HISTORY

Lupang Pangako Elementary School

Although the place may be named after the Promise Land found in the Bible, the visitors of Lupang Pangako need not to travel 40 years akin to the Israelites of Egypt just to reach the Promised Land.

Unlike in the biblical times when the Israelites walked all the away to the Promised Land, nowadays, there are several modes of transportation that the public could utilize in order to arrive at Lupang Pangako. In one’s quest of Lupang Pangako, one needs to get to the Litex Market in order to ride a jeep that goes to the Lupang Pangako area. There are two possible options to choose from in order for one to reach the Litex Market. If one feels the need to escape the heat and pollution of the metropolis, one could ride a taxi from any point of the city to the Litex Market which would more or less cost a whopping P100.00. On the other hand, if one would rather feel the wind on one’s hair and enjoy the sights and sound of the metropolis, then one can ride a jeep going to Philcoa followed by another jeep from Philcoa going to the Litex Market. The advantage of riding a jeep to the Litex Market is that it cost only P8.00 for every jeepney ride. Upon arriving at the Litex Market, one should first cross the street and then take another jeep to Urban. The jeep going to Urban would take you from the Litex market up to the Lupang Pangako market. After going to the whole ordeal, one would realize that it only takes two to three rides to go from anywhere to the Lupang Pangako area.

As the name might have given away, Lupang Pangako was named in allusion to the Promised Land found in the Bible. Like the story of the Israelites who left Egypt to live in the Promised Land, the residents of Lupang Pangako once lived as squatters in different parts in Quezon City. They were then relocated to Lupangt Pangako when they were forced by the government to evacuate their houses. On another note, Lupang Pangako was also named in reference to a point in history of the community when politician after politician kept on promising the residents of Lupang Pangako a better life. Unfortunately, none of the promises were ever fulfilled by these politicians. Considering this background, one can only imagine the pace of progress in Lupang Pangako these past few decades.

To imagine the pace of progress in Lupang Pangako, it is important to first realize that this area is found within Payatas, Quezon City. In fact, one might be surprised to know that Lupang Pangako is exactly beside the infamous Payatas Dumpsite, which is nowadays known as the Quezon City Controlled Dumpsite. Compared of the rest of Quezon City, one could say that Lupang Pangako is quite backward. When one visits the area, it is as if one has traveled to a remote barangay in the rural outskirts of the Philippines.The rough roads and the low cost housing areas cations of this backward condition. Moreover, it is undeniable that the rampant activities and drug addiction in the area are obvious signs that the development in Lupang Pangako is regressing.It is hear warming to note that the Lupang Pangako Elementary School located in the Lupang Pangako area is a glimpse of hope and development in this depressed area.

For the past few years, Lupang Pangako Elementary School has been living up to his name, serving as the Promised Land for the residents of Lupang Pangako.

Since the school is in the heart of the most depressed area in Payatas, Quezon City, it has become the shelter of the youth from the poverty and lawlessness that has been reigning outside the boundaries of the school.One would be amazed to see such a school just a few steps away from the busy market place of Lupang Pangako. The infrastructure of the school is so striking and extensive that it seems out of the place in such a neighborhood. However, it is important to note that it was not until recently when the school evolved into its present magnificent state. This unimaginable transformation can be attributed to the change of leadership back in 2004. Before that, Lupang Pangako Elementary School was one of the worst elementary schools not only in Payatas but in Quezon City as well. At one point in the history of the school, it ranked among the lowest in the Quezon City division as a result of its poor performance in the National Achievement Test (NAT). However, things soon change when Mr. Benjamin Caling became the principal of the Lupang Pangako Elementary School in August 2004. In partnership with the Ateneo Center for Educational Development, Mr. Caling was able to raise the school standards up several notches. He was able to implement several projects which included both building new infrastructures and improving the quality of education provided by the school. Through various interventions he was also able to elevate the school ranking from the lowest up to the uppermost ranks in the Quezon City division of the National Achievement Test. With this development, one can see how the story of the Lupang Pangako Elementary School can be considered as a Cinderella Story which all improvised elementary schools can draw inspiration from.