History of PCS
The founding of Paco
Around 1580, the early Franciscan missionaries founded the town of Dilao, which is now known as Paco. 10 years later, a parish church was established and Rev. Fray Juan de Garrobillas was appointed as its first parish priest.
Fr. Fray Fernando de la Concepcion Perdigon was appointed parish priest in 1809. He started the construction of a concrete church and completed it in 1814.
CICM Missionaries Era
Congregatio Immaculati Cordis Mariae / Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (also known as Belgian Scheut Missionaries).
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After the departure of the Spanish Franciscans in 1900, the Archdiocese of Manila entrusted the parish to the CICM from 1908 to 1984.
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Fr. Raymond Esquenet was the first CICM to be appointed parish priest of Paco by the Belgian Superior of the Order. He took over the management of the parish on the October of 1908
The Fr. Godofredo Era
The small chapel emerged as an institution with becoming the largest parochial school in the Far East known today as Paco Catholic School.
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The first 13 students of Paco Catholic School graduated in SY 1937- 1938 and Paco Catholic School received was recognized for a secondary course from the government.
World war Era
Due to events happening at the time the school was closed on December 8, 1941.Later in 1942, the Archbishop of Manila insisted to re-open the high school level for the pastoral visitation.
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On July of 1944 Fr. Josef De Bal was made as the temporary School Director. In September of the same year, the school was forced to close again.
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Fr. Godofredo would return soon to the school at the end of the war in 1945. The American engineers helped repaired the School along with its parish church. Its repairs were done between 1946 and 1955.
The new beginning of Paco Catholic School
PCS was able to start school with 1,600 students with its double session—girls in the morning, boys in the afternoon. The Mother’s convent was then converted into an all girl’s high school building.
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6 years later a new rectory and a five-story building, St. Joseph Building, was constructed.
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Fr. Carlos Van Ooteghem was the last CICM Priest to serve PCS. He served between 1980-1984.Under his term, the Karel Hall, covered court, Sacred Heart Center, and Practical Arts Building were constructed.
In 1984, after their dedicated 72 years of service to its ministry and education, the school was then turned over to the Archdiocese of Manila
Archdiocese of Manila Era
Auxiliary Bishop of Manila Teodoro C. Bacani Jr. was the first Filipino Director of the school from 1984 to 1993.
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Fr. Danilo A. Canceran the later successor of Bishop Bacani, was the School Director during Bishop Bacani's time.
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In 1995 a five-story building was built and named San Lorenzo Ruiz Building during the term of Bishop Bacani (Parish Priest) and Fr. Canceran (School Director).
Msgr. Domingo A. Cirilos Jr. appointed Parish Priest and Director in 1966. He had the altar renovated.
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Constructions in Paco Catholic School
1997, two buildings (along Trece de Agosto) were demolished to make way for the fivestory Pope John Paul II building.
In 1998, the implementation of the completed Preschool Level (Nursery, Kindergarten, and Preparatory).
May of 1999, The Jaime Cardinal Sin Building with 33 rooms for the HS department was constructed, along with the 1,000-seat auditorium. It was also blessed and inagurated by Jaime Cardinal Sin on July 14, 2000.
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November 9, 2006, the Sacred Heart Bldg. was renamed after its founder, Rev. Fr. Godofredo Aldenhuijsen Heritage Center.
Present Era | RCAM-ES
Roman Catholic Archbishop of Manila Educational System was introduced in AY 2014-2015.
The separation of the management of schools from the parish, and clustering of schools.
Recently the school is supervised by one director Fr. Maxwell Lowell C. Aranilla (School Director), Fr. Rany P. Geraldino (Assistant Director for Finance and Administration), and Mrs. Dina B. Abariso (Assistant Director for Academics).