THE HISTORY OF HOLY TRINITY ACADEMY

Holy Trinity Academy, also known with its abbrieviation HTA, is

a private, parochial school in Sampaloc, Manila, which was founded in June 1947 by Rev. Fr. Bernardo
Torres. The school was established following the closure of the Cemeteryo de Balic-Balic that was first
opened in 1890. The school was first classified as a single-gender school institution during its early years,
and is constantly expanding to allow mixed-gender education. 

The school was a former cemetery called 'Cemeteryo de Balic-Balic' and opened in 1890, built by Padre
'Ramon Caviedas'. And in 1955, The American Health Institution closed the cemetery.

In 1958, the late Rufino Cardinal Santos turned over the management of the school to the Daughters of
Mary Help of Christians, the sister congregation of the Don Bosco Fathers. They set up the co-ed classes
from kindergarten to grade four and exclusive section for girls for grades five and six. The male pupils
after finishing grade four transferred to other schools of the parent's choice.

In 1962, Rev. Msgr. Isidro L. Jose was installed parish priest. Fully aware of his role as spiritual leader of
the community, he tried to accommodate all the children of school age and to mold them along
the Christian way. Thus, in 1964, the Holy Trinity Boy's Department came into existence. It was in the
same year that Msgr. Jose paid from the Parish funds and by installments Fr. Torres for the rights in the
school.

During its first year, the HTA Boy's Department started with one class of grade five only. In the second
year, the administration offered classes from grade four to grade six. First year classes were begun in the
third year of operation with one section for boys and one section for girls. Then in its fourth year,
the Salesian Sisters requested Cardinal Santos to transfer the first two years of High School girls to the
Girls' Department, and the remaining boys' sections from the Girls' Department transferred to the Boys'
Department. The supervision of the Boy's Department was entrusted to lay principals while the girls
remained under the Salesian Sisters.

In 1972–1973 school year, the Boy's Department started a co-educational program in kinder classes. In
the succeeding curriculum years, female enrollment in both grade school and high school departments
increased. Thus, the boys' department dropped its name and became HTA Co-ed Department in 1974.
Initial integration started in school year 1976–1977 by way of centralized school funds, one school
calendar, class programs, DECS reports and standardized salary. The HTA girls and Co-ed Departments
flourished under the directorship of Very Rev. Msgr. Isidro L. Jose.

Subsequent school directors Msgr. Danilo Pascual (1983–1988) and Msgr. Cesar Pagulayan (1988–
1991) worked to realize this integration. From 1991 to 1997, during the term of Msgr. Manuel Gabriel, the
identity of Holy Trinity Academy as a parochial school was further clarified. By the end of the 1992–93
school year, the Salesian Sisters ceased management of the Holy Trinity Academy. The following school
year, a new congregation, the Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena, was assigned to the school
but stayed for only a year. At the outset of the following school year, HTA became a fully co-ed school,
pre-school to 4th year level under the supervision of lay administrators headed by the Priest Director. It
was not until the 1996–1997 school year that religious sisters was re-established in the school with the
coming of the Daughters of Mary of the Assumption (fma).

In succeeding years, the Manila Archdiocesan Parochial School Association (MAPSA) has been gearing
up to upgrade parochial schools of the Archdiocese of Manila in general operations, academic standards,
faculty and employee development and administration. MAPSA has become an avenue for communion of
parochial schools, direction setting and accentuating their Christian identity, role and mission. In the last
quarter of 1997, Msgr. Sebastian assumed the position of Parish Priest and School Director but
transferred after a couple of months.
Rev. Fr. Enrico Martin F. Adoviso reported to the Parish and the Academy in January 1998. The
organizational assessment conducted during the 1998–1999 school year indicated a need to reorganize
school structures and policies. The Board of Trustees and the administration implemented measures to
improve the system so that by the year 2000, the School stabilized. Employees’ development was
prioritized and the school facilities greatly improved. Simultaneous to these important developments, the
Principalship of the Grade School and High School departments were assigned by the Archdiocese of
Manila to Sr. Jesiela Deguilmo and Sr. Laureana Polinar, both from the congregation of the Daughters of
Mary of the Assumption.

By the end of the school year 2000–2001, offices and faculty rooms were air conditioned and renovated;
the whole school building was repainted inside out and all classrooms were air-conditioned; the HS
canteen became fully furnished and science laboratories were constructed and fully equipped. An Php 8.8
M gymnasium was erected and a sports program for students was established and series of personnel
development seminars ensued.

The Academy created and implemented a five-year development plan, which started with an assessment
and evaluation of all aspects of the School administration and operation propelled by series of seminars
for the revision of School Vision-Mission-Goals.

In the seventh year of Fr. Adoviso's Directorship of the Academy, on January 5, 2005, HTA geared up to
vie for the accreditation of Philippine Association of Accrediting Schools, Colleges and
Universities (PAASCU) while continuously focusing on the Vision and Mission of the school true to its
being Home of Tomorrow's Achievers.

