RAMON AVANCEÑA HIGH SCHOOL
History
Ramon Avanceña High School is a non-sectarian public school in Manila
located at J. Nepomuceno Street, Quiapo under Barangay 386 of the 3rd
District. Nearby landmarks include the Malacañang Palace (560 m northeast),
which is the official residence and workplace of the President of the
Philippines; Masjid Al-Dahab also known as Golden Mosque (490 m
northwest) considered as the largest mosque in Metro Manila which is
predominantly the Muslim section of Quiapo and; Minor Basilica of the Black
Nazarene where millions of Black Nazarene devout gather every January 9 on
its feast day.
Ramon Avanceña High School came into existence in 1953 as Arlegui
Annex of Victorino Mapa High School (VMHS). It shared tenancy with the
Philippine Law School in a rented building bounded by Arlegui Street, Vergara
Street and Plaza Avanceña. Five years later in 1958, the Arlegui Annex of
VMHS separated and recognized as Arlegui High School with Ms. Margarita
del Rosario appointed as principal. In 1959, by virtue of Resolution No. 722
signed by then Mayor Arsenio Lacson, the school was renamed Ramon
Avanceña High School in honor of the late Chief Justice Ramon Avanceña who
was a prominent Manileño.
In 1973, a new building was occupied by all learners abandoning the
Vergara Annex. Since then, the enrollment increased gradually, and a 2-shift
program was implemented. In 1977, through the initiative of Manila’s 3rd
District Representative Hon. Leonardo Fugoso, renovation was made. But
through migration, social, economic, and political factors, the enrollment
gradually dwindled, so that the number of faculty members was reduced,
some were transferred to other schools.
This challenge on reduction of enrolment was steadily observed as the
school leadership also changed frequently. When K-12 came into view in
2016, enrollment slightly increased due to enrollment in Grade 11.
With a medium school category declared by DepEd NCR (National
Capital Region), Ramon Avanceña High School has a total of 5,575 sqm land
area, where 88% of the students are Muslims and 12% are Christians.
Currently, the school has a total student population of 690 in Junior High
School and 251 in Senior High School. Catchment areas include Arlegui,
Globo de Oro, Carlos Palanca, and Padilla streets where most students reside.
Majority belong to middle- and low-class groups whose economic sustenance
relies on 4 P’s program, vending around Quiapo and Sta. Cruz areas and
pedicab driving. It is also because of these jobs that students from Mindanao
transferred to Manila as they see these as opportunities than in the province.
The teaching staff, on the other hand, consists of 39 Junior High School
faculty members, 13 in Senior High School (with 1 focal person included).
Non-teaching has 7 department heads, 18 support personnel and 1 school
head.
Currently, under the K-12 curriculum and single shift operation, the
school offers complete Junior High School program (Grades 7-10) and 5
strands in Senior High School – General Academic Strand (GAS), TVL-HE
Cookery, TVL-ICT, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)
and Accountancy, Business and Management (ABM). Journalism in English
and Filipino is also offered as a special program in Junior High School, in
which the school has been gaining awards and recognition in press
conferences together with other disciplines in their respective competitions.
The SHS consists of a 4-storey building while the Junior High School
has 5 in an L-shape form with the deck floor as an area for MAPEH activities
before. Now, students utilize also the covered court (Lingkod Bayan) for such
activities and other official school programs.
When needs arise, the school coordinates with community linkages
who are actively responsive – office of Barangay 386 with the incumbent chair,
Perfecto Pahignalo, RAHS General Parents and Teachers Association, RAHS
Alumni International, Office of the Mayor, Office of the Vice Mayor, Office of District 3 Congressman, Division of City Schools – Manila and other
significant private partners – Technological Institute of the Philippines,
National Teachers College, and Philippine College of Criminology among
others.
Though small in enrollees, Ramon Avanceña High School has never
wavered to deliver the mission and vision of the Department of Education.
Though diverse in culture, students learn the true art of friendship through
collaboration, cooperation, and respect regardless of religion or indigenous
classification. Thus, “Unity in Diversity, Quality over Quantity” had been the
mantra since 2017. And with this established, the school currently carries a
new mantra: “One Avanceña: Stable, Steadfast, Strong” in the mission to
uphold a united school culture amidst any challenges.