History

Welcome to
T.R. YANGCO CATHOLIC EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE, INC.

After the outbreak of World War II, rose the problem of the interrupted schooling of the youth who were full of vitality and eagerness to quench their thirst for knowledge. Due to the absence of secondary school in San Antonio, the parents sent their children to the provincial high school in Iba and to a private school in San Narciso. This period was under emotional and economic reconstructions that some things were given less priority including the education of the youth. Fortunately, a group of concerned people had envisioned “that sending children to school is an integral part of their growth as youth”. They promptly established a secondary school here in San Antonio after accomplishing the needed requirements. The late +Jose Apostol, became the President and Director, together with Zacarias Pascasio – Principal: Pedro Madarang – Vice President and Business Manager: Juan Dancel and Mercedes Corpus – Trustees; and Candido Manglicmot – Secretary and Treasurer. The institution then was named after San Antonio’s famous philanthropist, Teodoro Rafael Yangco. Consequently, the San Antonians were very thankful to the founders for having T.R. Yangco High School (TRYHS), which could quench their thirst for education. This enthusiasm to learn was further exalted by a benevolent man name Don Ramon Corpus who donated the lot. At first, the school was only a humble nipa hut but this did not deter the eagerness of the students to learn. And after a long wait, on April 16, 1946, TRYHS got recognition from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and by the Bureau of Private Schools (BPS), under the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) on February 23, 1948 with 22 graduates on the same year. Then in 1958, the Catholic Diocese of Iba, led by the late Bishop Henry Byrne, persuaded the founders to transfer the school administration to the Diocese. He appointed Fr. Vincent O’Brien, as director with Mrs. Josefa Gonzales Esteban, as principal. She was later succeeded by Mrs. Flora Lonzanida Borje. TRYHS became a Catholic School and its name was changed to Teodoro Rafael Yangco Educational Institute and it served as an extension service of the parish. The Congregation of Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Concepcion (CFIC, now SFIC) were requested as co-administrators with the priest in 1960. Mother Constancia Villanueva, CFIC was the first religious principal. Then, the late Doña Eleuteria Pablo Corpus donated the lot adjacent to the UCCP and kindergarten and Grade I classes were eventually opened. During her infancy as a Catholic institution, TRYEI encountered some problems with the requirements of the Bureau of Private Schools. Funds were insufficient for construction and maintenance of the buildings. But parents gladly gave their support. Even the U.S. San Miguel Base personnel formed the “Operation Schoolhouse” and they gave construction materials for the repairs and financial assistance to deserving students. From its humble beginnings in 1945, TRYEI had grown and partnership with parents arose; thus the Parents, Teachers and Friends Association (PTFA) was formed. In February 1985, TRYEI celebrated its Ruby Jubilee. The enhanced spirit of partnership of PTFA raised funds to help the school administration upgrade school facilities. The success of the fund raising campaign further inspired the students that they reaped awards and recognitions in varied competitions outside the school adding laurel to the institution. TRYEI suffered the wrath of Mr. Pinatubo in 1991 and other calamities but these were overcome. The Youth Ministry, a parish organization, was put up to hone the students’ innate talents and skills and further involved them in the parish and the community. On October 8, 2001, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Jose S. Montes, who was then the School Director, met with the Diocesan Board of Trustees namely: Most Rev. Deogracias Iñguez, Jr., D.D., Rev. Msgr. Crisostomo Cacho, Rev. Fr. Roland Almo, Rev. Fr. Audencio Mozo, Jr. and moved to change the name of the school from Teodoro Rafael Yangco Educational Institute (T.R.Y.E.I.) to Teodoro Rafael Yangco Catholic Educational Institute (T.R.Y.C.E.I.). The motion was voted unanimously by the Board. It was then filed to the Securities and Exchange Commission for registration and finally gained its approval on March 8, 2002. Since then, the school is known as TEODORO RAFAEL YANGCO CATHOLIC EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE (T.R.Y.C.E.I.). In the School Year 2008 – 2009, another change of command was made. Then School Director Josefino M. Corpuz, together with the Board of Trustees, requested the Dominican Sisters of St. Joseph to take over as co-administrators ending the many years of service rendered by the Franciscan Sisters to the community. The first batch of Dominican Sisters consisted of Sr. Susana B. Bundoc, O.P. as School Principal, Sr. Celerina Galang, O.P. as School Treasurer, and Sr. Elizabeth Villanueva, O.P. as CIE Coordinator. 8 Time, priorities and even values change. After many attempted negotiations with the heirs of Don Teodoro R. Yangco failed, the administration and the Board of Trustees of the Diocesan Schools finally decided that the school be transferred to a new site. The ultimate dream of the students, faculty, staff, and administration, including the alumni, to have a permanent site is finally realized on September 8, 2011, when the ground breaking ceremonies for the new school building in Barangay San Juan was done. The Most Rev. Florentino G. Lavarias, D.D., Bishop of Iba, led the ceremonies together with the newly installed School Director, Rev. Fr. Raymann G. Catindig. On March 26, 2012, the most awaited blessing of the new school building, a brainchild of the new school director, was held. This coincided with the baccalaureate mass for the graduating pupils and students followed by the commencement rites of Batch 2012. The parents of the pupils in the Elementary Department clamored that their children also would like to transfer to the new site from the old elementary campus located at the National Highway, Barangay Rizal, San Antonio, Zambales. After a thorough deliberation of the school administration and the Diocesan Board of Trustees, an elementary building was erected. Hence, in the new school year 2012 – 2013 that opened on June 13, 2012, the elementary and high school students eagerly began their studies in the new school site with the newly constructed amenities for their comfort. The blessing of the elementary building was held on June 29, 2012, again led by the Most Rev. Florentino G. Lavarias, D.D., Bishop of Iba, Rev. Fr. Raymann G. Catindig, School Director and Sr. Susana B. Bundoc, O.P., School Principal, other Dominican Sisters, together with the ever-supportive sponsors, parents, alumni, faculty, staff, pupils and students.