History of the ADDU-JHS

The Ateneo de Davao University is one of the nine schools in the Philippines owned and run by the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). The school tradition of total, harmonious formation and personal, academic excellence, product of over four centuries of educational experience of the Society since the establishment of the College of Messina in October 1548, is St. Ignatius’ legacy to the religious family he founded in 1540.

At the request of the Most Rev. Luis del Rosario, S.J., Bishop of Zamboanga, the Jesuit Fathers, under the leadership of Fr. Theodore E. Daigler, S.J., took over the St. Peter’s Parochial School and renamed it the Ateneo de Davao. In June 1948, the Ateneo de Davao opened on a six-hectare piece of property in Matina with 71 grades 5 and 6 elementary students and 131 first, second, and third year high school students. The first high school graduation was held in March of 1950.

In 1951, the Jacinto campus was obtained through the generous support of the Most Rev. Clovis Thibault, P.M.E., Prelate of Davao. The high school moved to the Jacinto campus in 1962 and returned to the Matina campus upon completion of a two-wing, three-storey building in 1967. The Ateneo de Davao High School turned co- co-educational in 1977 with 28 girls accepted into the freshman year. In 1977, the Ateneo de Davao gained University status with Fr. Emeterio J. Barcelon, S.J. as its first University President.

In its ardent desire to ensure quality education, Ateneo de Davao University went through an accreditation process by the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities (PAASCU). The college was first accredited in 1969, the grade school in 1974 (the first PAASCU accredited elementary school in the Visayas and Mindanao), and the high school in 1975. It attained reaccreditation in 1978, 1984, 1990, 1997, 2002, 2007, 2012, and 2017.

In 1988, Mrs. Katie B. Delima became the first lay Principal of the high school.
The increasing student population in both the grade school and the high school prompted the Central Administration to build a five-storey high school complex in what used to be the school’s backfield. The high school transferred to the new building in June 1996; its formal inauguration, however, was held the following year on March 12, 1997. The Administration Wing houses the different administrative offices, the Instructional Media Center, St. John Berchmans’ Chapel, the School Clinic, and the Student Development Center. The old high school building of 1967 was turned over to the grade school.

The school year 1999-2000 saw the creation of an integrated program of basic education from preschool to high school. Fr. Edmundo M. Martinez, S.J., University President, appointed Fr. Oscar A. Millar, S.J. as Vice President for Formation and Basic Education, Mrs. Suzette D. Aliňo as Director of Basic Education and concurrent grade school Headmaster, and Mrs. Gloria G. Dolar as high school Principal.

In 2001, Fr. Martinez, S.J. initiated changes in the administrative structure with the abolition of the Office of Assistant Principal for Academic Affairs to make sure that academic leadership becomes the prime responsibility of the Unit Head. The Principal, then, had a direct hand in all matters involving faculty and academics. To help the Unit Head in this task, the positions of Executive Assistant to the Principal and the Year Level Heads were created. In addition, the Committee on Instruction was formed to assist the Principal in upgrading the quality of classroom instruction through class observations/visitations.

The position of Assistant Principal for Formation was created to help oversee the activities and processes aimed at the total formation of students – their attitudes, values, behavior, and character. The creation of the Formation Cluster composed of the Student Development Center (SDC), Campus Ministry Office (CMO), Christian Life Education (CLE) Department, and Sports and Student Activities was designed to intensify the Jesuit ideals of formation and tradition of excellence.

In school years 1999-2000 and 2000-2001, the high school added more computers for the I.T. program, upgraded the Mathematics curriculum, and a consultant assisted in the training of the teachers. It was in 1999 that the high school served as the locus for the Regional Science Training Center (RSTC), the Reorientation of Instruction of Science Education (RISE), and the regional training for public school teachers among others.
Structural and academic reforms were made to respond to the different recommendations raised by the PAASCU Re-accreditation in February 2002. Dr. Perla E. Funa, Dean of Arts and Sciences, became Vice President for Basic Education and concurrently, the high school Principal. Moreover, Sr. Guia Jambalos, RC was appointed Assistant to the President for Formation.

Towards the end of 2004, Fr. Antonio S. Samson, S.J., the second-time President of the University, ushered some changes in the curriculum and the organizational structure. The school made necessary and relevant reforms in its curricular programs beginning with Religious Education and Physical Education, Health and Music. The change in the organizational structure included the revival of the Subject Area Coordinators. In August of 2005, Fr. Irvin B. Salanio, S.J. became the OIC Principal of the high school. The duties and responsibilities of the Subject Area Coordinators and the Year Level Heads were reviewed.

With the appointment of Fr. Anthony C. Pabayo, S.J. as the Principal in April of 2006, the school focused on the three C’s: character formation, community building, and the challenge to be a better Ateneo. With these thrusts, several changes were implemented. Assistant Principal for Academic Affairs, Sports Coordinator, Assistant Prefect of Student Affairs, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Coordinator were appointed. Technology and Home Economics (THE), Scouting and Citizenship Advancement Training (CAT) were revived. A Faculty Development Coordinator was appointed to track the formation of the faculty and staff, especially the probationary teachers. He also worked on the installation of an elevator to serve the needs of the high school community and it was inaugurated and blessed on September 23, 2011. When Fr. Pabayo had his tertianship, Mr. Antonio S. Lumactod became the OIC Principal in the school year 2010-2011.

