ABOUT US

1960

On November 15, 1960, a decree was promulgated by the Archbishop of Manila, Rufino Santos, DD formally creating the Manila Archdiocesan and Parochial Schools Association (MAPSA). This was followed by the ratification of its Constitution. A Superintendent and a Supervisor were appointed to conduct school visits and, thus, upgrade the System. Annual dues were solicited.

1968

Under Msgr. Justino C. Ortiz, membership increased to 38 schools; the MAPSA Administrative Handbook was drafted. There were extensive programs for the professional upgrading of teachers and administrators. To energize the Association, an Executive Board headed by a Chairman replaced the Archdiocesan School Board.

1975

In March 1975, the MAPSA Secretariat was established with office in Room 205 of the Pius XII Catholic Center. A full-time secretary was engaged in the person of Ms. Scarlette S. Nicdao. There was an attempt to evaluate the financial status of the Association. In June 1975, the MAPSA Retirement Plan for academic/non-academic personnel was set and implemented.

1980

Bishop Leonardo Z. Legaspi, DD took over the Chairmanship of MAPSA. There was a significant organizational revamp towards the streamlining of operations. Different manuals were drafted, among which were the Organizational Planning and Design Manual and a comprehensive Administrators Handbook; a scheme for the continuing formation of teaching and non-teaching personnel was drawn and legal counsels, Atty. Amado Dizon and Atty. Sabino Padilla, were engaged. The number of member schools rose to 54.

1984

Under Bishop Manuel Sobreviñas, DD there were activities focusing on instruction. Foremost conducted were syllabi development and values integration in each subject in the curriculum.

1985

The member schools increased to 57. This included 12 schools in the Diocese of Antipolo and 3 of the Diocese of Malolos. The Office of the Secretariat was moved to Intramuros (Arzobispado de Manila Building).

1993

On April 1, 1993, Msgr. Gerardo O. Santos was appointed by His Eminence Jaime B. Cardinal Sin, DD to be the MAPSA head. In this year, MAPSA went through massive re-organization by the formulation of a renewed MAPSA Vision-Mission statement and the revision of the MAPSA Educational System Norms and Policies.

1994

• School visitation of all MAPSA member institutions was conducted by the Chair and Members of the Board. Areas reviewed were: school administration, philosophy, Religious Education and faculty and instruction.

• The Vision-Mission statement was revised to affirm the core values upheld in MaPSA schools.

1996

• It was moved that MAPSA be a CEAP member

• 30 school directors started formal studies for an M.A.

• 10 school directors undertook studies towards a doctorate.

• Superintendents were appointed by the MAPSA Chair.

• School membership increased to 85 schools.

1997-1998

• Internal organizational assessment and diffusion of governance responsibilities were conducted.

• Technical commissions and committees were organized.

• Area organization and decentralization of the various training activities were made.

• A MAPSA organizational development plan/legal audit of all schools was finalized.

• The Vision-Mission Statement was again reviewed to ensure clarity and conformance to the mission of the Church.

• New office premises were sought.

• Most priest-directors completed their graduate studies.

1999

• The search for alternative resources was undertaken given that growth called for more and expanded services.

• Focus was made on responsible stewardship.

• Meaningful relationships were given attention as this was a felt concern.

• That Religion is core of the curriculum was emphasized and set of prime importance.

2000

• The MAPSA Office was relocated to the 6th floor of St. John Bldg., Paco Catholic School.

• There was a significant gain in personnel development:

  • Trained priest-directors: with doctorate (2); candidates for doctorate (4); completed Masters (37)
  • Trained lay administrators: with doctorate (1); candidates for doctorate (5); with Master’s Degree (18)
  • Undergoing training: Masters in ECE (66); M.A. in Science (26); M.A. in Religious Education (10)

• Organizational highlights were:

  • Empowerment of the clergy as school directors
  • Area heads made dents in leadership, bringing about stronger bonding among the school heads and schools.
  • Emergence of a “systematic management culture” in the MAPSA system as shown by: clarity of V-M-G; stewardship of resources; legal audit of schools; financial audits; strengthening of the BOT; institutionalized norms and policies regarding school administration; and the strengthening of the technical commissions and committees with the system operating in the context of a corporate culture.
  • Strengthening of academics; systematization of scope and sequence; development of supervisory plans; push for accreditation; inter-school visitation; and faculty development programs.

• MAPSA linkages with local and international communities were effected. MAPSA became visible in the CEAP. It participated actively in the National Catholic Education Congress. Through its different committees and commissions, most MAPSA schools became members of professional organizations.

• A technology-based management system with the introduction of technology in the workplace and in instruction came into effect. Majority of MAPSA schools introduced computer instruction and computer as management tools.

• Commitment to the prominence of the Archbishop of Manila in the management of MAPSA — including appointments and scrutiny of resources was affirmed.

• There was extensive availment of outside expertise (consultants) for technical assistance.

• The Sedes Sapientiae Award was launched to honor outstanding teachers of MAPSA.

2001

• MAPSA was Incorporated
• The Board approved the Shekinah Project which was MAPSA-CIE Religion Textbook Writing; there re-emerged the steady commitment to strengthen Religion as Core of the Curriculum.
• The Book Center and the Student Assistance Program (Kapatiran) were set to provide assistance to schools of MAPSA which needed help.

2002

• The Book Evaluation Committee was created to insure quality of books used in MAPSA member schools

2003

• The Dioceses of Malolos and Novaliches decided to enlist their schools in MAPSA.

