The History of Pasay City West High School
Pasay City West High School was established in 1949 and was originally named Manuel L. Quezon High School. It started its operation with nine teachers, a clerk, a janitor, and a principal to manage the institution.
In its opening year, 234 youths of different ages from Pasay City enrolled. They attended classes from 7:30 in the morning to 4:30 in the afternoon in an old building divided into nine classrooms.
The first year of operation was a resounding success over the next two school years, with enrollment increasing by almost 100%. That time students from neighboring city of Manila and municipalities of Makati, Parañaque, Taguig, Las Piñas and Muntinlupa enrolled in the school.
The rise in the number of enrollees had caused two major problems- who would teach the students and where to accommodate them. But city officials led by the late Mayor Carlos Revilla, were undaunted. They raised funds from various sources for the hiring of more mentors and for the purchase of a 10,292 square-meter lot along F.B. Harrison Street. One year after, a 23-room school building was erected and on August 25, l952, the said building was inaugurated with then Vice President Fernando J. Lopez as guest speaker. But because many other schools were named after the late Pres. Manuel Quezon, school officials proposed to the city council to change the name of the institution. So, that same year, by virtue of Resolution No. 145, Manuel L. Quezon High School was renamed Pasay City High School.
Mr. Bernardo A. Fajardo was the first Principal who successfully led the school to various programs and prominence. After eighteen years, Mr. Fajardo retired in August l6, l967. Mrs. Anita H. Pizarro, who had been the assistant principal, took the helm of leadership where the predecessor left.
As the new principal, Mrs. Pizarro strived even harder for the school to reach new heights. Classrooms were added, teachers were hired, and facilities were acquired and installed. But more than what was expected, a large number of students enrolled, causing congestion in the school which posed a bigger problem. Each problem, however, to the minds of school administrators and city officials, has a solution. Wasting no time, they agreed to put up annexes. Thus, the birth of Pasay City East High School in Malibay District and Pasay City South High School in Nichols Air Base, now, Villamor Air Base. After a year, the two annexes became independent, so for the second time, Pasay City High School was officially named Pasay City West High School.
The school has sustained its glory as the leader school in Pasay City public secondary schools. Pasay City West High School, 71 years later, is stronger and more dynamic in fulfilling its mission and providing quality education.
Mrs. Pizarro stirred the school to fame and glory. She raised the level of professionalism of teachers and school personnel—developed a culture of good discipline among students and promoted goodwill to city government officials and to the leaders of various organizations in the city and neighboring municipalities. She left the school with many legacies to be proud of for a more challenging assignment- as assistant superintendent of the school’s division of Cavite City.
Mrs. Maura U. Sevilla took over the leadership. She continued the programs initiated by Mrs. Pizarro. She also undertook various projects, all for the benefit of the teachers and students. Meanwhile, the school’s enrollment reached the 3,000 level. This is despite the proximity of the school’s location to other secondary educational institutions. Mrs. Sevilla reached retirement age on November 29, 1988. Mrs. Antonia V. Santos then Assistant Principal, took over as OIC-Principal.
Mrs. Santos served for only six months but her impact was greatly felt. She initiated the clean and green project, revived the culture of punctuality among teachers and personnel, and changed the study habits of the students. It was during her time when the school led in cleanliness, discipline of students, professionalism of teachers, and proudly, in academic excellence.
Mr. Felix A. Balbaguio was appointed as the school’s fourth principal in July 1989. He served only up to July 1991, but in two years, he had shown through his deeds the example of an honest government official.
Dr. Vivencio Q. Mendoza served as the subsequent principal, leading the school until July 26, 1997. His six-year tenure left a lasting impact as he enhanced the school’s facilities and revitalized the buildings by repainting walls and installing grills on windows and corridors. In time, Dr. Mendoza earned a promotion to assistant superintendent in the Schools Division of Palawan province, marking the end of his tenure.
Following Dr. Mendoza’s departure, Mrs. Aracelli T. Chua, the Principal of Pasay City East High School, assumed the role. She held the position until May 31, 1998, leaving a legacy of friendliness among her colleagues and fostering discipline among the students.
On June 1, 1998, Mr. Nancy D. Flores, who was the Principal of Pasay City South High School, was transferred to Pasay City West High School, taking over from Mrs. Chua. Similar to her predecessors, Mr. Flores left his mark with notable contributions. He established the ANKLUNG Ensemble and acquired costumes for the school’s cultural performers. After serving Pasay City West High School for four years, he was reassigned to Pasay City South High School.
