Holy Family Academy - Philippines
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| Motto | Ora Et Labora ("Prayer and Work") |
|---|---|
| Established | 1906 |
| Type | Private, Catholic Academy Parochial |
| Location | Angeles City, Pampanga, Philippines |
| Campus | Angeles City |
| Nickname | Familians |
Holy Family Academy (HFA) is a catholic private school located in Angeles City, Philippines. It has both elementary and high school departments as well as kindergarten and preparatory school (known in the school as 'prep') classes for younger students. The school follows the Benedictine tradition of 'Ora et Labora' which means 'Prayer and Work'.
HFA is a Catholic Institution belonging to the Archdiocese of San Fernando, Pampanga and administered by the Missionary Benedictine Sisters. It is registered with SEC as a non-stock, non-profit corporation, with its assets and income used directly and exclusively for educational purposes including expansion when needed to carry out the aims and objectives of the school.
HFA is a member of the Association of Archdiocesan and Parochial Schools of Pampanga (AAPSP), the Association of Benedictine Schools (ABS), the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP), and the Private Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU).
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[edit] Philosophy
Holy Family Academy (HFA) is a Catholic Archdiocesan Institution providing basic education: Elementary and Secondary. It is organized in accordance with the policies and standards set by the Department of Education and is administered by the [[Missionary Benedictine Sisters.
Premised on Catholic principles of education and attempting to respond to the needs of the Philippines today, HFA is oriented towards the integral formation of who is Christian in values, caring and concerned, critically aware, capable of deciding freely with a properly-developed conscience, responsible and committed to help build an independent global society that is free, just, peaceful, and caring for the integrity of creation. The school hopes to attain this through creating the school community through an atmosphere permeated with the Gospel spirit of love and freedom that supports an educational program reflecting critical inquiry, and the synthesis of culture and Christian faith and life.
[edit] History
Holy Family Academy (HFA) was established on August 20, 1906 as the first Catholic parochial school of Angeles City through the initiative of Fr. Pablo Gamboa and the assistance of the Board of Directors of the Parochial School in Angeles City composed of Mariano V. Henson, Juan G. Nepomuceno, Sr., Laureano Suarez, Filomeno Leon Y. Santos, Basilio Henson and Jose P. Henson. Located at the present site of the Holy Rosary Parish rectory, the school offered a primary course and was run by lay teachers who were paid out of contributions.
[edit] The Augustinian Sisters
In 1910, the Augustinian Sisters took over and set up the Colegio de la Sagrada Familia with the help of the same Board of Directors. The colegio offered a complete elementary education and accepted female boarders.
Some time later, as the student population of the colegio increased, Jose P. Henson and Juan Nepomuceno Sr. initiated the school's expansion. They bought land and built a house which became the parish hall and the residence of succeding parish priests. The Colegio de la Sagrada Familia moved to the present site of the Administrative Building of HFA.
[edit] The Missionary Benedictine Sisters
In June 1922, the Missionary Benedictine Sisters took over the management of the school upon the invitation of the parish priest, Msgr. Pedro P. Santos and changed the school's name to HOLY FAMILY ACADEMY. The Benedictine Sisters did not take in boarders but actively attended to the supervision and administration of the school.
The first group of Missionary Benedictine Sisters headed by Sister Crescentia Veser were Germans in 1925, with the appointment of Sister Pacifica Gerding as first resident superior, the Benedictine Sisters at Holy Family Academy became a juridical community.
Holy Family Academy continued to operate during the Japanese occupation period, closing only for a few months during the change of political administration and reopened its doors soon after the end of World War II
[edit] The Opening of the High School Department
In 1960, HFA opened the High School Department exclusively for girls.
The growth in population of Angeles City brought about an increase in the environment of HFA resulting in crowding and congestion in the old campus beside the Holy Rosary Parish Church on Sto. Rosario St. In search of a solution to growth problems, Sister Mary Bernard Lansang, OSB, superior/directress in 1983, together with concerned Renato Tayag, Jr. initiated the formulation of a foundation. This was realized durong the term of Sister Ildefonsa Pineda, OSB as superior/directress and Mr. Florante Timbol as PTA president in the incorporation of the HFA-PTA Foundation with the occurrence of Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz, then Archbishop of San Fernando.
[edit] High School Campus in Cutcut
With the involvement of parents, alumni and other supporters through membership contributions and fund-raising activities, the HFA-PTA obtained a five-hectare lot in Cutcut along the Circumferencial Road. The four-phase building program was started. In 1987, phase one was completed, enabling the transfer of the Year I to the new campus. Boys were then accepted to the high school. By 1988, phase two was completed, and two more year levels moved over. In 1991, with the completion of phase three, the entire High School settled in the new site, the Cutcut campus. With the support of the HFA Alumni Association, the covered court was partially constructed. This was completed in 1997. The new Pedro Calungsod Building that housed the audio visual center, the library and the canteen was completed in December 2002.
In the Cutcut campus, the High School Department occupies the Sto. Niño Building , the San Lorenzo Building, the Pedro Calungsod Building and the covered court.
In the old site at Sto. Rosario St., the Pre-school and Grade School occupy the following multi-story buildings: St. Benedict with the Auditorium, St. Joseph's, St. Mary's, the H.E, Building and the Main Building.
