Adamson University High School Adamson University High school department started in 1948. The prefabricated steel two-story structure ( like the Little Theater –now called St.Vincent Hall) together with other laboratories of the College of Engineering were located where the latest Santa Isabel Building now stands. It occupied the ground floor. It had only two sections for every year. One its graduates became a faculty Mrs. Aida Nallana. She became one of Principals from 1974- 85 ) The High School also produced some luminaries in different sectors of our country. The late Makati Mayor Nemensio Yabit, a former Baby Falcon , due to the advises of Mr. Alexander Adamson was able to finish his high school here. Nida Blanca who graduated in 1954 was the University’s beauty queen that era and the other was comedian Ike Lozada. The High School department was mixed with boys and girls till the Vincentian fathers took over in 1964. The female students were separated from the males and integrated to those of the St. Vincent Parochial School (the wooden two-story structure at the back of the Church ). That was the end of the parochial school (from elementary (boys and girls ) to high school (for females ) and became the Adamson University Girls High. It had also two sections. Atty. Agustin Organista, an outstanding student who graduated on top of his class became the principal till 1973. The Girls High was again headed Sister Ramona Mendiola ICM (the congregation of the nuns who own Saint Theresa College). The High School Department was under a director. The first one was Fr. Venancio Goyeneche CM1967-1970, He was succeeded by Fr. Frank Vargas CM. The students of the Boys High were composed of students hailing from Ermita , Paco and other cities like Quezon City, Makati and Pasay. Like the Adamson U. which earned the moniker “ La Salle annex” , a number of students of the Boys High were transferees from Paco Parrochial School, Ateneo, La Salle, Letran and others whose age, height, and culture and family backgrounds who were able to mixed with those who cam efromthe middle classes of Manila and suburbs. The High School gave this spoil brats a chance to finish their studies in a Catholic institution that was noted to be very good in Chemistry. In 1967 “The Flicker” , the first organ in the history of Adamson U’s High School Department was born and launched that school year of 1967-68. The staff was divided into Boys and Girls. Former mentor in the Girls High, Mrs. Nieves Cariño Locsin, remembers that Maria Elena “Mari” Escoda (now Mrs. Rojo), a transferee from the College of the Holy Spirit), was the staffer who suggested “Flicker” be the name of the High School paper. Ms. Nieves Cariño, who later married Raul Locsin, an architect (cousin of the famous architect), approved her student’s idea during a brainstorming. As to the naughty guy who first designed the Flicker (which could be read differently nowadays) remains a mystery- something the alumni, retired and new and young mentors are eager to know. Mrs. Locsin, one of the most loved mentors and remains very close to her former students admits that the design could have been coincidental. (I would like to know the designer and if possible meet him personally. That would be another interesting topic for the history of Adamson University) would like designer may tell us case you know who did No one noticed the naughty word as such was not yet common to most Filipinos. The second designed was done Godofredo Riofrir for the December issue. The old design was used in other issues and still unnoticed even by those naughty but brainy mestizo kickouts from Letran, La Salle and Ateneo. The first issue was released on October (1967). Three members of the staff for Girls are in the US and remained as close friends. Yolly Zaguirre-now Mrs. Dizon, Mari Escoda (now Mrs.Rojo) and Celia Ferrer (later became Mrs. Yumul –now Mrs. Miller after being widowed, is in New York ). The other Raquel Zervoulakus like her sister Jackie (Mrs. Garcia) is in L.A. The Boy’s High section was headed by its editor Danilo de la Cuesta, (now a dfashion designer). The last issue was March 1972 . Ricardo Alunan Ramos as Editor –in –chief for the Boys and Marieta Mendoza , Editor for the Girls became the last editors as the imposition of Martial in September 1972 ended Flicker’s life. IN 1970 the high school department launched it first year book “The Lumnious” It was stopped by Martial Law. Its last issue was 1972 with the Batch 1972 as its editorial staff. Luminous was revived in the 1980s. There had been plans to revive the first paper The Flicker since the Batch of 1972 met for the first time in 2008. After the acquisition of the Meralco property in 1967, the Boys High, during the second week of the school year of 1968-69 , transferred to a former Meralco Planning office (built in the 1920s) near Zobel Street. That morning the students marched to a new building that was supposed to be , like the former two-story Meralco Main office now the 4-story Cardinal Santos Bldg.), centralized air conditioned. But air condition system failed. After waiting for some humid and hot days which made the faculty and students uneasy, electric fans were finally installed. The football team of Adamson Universoty was formed and was composed of High School students- mostly of the Spanish speaking –mestizo class. One of them Mike Crame (now based in Australia) , a star player of La Salle, and star player of the 2nd year high school intrams (St.Columban) who who became the skipper of the first RP Football Squad. Incidentally the St. Columban team yieded some notable players for the Baby Falcons like Roberto Segura, Mon Pagdanganan, and Jaime Galang) Before AdU re-joined the UAAP in 1970, a number of its players of the high school squad, sorry to say were mostly over-aged for the age limit -below 21. It yielded some stars that other schools made used of them like Evangelo Peñalosa (1970 NCAA champ Letran ) Jerry Gomillon (one of the first Fil-African American players), Alfredo Demetrio and Froilan Nazario ( UAAP champs, UE Red Warriors ). A number of Baby Falcons became aces of the Blue Falcons like the Segura brothers, Tomas, Rodolfo and Roberto, Jose Manila and Ricardo Borja. High scoring Danilo Manalastas became the ace point guard of UAAP champs FEU Tams while Jun Soriano also join the FEU Tams) and the tall Perlas was taken by Ateneo Blue Eagles (NCAA 1974). One of the Baby Falcons in 1972-73 was the son of the famous legendary boxing champ Flash Elorde ) . The Baby Falcons and made a name for themselves since Adamson rejoined UAAP in 1970. It started as third-placer in the first two years and became a grand-slam champion 1973-74-75. They became champions again in 1977 ( same season when Falcons won its first UAAP plum). Until 2003, Adamson Baby Falcons held the number one spot in statistics for the number of UAAP Junior championship crowns. The Baby Falcons, Bong de la Cruz, Allen Patrimonio champs from grand slam was from 1989-93. The girls High and elementary transferred to the former site of St.Theresas College in 1980. They occupied the ground floor and third floors of the ST. Bldg (near the garden ) and below the ST Auditorium. During the term of Mrs. Aida Nallana The first reunion of high Schools graduates was in 198___ when a fund-raising concert at the ST Quad. It was participated by the famous Hot Dog Band ( Rene and Dennis Garcia brothers and proud Ad.U. Boys High School alumni ) and Ike Lozada as emcee. The organizers included Romeo Espinosa and Randy Rufino of Batch 1970. Mrs. Nallana was replaced by Father Rey Vargas CM. in 198 ____. During the school year 1988-89 the high school became co-ed and transferred to St. Vincent Bldg. In 2003 they High School returned CS compuind and occupied the newly constructed FRC ________________building. Father Rey Vargas was succeeded by the following principals, Dr. Anacoreta Manimtim, Dr. Salvador . The Alumni association was organized in 2002 with Lyzzle Eugenio Villanueva s its president . The first high school reunion was held in 2003.
Posted on: Mon, 03 Feb 2014 19:11:51 +0000
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