Dr. Jeremias Pascual, who had been the Principal of Pasay City North High School, succeeded Mrs. Flores. Driven by courage and dedication, he focused on fostering unity and cooperation among teachers and school personnel. Dr. Pascual retired on January 16, 2004, leading to the appointment of Mrs. Lourdes G. Garrido, who was the English Department Head, as the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) principal. After six months, Dr. Myrna Sarmiento assumed the role of principal at Pasay City West High School. Her dynamism and unwavering commitment to leadership earned her a reputation as a remarkable and exceptional principal. Dr. Sarmiento retired on June 20, 2014.
Mrs. Lourdes G. Garrido took over the position after Dr. Sarmiento’s retirement. Like the other principals, she continued the programs and projects of the school with dedication and dynamism. She retired on February 2, 2015. After the retirement of Mrs. Garrido, Mrs. Rita Repoquit, a Head Teacher from the Social Studies Department was designated as OIC-Principal of Pasay City West High School from February 3 to May 11, 2015.
Following Dr. Sarmiento’s retirement, Mrs. Lourdes G. Garrido assumed the role. Similar to her predecessors, she upheld the school’s programs and projects with dedication and dynamism. Mrs. Garrido retired on February 2, 2015. Subsequently, Mrs. Rita Repoquit, who was a Head Teacher in the Social Studies Department, was appointed as the Officer-in-Charge (OIC)-Principal of Pasay City West High School from February 3 to May 11, 2015, following Mrs. Garrido’s retirement.
On May 12, 2015, Dr. Myrna B. Gaza, who had previously served as the Principal of Pasay City East High School, was transferred to Pasay City West High School, becoming the 12th Principal of the school. As an alumna of Pasay City West High School, graduating from Batch ’76, she was tasked with the challenges of implementing the Senior High School program by the school year 2016-2017. Dr. Gaza, known for her dynamic leadership, successfully managed the implementation of the Senior High School program at PCWHS.
After four years, Dr. Gaza was promoted to the position of head of Pasay City School Governance and Operation Division (SGOD). With this, Dr. Anita Atienza took over as the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) principal of the school from February until November 25, 2019. Then, on November 26, 2019, Dr. Maripaz T. Mendoza, who served as the Education Program Supervisor for Science and Technology, was designated as the school’s OIC Principal. Dr. Mendoza took the initiative to establish the school’s reading corner on the topmost floor of Building 3 and also acquired equipment for the Special Program in Foreign Languages (SPFL) room.
Barely a year after Dr. Mendoza’s appointment, Mr. Peter R. Cannon Jr. was appointed the school’s principal on November 9, 2020. This appointment felt like a homecoming for Mr. Cannon, as he had previously been a classroom teacher at PCWHS. After thirteen years of service in other schools, Mr. Cannon returned to PCWHS, the school that honed his skills in the academe. His return can be likened to a dutiful son coming back to support his mother, and Mr. Cannon served PCWHS with passion, aiming to enhance the school’s reputation in the field of educational services.
On August 23, 2023, Mr. Cannon, Jr. was transferred to Pasay City North High School, and on the same day, Mr. Agapito Teodoro N. Manaog was assigned as the new principal of PCWHS. Similar to his predecessor, Mr. Manaog was also a former teacher at the school. Mr. Manaog graduated with a degree in BS Education majoring in English with Science as his minor. Consequently, he was appointed as a Science teacher in 1992. His first assignment as a school head came in 2009 when he was designated as the OIC principal of Pasay City North High School – Cuneta annex. From that point onward, Mr. Manaog continued to climb the promotion ladder until he attained the position of principal IV. Before his transfer to PCWHS, he served as the principal of Kalayaan National High School, where he was recognized for implementing significant improvements in school facilities and academic advancement.
At the beginning of the school year 2023-2024, Mr. Manaog led the orientation for the students. During this event, the dynamic school head emphasized the importance of discipline and called upon the students to maintain the highest level of discipline. He also pledged to enhance the facilities in the school’s restrooms.
Several years have passed, yet Pasay City West High School remains resilient and dynamic in fulfilling its mission of providing quality education and other basic educational services. At present, the school offers not only the Regular Program but also four Special Programs, namely Special Science or Science and Technology Education (STE), formerly known as the DOST Program; Special Program in Foreign Language (SPFL) in German and Mandarin; the Open High School Program; and the Alternative Learning System (ALS) for Out-of-School Youths.
Pasay City West High School continues to be the city’s premier secondary education institution and will continue to strive for excellence. The school’s success will be driven by the professionalism and competence of its teachers, as well as the exemplary knowledge, skills, discipline, and values of its students, all working together to achieve academic excellence.