2004

• This period marked the inclusion of schools of newly-installed dioceses in the MAPSA educational system.
• The membership fee was made Php 20/enrollee from its previous Php 25 irrespective of enrollment size.
• The 3 subsidiaries: Retirement, Kapatiran & Book Center, and the Audit Committee were subsumed by the Finance Commission.
• The Shekinah series was completed.
• The MAPSA Gazette which was the official newsletter of MAPSA was reactivated and re-named MAPSA Spectrum.
• Mrs. Presentation B. Gabriel was appointed MaPSA Executive Secretary.

2005

• The Membership Committee was formed.
• The Manuals were revised resulting in 4 different manuals: Administration, Faculty, Non-teaching and Student.
• All MAPSA member schools adopted and participated in Pondo ng Pinoy.

2006

• The MAPSA Web Portal was launched.
• The MAPSA Inc. Articles of Incorporation and By-laws were amended.
• Salary loans and building loans were made available to MAPSA members.
• TV Maria and MAPSA Radyo were availed for advocating MAPSA programs and activities with MAPSA Radyo (later named as Snacktym Berks) aired through Radio Veritas every Sunday, 4-5 p.m.
• The Accounting Manual was revised.
• The Alumni and Parents Committees were created.
• St. Augustine Academy of Coron, Palawan was accepted as a MAPSA member school.
• MAPSA key persons benchmarked with the Archdiocese of Sydney Educational System.

2007

• Information and processes for MAPSA retirement and application for MAPSA Loans were made available via computer.
• The scheme for compensation/honoraria of priest-directors were set.
• The 7 KRA’s were addressed through the accomplishments of Commissions and Committees.
• A paper was drawn defining MAPSA as an association of schools, each of which is within an educational system under the stewardship of a superintendent who is the extension of the bishop in matters of Catholic education in the diocese.

2008

• The MAPSA Web Portal with URL www.mapsa.edu.ph was re-launched.
• The Whole Brain Learning System as strategy for enabling teachers make Religion core of the curriculum was adopted.
• Focus was made on engaged citizenship.
• Movements were organized by MaPSA to counter the RH Bill.
• A code of ethics in school management was drafted.
• Youth empowerment, too, was emphasized.

2009

• Members of the MAPSA Executive Council participated at the National Catholic Education Association 2009 Convention held in Anaheim, California
• To improve the delivery of instruction, the Understanding by Design (UbD) framework was implemented.

2010

• The High School Christian Formation Series, the RCC-WBLS Activity Books and the CIE Manual were adopted as MAPSA’s 50th Anniversary offering to the Church.
• 11 priest directors completed the M.A. in Educational Management (RCAM ES- 5, PaDSS – 4, DOCES – 2)
• MAPSA celebrated its 50th year recognizing 50 Gems who had made significant contributions towards the growth of MAPSA.
• Mrs. Presentacion B. Gabriel and Ms. Ofelia Meneses were recognized as papal awardees by Pope John Paul II.

2011

• A Christian Living MAPSA Worktext was developed for Grade School students. Writers were homegrown talents from MAPSA schools.
• MAPSA schools started their K to 12 curriculum by implementing the Universal Kindergarten Law and accepting students for Kindergarten
• MAPSA sponsored research regarding viability of MAPSA schools on K to 12, started through the help of Mr. Don Brodeth.

2012

• Leadership on some MAPSA key posts were re-set:
  • Rev. Fr. Gerard Joaquin V. Masangya, Superintendent of the Diocese of Antipolo was appointed MAPSA’s Human Resource Continuing Education System (HRCES) Chairperson.
  • Rev. Msgr. Mario Enriquez succeeded Rev. Fr. Alfredo Guerrero to be the Chair of MAPSA Kapatiran
  • Sr. Lucia S. Gumiran, SFIC was appointed MaPSA Executive Secretary
• New members schools were:
  • Escuela Catolica de San Miguel – Archdiocese of Manila
  • Santo Rosario Sapang Palay College – Diocese of Malolos

2013

• A report on K to 12 was presented to the MaPSA ExeCom members.
• The First MaPSA School Heads Training was held to further professionalize MAPSA Directors/Directresses
• High School CL books for MAPSA produced jointly by MAPSA and VIBAL were adopted for use in MAPSA member schools

2014

• His Eminence Luis Antonio G. Cardinal Tagle succeeded Msgr. Gerarado Santos as President and Chairman of the MaPSA Board.
• Mr. Christopher M. Panaglima was appointed MaPSA Executive Secretary

2015

• The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved the change of the Manila Archdiocesan and Parochial Schools Association (MAPSA), Inc. to the Manila Ecclesiastical Province School Systems Association (MaPSA), Inc.
• The number of trustees in the Board was increased to 22 members from the original 11.
• After having undergone strategic planning, a new Vision-Mission and Goals Statement was formulated.
• A Memorandum of Agreement was arrived at for all MaPSA schools high school senior students with signatories from SM Foundation, Asia Pacific College, Assumption College-Makati, and Informatics-Manila

2016

• A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was drafted jointly and signed by representatives of: the Movie & Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB); Radyo Veritas; and the Manila Ecclesiastical Province School Systems Association (MaPSA)
• Schools of the Diocese of the Laoag Catholic Educational System (DCLES) were included as MaPSA member schools. Fr. Tito Romeo Bonoan and Most Rev. Renato Mayugba, DD were elected members to the MaPSA Board of Trustees.

2017

• 17 schools of the Malolos Diocesan and Congregational School System Association (MaDiCSSA) were added as MaPSA member schools.

2018

• The MaPSA office was renovated.