Founder: June 1947 by Rev. Fr. Bernardo Torres.

Accreditation: According to the handbook of Holy Trinity Academy, The year 2009 marked a milestone for
the HTA family since the school had its PAASCU Preliminary Survey Visit. The school in its quest for
excellence continued as the school got its candidate status on December in that same year. Classrooms
were equipped with televisions to address the instructional needs of the students. The school also started
the implementation of the science curriculum in the high school department and for the pilot sections. In
the year 2011, sometime in November, the school acquired a Level 1 accreditation status for both
departments under the directorship of Rev. Fr. Enrich Martin Adoviso and an institutional principal, Evelyn
B. Tallod, Ed.D. Change was inevitable that the academy has to embrace a new in terms if its
administration. Part of these changes is the clustering schools where HTA is part of a cluster of schools
with three members. The idea of clustering is to help small schools in terms of resources sharing with the
hope of achieving the motto "No school is left behind". Since the present director believes in the dreams
of the past administration, the school earnestly worked on the demands of PAASCU and passed the
Level 2 last December 2015. It is with high hopes that it can soon be at par with other schools in the
country. To further widen its horizon, the school opened its first operation of the Senior High School to
both the graduates of the private and publics schools, offering only a minimal fee without sacrificing
quality. It is with fervent hope and prayer that HOLY TRINITY ACADEMY brings forth inspiration to every
life it touches with the help of each of its stakeholders and that the entire school community looks forward
to greater achievements in evangelization through excellent Catholic education, with expectant faith on
the extravagant mercies of the Triune God and the powerful intercession of Our Lady of the Most Holy
Trinity.
Facilities: Holy Trinity Academy Gymnasium
Rev. Fr. Bernardo Torres Gymnasium
Msgr. Isidro L. Jose Outdoor Swimming Pool
Home Economics and Livelihood Education (HELE) Room
Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE) Room
Computer Laboratory
Science Laboratory
Library

Lexi Gonzales 201 Senior High Titled "First Princess" Actress

(formerly Nikki 9 School in the 2019 Philippine (under GMA
Gonzales) Reality Network)
show, StarStruck.
Alumna

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BEST PRACTICES OF SCHOOL / COMPETITIVE

ADVANTAGES
Clear and Common Focus
- Holy Trinity strives to educate each child entrusted to its care in an environment, which
has Jesus and His teachings as its center. In order to provide a quality Catholic
education, we strive to teach the child as a whole person - morally, spiritually,
physically, socially, aesthetically, emotionally, as well as scholastically. A strong
religious and instructional program is, therefore, in place.

 To build a model diocesan school that offers student and family-centered

programs.
 To offer science oriented curriculum integrated with religion and reading as
strategy.
 To provide enrichment programs and interventions for the varied needs of
students.
 To sustain the alternative learning system for the marginalized member of the
society through the adult night high school and other creative pastoral ministry
programs.
  To strengthen the collaborative partnership between and among the stakeholders
of the institution.

High Standards and Expectations (Academic Expectations)

- Holy Trinity School expects students to perform to the best of their ability. Teachers
are expected to evaluate student progress on a regular basis. Students will be given
quizzes or tests regularly. After the test is graded, it will be sent home for the parent to
review and sign. A parent’s signature indicates that the parent is aware of the student’s
progress.

Responsibilities of the Students

- Students attend Holy Trinity School in order to develop fully their God-given talents
and capabilities. To accomplish this, students are asked to:

 Do their best work at all time.

 Treat all members of the school community (i.e., teachers, staff, priests, parents
and students) with respect. This includes respecting the work of others by not
cheating.
 Obey all school rules and regulations, including those forbidding the use of
drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, or disruptive behavior.
 Develop personal standards of conduct that reflect Christian morals and
behavior, and refrain from use of inappropriate language, verbal threats, and
sexual behavior (including touching, gestures, writing, and dress).
 Speak in a well-modulated tone of voice.
 Observe the school dress code, including standards on no-uniform days.
 Help care for school property and keep the school free from damage and
defacement.

Parent/Community Involvement
- Just as the parents look to the school to provide the facilities and the trained
personnel that are essential to their child’s proper development, so the school
 looks to the parents to assume active responsibilities that cannot be delegated to
others.
- Since as parents you are the child’s first teachers, you are our partners in
education. Therefore, regular communication with you is an essential part of your
child’s school experience. Scheduled parent conferences allow teachers and
parents to discuss student achievement as well as to develop means to assist
students in areas of difficulty.

Discipline Code for Student Conduct

- The goal of discipline in a Catholic school is for students to learn self-discipline, which
strengthens and promotes the values incorporated in our Catholic faith community. As
the school builds community, it develops in students the awareness that sensible rules
serve to safeguard the individual's freedom and provide an atmosphere conducive to
learning. Disciplinary measures should have as an end the development of the human
person who respects one's self, other persons and those in authority.