History

The St. Gabriel Academy is a parochial school under the Diocese of Kalookan. It was Msgr. Pacifico Mendoza, who saw the need to educate the children in his parish. A pre-school was started in the year 1968, which in time flourished into what is now known as the St. Gabriel Academy.

It was in school year 1968 – 1969 when the school began its operation under the headship of Sr. Marie Lorraine, M.M. then the principal of St. James Academy, Malabon. It was agreed then that all graduates of St. Gabriel Academy would continue their secondary education at St. James Academy.

With the transfer of Msgr. Pacifico Mendoza, Fr. Alfredo Santos took over the directorship until 1979. He was followed by Rev. Fr. Norberto Habos in which events turned out significantly when His Eminence Jaime Cardinal Sin commissioned the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres to administer the school. This call to mission was immediately responded by the SPC Sisters through Rev. Mother Marie dela Croix, SPC, appointing Sr. Fideliza Portillo, SPC as the first principal in the year 1979-1980. She was replaced by Sr. Mary Glyceria Navarro, SPC who served the school in the year 1980-1981. The turn of administration gained a succession until eventually the first SPC community was established in the year 1981-1982. Sr. Jacinta De Marie Quindo, SPC was the Sister Superior and at the same time the principal for nine years from 1981-1990 inclusive.

In the year 1985 – 1989 was the construction of classrooms in the Elementary Department, remodeling of the school clinic and dental facilities. An increase of student population was observed for in 1987-1988 rises to 7%, 1988-1989 13.5%, and 1989-1990 8%. The Grades V and VI had the morning and afternoon session to accommodate transfers. Double single session classes were implemented at all levels due to a great increase in population.

In 1990-1992 was peak of the student population in the Grades School Department with the total of 2,999 enrollees. Sr. Blandine Jamias, SPC became the principal with Sr. Milagros Ycasas, SPC, as the Local Superior. The following school year, Sr. Edna Lopez, SPC, was appointed as principal until 1995.

SGA managed to address the challenges of the new millennium that S.Y. 1999-2000 was made significantly with the opening of the high school department. It was during the time of Rev. Fr. Nestor Gungon and Sr. Mary Angelina Rojas, SPC, when the high school department began its operation. While Sr. Angelina was the grade school principal, Fr. Nestie on the other hand was both the school director and H.S. principal. In the second year of operation of the high school, Fr. Nestie was succeeded by Msgr. Wilfredo Paguio.

During the school year 2001-2002, Sr. Mary Glyceria Navarro, SPC became the principal for both the grade school and high school departments. It was during the incumbency of Sr. Glyceria where SGA acquired facilities. These include the function hall, Bio-Chem, Physics, T.H.E. and Speech Laboratories. Msgr. Paguio, after two-year term was succeeded by Rev. Fr. Alex V. Amandy who assumed office as a school director, effective April 1, 2002. Fr. Alex effected renovations of the physical plant, which lead to the completion of the high school building into five-story edifice with its gymnasium in the 5th floor.

During the school year 2016-2017, St. Gabriel Academy as an institution was turn over to the Diocese of Kalookan. Its full administration under the tutelage of the Most Rev. Virgilio Pablo S. David, D.D. as second Bishop of Diocese of Kalookan.

Rev. Fr. Kennedy A. Neral PhD was appointed by the bishop to continue the academic work in SGA, as the Director and Principal and concurrently the KADSA (Kalookan Diocese Schools Association) Superintendent and Parochial Vicar of St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish. Scholastic Awarded SGA as second placer for the Readers’ Cup in the National Level.

In his presence for the second year of service, many remarkable changes seen in SGA. His fast track action to cater the needs of the Gabrielans, the Senior High School was opened in the school year 2017-2018. Offered Academic Track with its four Strands – Accountancy, Business and Management (ABM), Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) and General Academic Strand (GAS) with K12 Curriculum as prescribed by the DepEd Grade 11 students.

Full renovation and repainting of Grade School, Junior High, and Senior High school buildings. Restoration of the Laboratories (New Speech Laboratory, Science Laboratories, Computer Laboratories, and T.L.E. Laboratories). I-ready Math Program implementation.

He reformed, not only the academic needs, but also the physical plant of the school in renovating and repainting the entire school buildings of Senior High, Junior High down to the Grade School. Laboratories were restored, such as the New Speech Laboratory, Science Laboratories, Computer Laboratories, and T.L.E. Laboratories. Moreover, an acquisition of new school service was acquired that will serve as a school vehicle of the institution.

New SHS Uniform: – Boys – upper – white polo long sleeves with black vest and pants with black shoes – Girls – White long sleeves and maroon vest and pleated skirt with black stockings and shoes. There are MOA signing for SHS Work Immersion for 80 hours. Sponsored by partners in education, the Book Companies such as Phoenix Publishing, REX Publishing, Sterling, Inc. and Vibal Publishing.

Alumni Associations were being formed to bring back Gabrielans to their academic roots and Parents; Home-School Association (PHS) was strengthened. Hand in hand, we collaboratively move forward as true messengers of God’s Word to pave the way to SGA’s greatness towards the Golden Jubilee.

This school year 2018-2019 marks the Golden Jubilee Year of Saint Gabriel Academy. SGA completed the Basic Education from Kinder to Grade 12. Restoration of idle classrooms and restrooms includes the repainting, renovation of old facilities of our school.

The highlight of this year’s Jubilee celebration head started with the “Indak Sayaw; Tulong kay San Gabriel”, a program led by Mrs. Emma O. Pesebre, Academic Coordinator, assisted by Mr. Freddie M. Gonzales, Jr., Activity Coordinator with the Overall In-charge, Fr. Kennedy O. Neral our Director-Principal.

Historical narrative preserved from the April 18, 2019 archived SGA History page. Detailed milestones were transcribed from recovered screenshots of an earlier SGA website edition supplied by the archivist.