Etymology and Brief History of Payatas

The name Payatas was originated from the word “payat sa taas” because the land on the upper portion then was so narrow of strait where no plants could be planted.

Payatas was then divided into three barangays: Payatas A, B and C. The place was first named Barangay Otso before it was known Payatas. Payatas was the only barangay that was established under the judiciary rule. In 1970, Payatas was just a small hillock of rice fields and shanties. In 1980, population in the community ballooned, parents sent their children to school outside Payatas, so the Barangay Council headed by the late Mrs. Rosario Tan Juanich (former barangay kagawad and became faculty member of JCMPHS) made motion and initiated to the District Congress to put up one high school in the community. The Lagro High School-Payatas Annex was erected at the Bicol Street, one street away from the dumpsite.

In 30 years the place became the first dumpsite of Metro Manila or even the Philippines because garbage from everywhere could be dumped here. Thousands of families became dependent on this dumpsite as source of income. The dumpsite was temporarily closed when the July 10, 2000 Trashlide Tragedy happened and became the worldwide news. In 2001, the Quezon City local government made systematic management to monitor the proper disposal of the garbage and reopened the Payatas dumpsite for the second time as requested by the people in the community especially those who were dependent on the dumpsite as their daily living.

Brief History of Justice Cecilia Muñoz Palma High School

June 20, 1988 was the first operation of the school as Lagro High School- Payatas Annex with seven teachers, teaching the 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd year levels, for it was not a complete high school then. On September 27, 1989, Ms. Gutierrez, former principal of LHS that time, appointed Mrs. Sheridan G. Evangelista as the first officer-in-charge of the school. In SY 1989-90, the school became a complete high school. In SY 1991-92, seven faculty members were increased to 18.The cockpit-arena type school was situated, one street away front of the Payatas dumpsite. There were only two (2) dilapidated buildings, one for the principal’s office, registrar’s office and property and the other was for the clinic, library and faculty room. One make shift building was used as class rooms, no divisions, no chairs, no blackboards, and erasers, no lights, no water, and no comfort room. Mrs. Evangelista exerted all ways and means to have a new and better site for the school. Fortunately, Mrs. Evangelista was able to get the MWSS site to be the school site. SY 1992-1993, late Mrs. Paz Viloria became the next teacher in-charge, followed by Mrs. Felicisima F. Tanedo in SY 1993-1994. In 1994, Mathay building was constructed under Mr. Liberato Garcia’s administration, SY 1994-1997 and after the turn-over of the building in 1995, the 2^nd - 4^th year level students and teachers moved to the new site. Four (4) years later, the Liban and DPWH school buildings were constructed, but the latter was not completely accomplished. SY 1997-2000, Ms. Amelia B. Yapit became the head teacher in-charge of the school. SY 2000-2003, Mrs. Violeta Jordan assumed as head of the school and in 2001she worked out on the independency of the school. In 2003, the school became a full pledged independent as Payatas High School. May 2005, Mrs. Lydia S. Ramos, Master Teacher II from Camp Crame High School assumed her post as Head Teacher In-Charge of the school that lasted September 2005. In September 2005, Ms. Juanita C. Alajar, accepted the big challenges as an administrator and principal of Payatas High School. The Barangay Council, the Palma Foundation and the QC local government passed a resolution to rename the school and on November 22, 2006, Payatas High School was formally adopted by the Palma family and renamed Justice Cecilia Muñoz Palma High School. Under Ms. Alajar’s administration, Belmonte Hall, SB Building, audio visual room, edu-buntu, computer laboratory, ALS, rehabilitations of Science laboratory, registrar office, accounting office, guidance office and improvement of other school facilities were fully accomplished. July 12, 2016, Ms. Alajar retired from the 9 years and 10 months service.

July 14, 2016, JCMPHS welcomed a man of word and conviction in the person of Dr. Agapito “Butch” T. Lera, Principal 1V. New school policies and changes are implemented and observed for better improvement, and some school’s development are evidently seen and manifested in every corner of the school. Two additional buildings and fencing of the school are now accomplished under Dr. Lera’s administration. School’s peace and order, students discipline and teachers’ camaraderie, cooperation and unity are observed in the school.

Brief History of Justice Cecilia Muñoz Palma Senior High School

Named after the first Filipino woman to be appointed as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Cecilia Muñoz Palma Senior High School, located at Paseo del Carmen St., AMLAC Ville Subdivision Payatas B, Quezon City, officially opened and welcomed more than 450 Grade 11 students on June 4, 2018. The school primarily offered Academic Track- Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMMS), Technical-Vocational & Livelihood Track- Automotive Servicing, and Information & Communications Technology (ICT) Animation.

Initially, the school was integrated into the main campus (Justice Cecilia Muñoz Palma High School) at Molave Street under the dynamic leadership of Dr. Agapito T. Lera, Principal IV.

The inauguration and turn-over ceremonies of four-storey building with 31 classrooms of Justice Cecilia Muñoz Palma Senior High School was held on November 22, 2018. It was led by the Honorable Mayor Herbert M. Bautista together with Congressman Winston Castelo, the City Councilors & Barangay Council, Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth E. Quesada, division Supervisors and school administrative staff.

Mrs. Ma. Rhodora E. Maliao, English Department Head was assigned as the first Officer-in-charge (OIC) for the Senior High School with 9 faculty members (newly hired SHS teachers and JHS-borrowed teachers). On November 1, 2018, Mr. Joel C. Canceran then took over as Assistant to the Principal for eight months. On August 23, 2019, the school welcomed Mrs. Romelita C. Tumaneng as she was assigned by the schools division office as Assistant Principal II for the Senior High School with a total of 17 teaching staff and 4 non-teaching personnel.

At present, Justice Cecilia Muñoz Palma Senior High School, being the only stand-alone SHS in the 2nd District of Quezon City, caters to Grade 11 and 12 learners in the community. Responding to the call, the school has been serving barangay Payatas as a beacon of light in the community and it has managed to live up the vision and mission of the Department of Education.