, the completion of the Antonio Maceda Building and the revival of the Manila Science High School Alumni Association. Mrs. Susan A. Yano opted for an early retirement. Ms. Edna P. Parcon, Math Department Head III, was then assigned Officer-in-Charge from July 18, 2002 to January 13, 2003, together with Ms. Betty de la Cruz, Science Supervisor, assigned Supervisor-in-Charge from October 13, 2002 to January 13, 2003.^[3] Mrs. Rosita C. Herson became the principal in 2003 until 2006. After that, the Manila Science High School was under the leadership of Mrs. Salud S. Sabado from 2006 until November 15, 2008.^[4]

Manila Science has been under the leadership of Mrs. Flora A. Valdez for less than a year until her retirement on January 21, 2010. Before the retirement, a government project has started: the construction of the Amadome by Manila 5th District Congressman Amado Bagatsing, which is now completed in time for the new school year and has been formally inaugurated and turned over by Cong. Bagatsing on September 8, 2010.

Due to implementing laws for the May 2010 polls,^[5] Manila Science will not have a principal yet until such time that the elected Mayor of Manila appoints new school administrators. The school, at the last half of SY 2009-2010 and on the first quarter of SY 2010-2011, was under the leadership of Ms. Edna P. Parcon, the school's Mathematics Department Head until August 26, 2010 which welcomed the arrival of the eighth and second male principal, Mr. Fernando B. Orines.

Curriculum

Notable alumni

Manila Science High School facade

• Jose A. Magpantay (Class 1968), internationally-published professor from the University of the Philippines-National Institute of Physics^[6]
• Marissa Toledo-Peterson (Class 1978 Valedictorian), former Executive Vice President, Sun Microsystems and Board Member at companies such as Humana, Ansell Limited, and Kettering University.^[7]
• Lt. Col. Rene Glenn Paje (Class 1979), Chief of Staff, First Scout Ranger Regiment, Philippine Army
• Cristeta Pasia Comerford (Class 1979), culinary artist and chief cook for the White House. The first woman appointed in the position and the first of Filipino descent.
• Antonio A. Morales (Class 1980), Chief of Mission Class II, Executive Director, Office of the Undersecretary for Special and Ocean Concerns, Department of Foreign Affairs, former Consul General (Rome and Milan, Italy)
• Eugene Reyes (Class 1980), Former Commercial Attaché (Singapore and New York, USA), Foreign Trade Service Corps, Department of Trade and Industry
• Randy Sacdalan (Class 1982), sports commentator and dean of student affairs of Lyceum of the Philippines.^[8]
• John Paul B. Iñigo (Class 1982), Commercial Attaché in Rome, Italy, former Commercial Attaché (Hamburg, Germany and Brussels, Belgium), Foreign Trade Service Officer, Foreign Trade Service Corps, Department of Trade and Industry
• Rigoberto C. Advincula, PhD (Class 1983), physical chemist and 2003 Arthur K. Doolittle Awardee.^[9]
• Von Glenn Hernandez (Class 1983), environmental activist and 2003 Goldman Environmental Prize winner^[10][11]
• Alvin Patrimonio (Class 1983), basketball player, four-time Most Valuable Player of the Philippine Basketball Association.
• Monina Hernandez Gesmundo (Class 1987), nurse, midwife, educator, author, national reviewer for the Philippine Nurse Licensure Examination, board exam topnotcher ^[12][13][14]
• Nathaniel Jordan Calvo (Class 1988), the first Filipino pilot to receive a license to fly the Airbus A380.^{[15][16][17][18][19]}
• Beethoven dV. Bunagan (Class 1991), a.k.a. Michael V., Philippine actor, composer, singer, and parodist.^[20]
• Analisa Balares (Class 1992), Founder and CEO of Womensphere, and Global Marketing Manager for Microsoft's blogging/social networking service.^[21][22]
• Tuesday Vargas (Class 1998), born as Marizel Sarangelo, Philippine singer, comedian, and Talentadong Pinoy talent scout.^[23]
• Neil Tristan Yabut (Class 1999), 1998 Sibol Awardee for Outstanding Student Creative Research^[24] and 3-time nationally televised quiz (1999 and 2000 Battle of the Brains, 2001 National Super Quiz Bee) champion^[25]
• Jeric V. Macalintal, Richard Kristoffer S. Manapat and Allan N. Estrella (Class 2002), first Filipinos to win a First Grand Award (Team Category, Physics, 2002) at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)^[26]
• Andrew John Lena (Class 2002), 2001 Digital LG Quiz champion
• Louie Mar Gangcuangco (Class 2003), author of the best-selling Filipino novel Orosa-Nakpil, Malate; and homosexuality, HIV-AIDS, and gay literature activist
• Atty. Deborah Acosta-Cajustin (Class 1996), 2006 Bar Topnotcher (Number 2)

References

External links

• 1963 Alumni website
• Official Website

v t e Science high schools in the Philippines Philippine Science High School System Main · Ilocos · Cagayan Valley · CAR · Central Luzon · Bicol · Western Visayas · Central Visayas · Eastern Visayas · Central Mindanao · Southern Mindanao Regional Science High School Union Luzon: I · II · CAR · III · IV-A · IV-B · V · NCR  • Visayas: VI · VII · VIII  • Mindanao: IX · X · XI · XII · XIII · ARMM Engineering and Science Education Program NCR Public Science High Schools: Caloocan · Las Piñas · Makati · Mandaluyong · Manila (Raja Soliman) · Manila (Science) · Marikina · Muntinlupa · Parañaque · Pasay · Pasig · Quezon City (Alejandro Roces) · Taguig (Rene Cayetano) · Taguig (Science) · Valenzuela Provincial Public Science High Schools: Angeles City · Aurora · Baguio City (National) · Baguio City (Pine City) · Bais City · Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo · Batanes · Batangas · Bulacan · Cabanatuan City · Cagayan · Cebu City · Digos City · Dipolog City · Dumangas, Iloilo · Ifugao · Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay · La Union · Lipa City · Masbate City · Medellin, Cebu · Minglanilla, Cebu · Misamis Occidental · Naga City · Negros Occidental · Olongapo City · Puerto Princesa City · Quezon · Rizal · San Pablo City · San Pedro(Pacita Complex) · Santa Rosa City · Siquijor · Tagaytay City · Tagbilaran City · Tagum City · Talisay City, Cebu · Tandag City · Tanjay City · Toledo City · Tupi, South Cotabato · Ubay, Bohol · Central Luzon State Private Science High Schools: Batangas · Emilio Aguinaldo College · Lorma College · Malayan · PCU-Union · SLC · Roosevelt College · University of Baguio