Tomas Claudio Memorial Elementary School

Tomas Claudio Memorial Elementary School
Tomas Claudio Memorial Elementary School
	Facade of the Main School Building
Address
	Tomas Claudio Memorial Elementary School
	Tomas Claudio St.; Morong , Rizal ; Philippines
Coordinates	14°31′04″N121°14′19″E / 14.517889°N 121.238534°E Coordinates: 14°31′04″N121°14′19″E / 14.517889°N 121.238534°E

Last updated March 15, 2019

Tomas Claudio Memorial Elementary School, formerly called Tomas Claudio Memorial School, was constructed in 1921 in honor of Private Tomas Mateo Claudio, the first Filipino hero of Morong, Rizal, in the Philippines, who died during World War I in France.^[1] The school is considered the Alma Mater of most Moronguenos.^[2]

Morong, officially the Municipality of Morong,, is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Rizal, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 58,118 people.

Rizal, officially known as the Province of Rizal, is a province in the Philippines located in the Calabarzon region, 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) east of Manila. The province is named after José Rizal, one of the main national heroes of the Philippines. Rizal is bordered by Metro Manila to the west, Bulacan to the north, Quezon to the east and Laguna to the southeast. The province also lies on the northern shores of Laguna de Bay, the largest lake in the country. Rizal is a mountainous province perched on the western slopes of the southern portion of the Sierra Madre mountain range.

The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Situated in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of about 7,641 islands that are categorized broadly under three main geographical divisions from north to south: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The capital city of the Philippines is Manila and the most populous city is Quezon City, both part of Metro Manila. Bounded by the South China Sea on the west, the Philippine Sea on the east and the Celebes Sea on the southwest, the Philippines shares maritime borders with Taiwan to the north, Vietnam to the west, Palau to the east, and Malaysia and Indonesia to the south.

History

Before Tomas Claudio Memorial Elementary School was constructed, an elementary school known as Morong Elementary School or Morong Central School was already operating in 1901, which was housed at the Commandancia.^[2]

Former Municipal President Felix San Juan urged a committee to send a resolution to the National Assembly to request for an appropriation of fifteen thousand pesos for a school building in honor of Private Tomas Mateo Claudio. On February 24, 1920, an act was passed and signed into law by then Governor General Francis Burton Harrison to appropriate the sum of fifteen thousand pesos as additional funds for the construction of an intermediate school in Morong, Rizal.^[2]^[3]

Francis Burton Harrison was an American-born Filipino statesman who served in the United States House of Representatives and was appointed Governor-General of the Philippines by President of the United States Woodrow Wilson. Harrison was a prominent adviser to the president of the Philippine Commonwealth, as well as the next four Presidents of the Republic of the Philippines. He is the only former Governor-General of the Philippines to be awarded Philippine citizenship.

As provided in Section 2 of the said Act, a bust or relief medallion made of bronze and marble representing Tomas Mateo Claudio must be installed on the facade of the school building.^[2]

When the school building was completed, classes from Grades 5 to 7 were held in the new building while Grades 1 to 4 remained in the Commandancia. In 1927, a Home Economics building was constructed. A few years later, more rooms were added to the main building. Former First Lady Aurora Quezon admired the school's library and museum during her visit to the school in 1938.^[2]

Aurora Quezon wife of Philippine President Manuel Luis Quezón

Aurora Antonia Aragón, viuda de Quezon, usually known simply as Aurora Quezon, and sometimes as Aurora Aragón-Quezon, was the wife of Philippine President Manuel Luis Quezon and the First Lady of the Philippines from 1935 to 1944. Though she is recognized as the second First Lady of the Philippines, she was actually the first spouse of a Philippine president to be addressed as such, the honorific being unknown in the Philippines prior to Manuel Quezon's presidency. Much beloved by Filipinos, Quezon was known for involvement with humanitarian activities and served as the first Chairperson of the Philippine National Red Cross.

At the time of the Japanese occupation in the Philippines, the school was converted into a garrison until July 10, 1942, which compelled the classes to be held at the Commandancia. The school was reconstructed in 1945 under the Rehabilitation Act, and resumed its use for the intermediate classes. Still, the Commandancia was used by the primary students.^[2]

In 1959, a two-room prefabricated rooms were added and used by Grade 1 and 2 students. Rodriguez-type buildings were erected in 1963, followed by the Marcos-type buildings behind the Gabaldon-type building.^[2]

When the Commandancia got damaged due to Typhoon Yoling in 1970, all primary classes were transferred to Tomas Claudio Memorial Elementary School, making it a complete elementary school since then.^[2]

Architecture

During the American period (1898-1945), about 3,000 Gabaldon-type school buildings were constructed and American-style educational system was introduced.^[4]

Upon the signing of Act 2881, the townspeople of Morong, Rizal contributed sand and gravel and a Gabaldon-type school building was erected in 1921.^[2] The U-shaped one-storey building has a concrete foundation with the floor raised from the ground to promote air passage, an adaptation to the tropical climate in the country. The nine concrete arches at the facade of the building reflect an American-era image of the cultural heritage in Morong, Rizal. Board panels on the interior and some portions of exterior wall are arranged vertically and horizontally. Wooden air vents that promote air circulation are placed on the lower part of the wall touching the floor. Windows are either glass and capiz, which are retained on the upper part of the wall. Cut-out fretworks with abacus design are seen on the upper portions of the wall. These not only give a decorative look, but also allow ventilation. The roofing is made of galvanized iron sheets.

At present, tiles are laid on a portion of the floor of the main building. The school library and mini museum was created by removing some classroom partitions to produce a larger room. To meet the need for additional classrooms for the growing student population, additional school buildings are being erected in the nearby areas.

Gallery

School Name
A closer look at the facade of the main building showing the arches and the fretworks on the upper wall
Double slab doors at the main building
Rear side of the main building
Facade of the northern wing of the building
Rear side of the northern wing of the building
The corridor of the south wing with original wooden flooring
Gate made of metal grills bearing the 1930 insignia

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References

↑ Tandoc Jr.,, Edson (June 2, 2006). "Heirs try to keep legacy of Filipino to die for democracy". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Pascual, Timoteo; Guillermo, Liwayway (1978). Morong's 400 Years. Manila: UST Press.
↑ "Act 2881". Republic of the Philippines House of Representatives. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
↑ Villalon, Augusto (May 24, 2010). "Philippine-Australian cooperation restores Gabaldon-type school in Camiguin". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 5, 2014.

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[:1-1] Tandoc Jr.,, Edson (June 2, 2006). "Heirs try to keep legacy of Filipino to die for democracy". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 5, 2014.

[:2-2] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Pascual, Timoteo; Guillermo, Liwayway (1978). Morong's 400 Years. Manila: UST Press.

[:3-3] "Act 2881". Republic of the Philippines House of Representatives. Retrieved October 5, 2014.

[:4-4] Villalon, Augusto (May 24, 2010). "Philippine-Australian cooperation restores Gabaldon-type school in Camiguin". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 5, 2014.