Even as the faculty recognizes that they share in the management’s goal to pursue and attain the vision and mission of the university, they also recognize the benefits and potential of entering into a collective bargaining agreement. The High School faculty decided to form a union which the majority certified in July 2009. The Unyon ng mga Guro sa Ateneo High School (UGAT-HS) and the administration of the university signed its first Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) on February 1, 2010, effective June 1, 2009, until May 31, 2014.

Fr. Antonio S. Samson, S.J. retired in March 2011 after almost eight years as university president since his resumption into office in 2004. During his term, the Grade School Chapel was constructed, the Jubilee Building was finished, and beautiful glass-stained windows were installed in all the chapels in Matina and Jacinto. He was also responsible for the financial stability of the university. Fr. Joel E. Tabora, S.J., the former president of Ateneo de Naga University, took his place and was installed into office on June 1, 2011.

Fr. Joel E. Tabora, S.J. instituted organizational change. He had the vision-mission of the university revised to reflect the university’s thrusts of excellent instruction and formation, robust research, and vibrant community service. To carry out the thrusts, he created the offices of the Academic Vice President (AVP), the Deputy Academic Vice President for Formation (DAVPF), the University Research Council (URC), the University Community Engagement and Advocacy Council (UCEAC), the Al Qalam Institute, the University Athletics Director, and the Campus Minister for Faculty and Staff. He spearheaded educational reform, the K to 12 Program, effective school year 2012-2013. Curricular revisions and articulation from preschool until college were conducted to provide direction.

Fr. Tabora, S.J. also improved the physical facilities of the university which includes the Matina campus oval track, the Grade School swimming pool, and the four-story parking building in Matina.

In June 2011, Fr. Michael I. Pineda, S.J. became the new Principal. He and his team faced the challenge of implementing the new K to 12 Reform. There were major changes in the curriculum, instruction, and assessment. The terms first, second, third, and fourth year high school were gradually renamed Grades 7, 8, 9, and 10. The Library Instruction Program, the Reading Program for Filipino and English, the Academic Probation Program, and greater collaboration between the CSLP and CLE were implemented. The Special Filipino Class, the Citizenship Advancement Training, the Honors Program, and the Learning Enhancement Advancement Program (LEAP) were refined.

Having care for the environment as one of the major thrusts, Fr. Pineda, S.J. launched Ecoteneo, an environmental program that began with the Ecological Segregation Waste Management (ESWM). New facilities were also built: the student satellite canteen, the faculty dining area, and the spacious faculty workroom.

The faculty and staff participated in Professional Learning Communities (PLC) for collaboration and professional growth to better respond to the needs of 21st-century learners. To respond to the vision-mission thrust of robust research, the administrators and faculty engaged in conducting Action Research with ten (10) researches in the school year 2012-2013, twelve (12) in 2013-2014, and seven (7) in 2015-2016. With the support from the administration, action research continues to flourish in ADDUHS until the present.

Ateneo de Davao University High School (ADDUHS) was PAASCU re-accredited for another 5 years on November 23, 2012. It was awarded the Regional and National Champion in the 2013 National Search for Sustainable and Eco-friendly High School Category by DENR-EMB, DepEd, and other private organizations on November 20, 2013. Fr. Pineda, S.J., on behalf of the ADDUHS, received the 2015 ASEAN Eco-Schools Award Secondary Schools Category in Myanmar on July 30, 2015 and Bayan Academy’s Excellence in Educational Transformation Award (EETA) for Innovations in Learning Environment and Institutional Leadership and Direction Setting on June 21, 2016. When Fr. Pineda, S.J. had his tertianship, Ms. Angela Nina R. Ingle, Ph.D. became the Acting Principal in the school year 2014-2015.

The Ateneo de Davao University High School (ADDUHS) was officially known as Ateneo de Davao University Junior High School (ADDU JHS) beginning October 19, 2015. The ADDU JHS had a PAASCU re-accreditation visit last September 18-19, 2017, and was granted re-accredited status for a period of five years (2018-2022). The Junior High School was granted Level III Status by the Federation of Accrediting Agencies of the Philippines (FAAP) last December 11, 2018, until 2022.

Mrs. Camila V. Samblaceño was appointed as Principal during the pandemic years from SY 2019-2023 where instruction was delivered through online modality. A courseware development and technology integration coordinator was appointed. The Learning Management System (LMS) used was MOODLE and Google Chrome.

As online learning progressed, formation for students, administration, faculty, and staff was strengthened to assist members of the school community while in isolation and continued quarantine posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the spirit of alignment with the entire university, the Student Development Center (SDC) was renamed to Wellness and Testing Center (WTC). The Arrupe Office of Social Formation (AOSF) was established. The Office of the Coordinator for Student Activities (OCSA) was renamed Office of Student Activities (OSA).

On April 1, 2023, Mrs. Excesima L. Pasilan was appointed as the JHS Principal. The Academic Learning Recovery Program was crafted. It ensures that missed competencies are revisited and retaught. Other areas supportive of building a conducive learning environment are part of the comprehensive learning recovery plan. To maintain mental health and healthy well-being among community members, ACT (alignment, collaboration and teamwork) culture is promoted and upheld. The four pillars of formation namely human development, spiritual, social, and leadership formations are appropriated in the fabric of all programs in the JHS.

With renewed vision, the Ateneo de Davao University Junior High School confidently steps forward to fulfill its mission of providing an integral formation of leaders in Davao and in Mindanao.

Following is the list of Principals since its foundation in 1948: