Don Bosco Academy, Pampanga
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| Don Bosco Academy | |
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| Motto: | Luctor Et Emergo |
| Established: | 1956 |
| Type: | Private, Salesian |
| Rector: | Fr. Ditto S. Gueco, SDB |
| Location: | Mabalacat, Pampanga, Philippines |
| Campus: | 4 hectares |
| Website: | www.dbapamp.edu.ph |
Don Bosco Academy (also called "Don Bosco Pampanga" or simply "DBA") is a private Catholic educational institution for boys run by the Salesians of Don Bosco in the Philippines. Its campus is currently located in Mabalacat, Pampanga, Philippines.
This school was named after St. John Bosco whom the Catholic church has proclaimed as the "Father and Teacher of Youth." St. John Bosco dedicated his life to teaching. To continue this work, he founded a religious society of priests and brothers - the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB).
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[edit] Vision-Mission Statement
We, the Educative-Pastoral Community of Don Bosco Academy Pampanga, envision the young to be integrated persons who are servant-leaders in the Church of the Poor.
We commit ourselves:
- to give preference to the young who are poor, abandoned and in danger. - to provide them a holistic and integral Christian Catholic education. - to provide them a quality education within the context of the Salesian Preventive System. - to instill in them the love of family, community and country. - to collaborate with all forces that work with the young. - to mold them into persons who utilize their power of choice. - to harness their giftedness and become catalysts of social transformation. And, - to equip them with technological knowledge and skills as means to become productive members of society.
[edit] History
[edit] Don Bosco in the Philippines
The presence of Don Bosco in the Philippines began in 1912 when two Salesian priests arrived in the Parish of Nuestra de los Remedios in Malate, Manila. Ten years later, the Rt. Rev. Msgr. William Piani and Rev. Morrow were appointed Delegate and Secretary respectively. The Salesian mission in the Philippines took a more definite shape with the designation of Rev. Fr. Charles Braga, SDB as the first Provincial Superior. He paved the way for the establishment of a permanent Salesian Society in the country.
The first Salesian educational institution, St. John Bosco Academy, was founded in 1951 in Tarlac, Tarlac. A second institution was established in 1952 at Victorias, Negros Occidental, and was followed by other schools in Mandaluyong in 1953, in Cebu and in Makati in 1954 and eventually Pampanga in 1956.[1]
[edit] Founding
Rev. Fr. Godfrey Roozen, SDB, founded Don Bosco Academy (DBA) at Bacolor, Pampanga in 1958, but his efforts began much earlier when Msgr. Guerrero, who was Bishop of San Fernando, Pampanga, invited him to open a Salesian House in the diocese. Fr. Roozen was initially given the use of St. Ferdinand Academy at the town proper but this proved to be disadvantageous. Funds for the school were insufficient and non-paying students proved to be difficult to handle, thus ending the existence of the school after a year.
Fr. Roozen continued to stay in San Fernando, seeking out new areas for a school. He was offered a second site and this too proved to be difficult when tenants of the land expressed disapproval to put up the school.
For two years, Fr. Roozen continued his search until he met Don Pedro de Leon who offered a five-hectare land just beyond the western section of San Fernando. The year 1958 saw the rise of the first building consisting mainly of the chapel and some classrooms. The school began with the elementary offerings for Grades 5 to 6; and 1st to 4th year high school. By 1960, Don Bosco Academy commenced with the graduation of 36 pupils for elementary education and conferred certificates for its first batch of high school graduates.
[edit] Development
The years that followed saw an ever-increasing enrollment of students that paved the way for the construction of more buildings and facilities inside the DBA campus.
The grade school curriculum offering expanded to add Grades 3 to 4.
In 1963, a fourth edifice was added. This was the two-story Juniorate or Salesian School for Minor Seminarians, a seedbed for many future Salesian priests and lay brothers in the Philippines. A large multi-purpose gymnasium was also built on the same year to house the sports and cultural facilities of the school.
As DBA's fame grew, it saw a continuous expansion of its campus facilities and a significant increase in student population to a point that the school had to regulate enrollment admissions in the form of entrance exams and interviews. In less than a decade, a young school exclusively for boys, seminarians and out-of-school youth flourished rapidly to meet the growing interest in the charism of Don Bosco.
DBA became noted for providing its students with excellent religious formation and good academic education. And the ever-changing directions in the Philippine Education system propelled the school to seek new ideas and trends for academic development. Curricular changes in both primary and secondary education were adopted, teacher training and development a regular milieu for re-learning and new learning.
The 1980’s and the early 1990’s saw an outstanding Catholic school for boys in DBA. Together with such popularity came the devotion to Mary Help of Christians whose motherly love is inspiration to many youth and families in the province. Evangelization was not limited to the school’s paying students and aspirants of the Juniorate. Many out-of-school youth and those from nearby public schools were recipients of Christian formation, sports, education and financial assistance. Distinctly, the Salesian Fathers and Brothers had made their mark in the recent history and development of Pampanga.
[edit] Relocation
On October 1, 1995, a natural disaster, caused by the inundation of volcanic debris from the Mt. Pinatubo volcanic eruption, buried the entire school campus and all outlying areas in lahar. This prompted the school to temporarily cease its operations. Later that year, St. Scholastica's Academy (SSA), an exclusive school for girls, opened its doors to the DBA community.
The complete devastation of the school did not stop the Salesians in the Philippines and those abroad in their noble mission. Much like the persistence of its founder, Fr. Roozen, Don Bosco Academy was given a second founding in 1996 in the northern town of Mabalacat, Pampanga.
A generous benefactor, Tomas Dizon and his deceased parents, the late Mr. & Mrs. Celestino and Maria Dizon donated a four-hectare land in Barangay Mabiga of this town to the rebuilding of Don Bosco Academy. With limited resources and the will to succeed, the Salesian Fathers paved the way to the construction and building of a new campus. The same impetus that propelled the founding of this school is once again present as Don Bosco Academy strives to fulfill its work and mission in Pampanga. By moving to the north of the province, the Salesians of Don Bosco have expanded their presence and service to more Pampangos, truly inspired by the zeal of Luctor et Emergo!
[edit] Siuala
Siuala is the official publication of Don Bosco Academy Pampanga for more than 20 years. The school paper has been housing the academy’s best writers and artists and has been a training ground for students who share the same passion for writing and drawing. Siuala is derived from a Pampango term, which means, “voice”. It serves as an instrument of communication between the students, parents, alumni, faculty, Salesians and academy. This is also a venue where one could read the literary masterpieces of our artistic Bosconian poets. From the front cover, to the artworks of each article, top the back, one would really assess the Bosconians' ingenuity for drawing. The paper doesn’t only inform you with the latest happenings in the campus, but also provides you with dozens of articles that are very exciting to read. Also packed with indispensable information,there is a greeting section which allows Bosconians to relay their messages to coresponding recipients as well.
[edit] Young Galileans Club
Chemicals, scientists, astronomy… yup! You got it! The Young Galileans are coming your way. These young scientists concentrate not only on matter in the Science Laboratory but also on the welfare of the students, like the Science Jingle Contest. They advocate environmental issues such as waste segregation, campus cleaning and recycling. Truly, the Young Galileans Club in an organization with cause.
[edit] Teatro Busko
Teatro Busko is a guild of talented students. This guild helps develop skills in acting, singing, dancing and a creative thinking. This guild has already produced many wonderful productions. Patience is also one of the virtues that are needed in this guild.
[edit] See also
- Don Bosco Technical College, Mandaluyong
- Don Bosco School, Manila
- Don Bosco Technical Institute, Tarlac
- Don Bosco Technical Institute, Victorias
[edit] References
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