HISTORY

Bago Bantay is contracted form of the words – Bagong Bantayan, the original name of the place, which means new outpost. This was the place where the outpost of Andres Bonifacio was located during the Katipunan days. The area was strategically located so that it commanded a distinct view of the surrounding towns. Government troops coming from San Juan, and the neighboring towns were easily detected right away and notice were given the Katipuneros who were then stationed in Bahay Toro, Pugad Lawin and parts of Balintawak. It remained until the early part of the American occupation. Since then, industrious and peaceful farmers had occupied it. But, later it became a hiding place for cattle rustlers and other bad elements that made it hideout due to its thick growth of herbs, bushes and trees.

In the early part of the liberation period, when Manila was thickly populated by squatters, the government, though an effective agency, the Slum Clearance Commission, selected Bagong Bantayan as relocation site of these squatters and resettled them in what is now called Bago Bantay. Among the first batch were from Harrison, then came those from the Port Area, Philippine Normal School (now PNU) compound and Intramuros. More and more squatters arrived in Bago Bantay as the Manila City government continuously instituted ejectment proceedings. And every ejected family, there were at least three to four children of school ages, thus, the school problem in the community rose and became worse. The school authorities of Quezon City, in cooperation with the Social Welfare Administration (SWA), initiated the establishment of a school by housing the classes in makeshift huts or barong-barong; rooms are made out of any material which could be obtained in the locality, having its greatest benefactor, the US Nasal Reservation Station situated adjacent to Bago Bantay. Mr. Mariano Serrabo also donated a one-room barong-barong for school use. Since then, someone would announce by shouting that a school would soon open. By October 1952, a school was opened indeed with Mrs. Marcel Millano, one of the settlers, as the first teacher.

In the SY 1953 – 1954, the school had an enrolment of approximately 85 children. SWA’s attention was called to the lack of schoolrooms because of the continuous ejection of squatters in Manila. Nipa and second-hand galvanized iron sheets for roofing, empty boxes as walls and a donation of two hundred pesos (P200.00) for lumber form SWA was utilized to build an improvised schoolhouse, which was under Bonifacio Memorial Elementary School, Madatero Annex Settlement Area.

The SY of 1954 – 1955, was faced by a clamor for more classes to be opened. Houses to be rented for school use were sought and during the opening of the school year, Madatero Annex was separated from Bonifacio Memorial Elementary School and it became what in now BAGO BANTAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, with the main building at South Bago Bantay, which was then known as PHILCUSA, a new Project 7 or Esteban Abada Elementary School with Mr. Saturino Magturo as its acting Principal.

The first unit of pre-fabricated schoolhouse was erected in North Bago Bantay in September 1955. It was divided into three rooms occupied by six teachers. SY 1956 – 1957 had an enrolment of 510 with 11 teachers. In SY 1957 – 1958, Grade V was opened raising the number of teacher of 14. In November of the same year, North Bago Bantay was separated from Bago Bantay Elementary School, and Bagong Pag-asa Elementary School became its mother school with Mr. Pio Gatus as its principal.

October 14 1959, North Bago Bantay Elementary School was born with 39 teachers (39 primary and 9 intermediate) and with a population of 1,664. It was separated from Bagong Pag-asa Elementary School and Mrs. Caridad F. Dumlao became its first principal.

In SY 1960 – 1961, the new independent school became under Miss Isabel Francisco, and began to gain shape independently with now 42 teachers. More pre-fab schoolhouses constructed and with teaching staff increased to 50 the following year.

Since then, progress and expansion of the school gained steadily with six rented buildings in addition to the pre-fabs in 1963 – 1964 and population rose to 2,614 with 75 teachers the following year.

The site was finally acquired in 1964 with the QC council fulfilling its promise of appropriating funds for a main building. 2,799 pupils and 80 teachers witnessed in SY 1966 – 1967 the inauguration and blessing of its first 8-room permanent building, followed by the inauguration of a 3-unti Marcos building before the closing of classes that same year, all of which came under the leadership of its energetic principal, Mrs. Vicenta B. Tabujara.

The following principals were then assigned and contributed their greatest accomplishment Mrs. Catalina Bartolome, Mrs. Rosenda A. Arriola, Mrs. Cristeta P. Pacamara, Mrs. Felicitas R. Ricaort, Mrs. Lydia C. Pia, Mrs. Evangeline A. Lloren, Mrs. Belen J. Castro, Dr. Gloria D. Ancheta, Mrs. Emliana R. Delmoro, Mrs. Fausta M. Marqueses, Miss Gloria E. Huera, Miss Adela S. Salvador, Mr. George C. Melegrito and to date Mrs. Jocelyn A. Lopez.

Bago Bantay Elementary School will continue to be an institution that will provide lifelong learning and functional literacy to the Filipino youth – a school dedicated to God and Country.