Soaring High FPJESians

Filemon P. Javier Elementary School (FPJES) which was inaugurated on September 1, 1986, is currently headed by the 16^th school principal, Mrs. Viva D. Carreon, is a 2-building campus (5 and 4 stories), an 18-classroom school, with 21 dynamic teaching force and 10 hardworking non-teaching personnel serving 507 pupils, located at No. 539 Senator Neptali A. Gonzales Street, Barangay San Jose, Mandaluyong City

The idea of creating annex school for Mandaluyong Elementary School started towards the end of the school year 1985-1986. Dr. Emelita D. Magsalin, District Supervisor – Mandaluyong I, Mr. Angel Santiago, Principal of Mandaluyong Elementary School, Mrs. Elvira J. Manalang, Assistant to the Principal of the same school, planned to open the school at Barangay San Jose, Mandaluyong. They eagerly sought after the help of the former Mayor Benjamin S. Abalos Sr. for the construction of the school and took shape after several meetings.

On April 8, 1986, Division Schools Superintendent of Quezon City, Dr. Edna Azurin, approved the plan for the construction of the school buildings. Upon the direction of the mayor, 6-classrooms of the school was constructed on April 13, 1986. It was inaugurated on September 1, 1986 and was named Filemon P. Javier Primary School, after the late municipal mayor of Mandaluyong City. Its exact location was at No. 584 Senator Neptali A. Gonzales Street, Sitio II, Barangay San Jose, Mandaluyong City with a total land area of 161 square meters acquired through Presidential Proclamation. To date, the school is still consist of two separate buildings under TCT Number 17301.

Mayor Filemon P. Javier is the 18^th mayor of the City of Mandaluyong for one term covering the years 1964 to 1971. He was awarded as the Best Mayor of the Philippines by the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos in 1970 for his exemplary performance. His entry to politics was not a surprise since his father, the late Bonifacio Javier, was also a city Mayor of Mandaluyong who served in the same capacity for more than two terms as the 16^th mayor of Mandaluyong. Way back then, he originally ran under the candidacy of a vice mayor in 1964 local elections but 25 days before elections, the candidate for mayoralty position in the name of Amado Reyes died. With this turn of event, his party agreed that he will run for the Mayoralty position instead which he won in an overwhelming victory of votes.

The School was initially headed by Mrs. Elvira J. Manalang together with the pioneer teachers came from Mandaluyong Elementary School and organized classes from grades one to four catering the 287 pupils. The following school year 1987 – 1988, complete elementary levels was opened thereby changed the name to Filemon P. Javier Elementary School. To address the increasing enrollment, Building B, a three-storey building with a roof deck at the third floor was constructed in 1995 with its acquisition under usufruct agreement. This is in separate location just few meters away with the street no. at 539 with an area of 380.8 square meters. It is in this building where the school principal’s office, library, guidance, canteen, science room and storeroom were housed.

In the year 2000, an inspection was conducted of this building and found out to be defective and unsafe for occupancy. Thus, its demolition has been undertaken. Its reconstruction was undertaken in 2003 funded by two agencies, namely: the Department of Education (DepEd) and School Expenditure Management Project (SEMP). The building was inaugurated on July 19, 2005. Another Building B inspection has been undertaken in 2015 and the findings showed that the building was sinking revealing vertical straight bars of the façade deforming into curve shape coupled with major cracks because it can not hold the weight of the third floor which is a covered court. Through the congressional funding initiative of the then Honorable Neptali A. Gonzales II, a construction of a 5-storey 12-classroom building has been funded to replace its deteriorating condition. The fifth floor of the new building houses a multi-purpose hall. Its demolition started on March 26, 2016 followed by its groundbreaking on June 13, 2016 and was inaugurated on November 9, 2016.

The following are its school principals since it started operation up to present: Mrs. Elvira J. Manalang (1986 – 1992); Mrs. Alma D. Divina (1993 – 1994); Mrs. Luz T. Amaro (1994 – 1998); Mrs. Evelyn B. Sto. Tomas (1998 – 2000); Mrs. Welhilmina M. Hilario (2000 – 2006); Dr. Alyn G. Mendoza (June 1, 2006 – 2008); Mr. Romeo E. Bandal (June 1, 2008 – October 30, 2008); Dr. Imelda O. Garcia (November 1, 2008 – 2010); Mrs. Carmencita I. Gonzales (2010 – 2011); Mrs. Nimfa A. Matabang (July 1, 2011 – July 8, 2013); Mrs. Lucia M. Llego (July 9, 2013 – September 8, 2017); Mr. Robertto P. Redobante (September 9, 2017 – November 7, 2018); Mrs. Leonila Q. Masangcay (November 10, 2018 – June 21, 2019), Mrs. Josephine C. Emperado (June 24, 2019 – October 18, 2020); and Mr. Ramilo P. Pascual as its 15^th school principal.

FPJES celebrates its foundation day every 1^st day of September where the school was inaugurated on September 1, 1986. The 32^nd Anniversary of FPJES dated September 7, 2018 was marked to be a special event when thru the initiative of Mr. Roberto P. Redobante, the school principal of that time, invited Atty. Filemon Ray L. Javier as the Guest of Honor. Atty. Javier was the grandson of Filemon P. Javier, an alumni of the school who made it as Top 2 of the BAR Examinations. His mother, Mrs. Emma L. Javier represented him for the event. However, he made it to attend on the school’s 33^rd Recognition Day held on March 29, 2019 as the Guest Speaker.

Writer in English: Mr. Benedict Mary P. Ambos

Translator:

Contributors: Mr. Carlos A. Javier and Mrs. Emma L. Javier