HHIS History

Once built upon a hilly area amid tall grasses, Highway Hills Integrated School (HHIS) was founded on August 24, 1961 through the generosity of Mr. Ong Ai Gui, a Chinese philanthropist who donated a portion of his land and spearheaded the construction of the school then known as Highway Hills Elementary School (HHES).  With its playground and five classrooms housing an office for the principal, an industrial shop and two rest houses, the school set out its operations.  Mr Roman De Los Santos, former chairman of Brgy Highway Hills, helped establish the school through his initiatives and active coordination with the first General PTA President, Mr Pablo Santiago, whose commitment also spawned the launching of different school projects under his term.

Its first ever school head was Ms Pacita G. Reamon, a competent leader who raised the profile of HIghway Hills Elementary School and made it popular in Rizal and its surrounding areas during her stint as principal.  Having established its reputation, the school also served as a hub for division seminars and teaching demonstrations, courtesty of pioneer teachers who dedicated their professional life to build a name for the school, namely, Ms Rebecca Sanchez, Mr Jose Rizal Sanchez, Ms Teresita Ignacio, Mrs Purificacion Palad, Mr and Mrs Jose Quintos, Ms Filomena Domingo and Ms Adelaida Garibay.

Eventually turned into a pilot school, it was frequented by teachers, school heads from different schools, district supervisors and educatio program supervisors, among others.  Former senator Santanina Rasul was one of the stakeholders whose children were educated by then HHES.

In 1970, tropical storm Yoling ripped through five of the school's classroom, which prompted Mr. De Los Santos and Mr. Santiago to seek the aid of Mr Isidro Rodriguez for the immediate reconstruction.  Instead a 2-storey 16- classroom building and another building with 10 classrooms were instituted and eponymously named Rodriguez Main Building and Rodriguez II Building, respectively, in his honor.

The school continued to grow and now pushed for worthwhile initiatives such as implementation of nutrition program, food production campaign, green revolution and beautification projects which cemented the school and community partnership.

During the incumbency of then mayor Ernesto Domingo circa 1980, a Domingo-Ong Building was constructed with the help of Mr Ong Ai  Gui. To accomodate the growing number of student population and the recreational needs of the community, a stage and a basketball court were eventually added on.

Then came the era of Gonzales and Abalos administration.  In the many years that former congressman Neptali M. Gonzales II and former city mayor Benjamin C. Abalos Jr. were at the helm of district and city government of Mandaluyong, respectively, several school physical reaources had been evident: the clinic, canteen, science laboratory, multi-purpose hall, computer and speech laboratory.

The name Highway Hills Elementary School became non-existent in 2011 when the school elevated its status and was named Highway Hills Integrated School, accomodating fewer than 200 freshmen students in the SY 2007 - 2008.  Pioneers in the high school department were: Mrs Carina F. Alfaro, Mrs Rowena M. Garabiles, Mrs Joanna C. Sugala, Ms Anna Grace Lobigas, Mr. Maurice M. Merlas, and Mr. Henry M. Sabidong, then Assistant-to-the-Principal.

Since 1961, fourteen principals have already served the elementary-turned-integrated school, to wit: Ms. Pacita G. Reamon, Mrs Lydia Javier, Ms. Luz B. Flores, Mrs Roldan, Ms. Josefina Anselmo, Ms. Purificacion Bautista, Mrs Ester C. Villareal, Mrs Emelinda A. Osillo, Mrs Gregoria Ignacio, Mrs Corazon S. Mayoya, Mrs Carmencita I. Gonzales, Mr. Romeo E. Bandal, who welcomed the integration of senior high school in the secondary department of Highway Hills Integrated School with the implementation of K to 12 Basic Education Curriculum SY. 2016-2017, Mrs Marvie R. Duran, who was an advocate of keeping the school environment-friendly with her various projects that seek to promote sustainability in campus and Mrs Corazon R. Regino, who opened HUMSS strand for AY. 2020-2021 in hopes to offer more opportunities to studenst and strengthen their aptitudes which will expose them in their chosen industry.

In the advent of K-12 curriculum, Highway Hills Integrated School is now one of the schools which offers Senior High School education in Mandaluyong City.