Holy Trinity Academy (Philippines)

Holy Trinity Academy (HTA; Filipino: Akademya ng Santissima Trinidad), also referred to as the Most Holy Trinity Academy,[7]: 4  or colloquially as simply Holy, is a private, parochial, co-educational school located in Sampaloc, Manila, Philippines.[8][9] The school was established in June 1947 by Rev. Fr. Bernardo Torres[10] on a now-demolished cemetery, Cementerio de Balic-Balic, that first opened in 1884. The school was a single-gender educational institution, with male and female students are educated in separate departments. The school had its transition to a co-educational school in 1976.

This article is about the school in Manila, Philippines. For other uses, see Holy Trinity Academy.
Not to be confused with Holy Trinity University.
Holy Trinity Academy
Akademya ng Santissima Trinidad
The campus' main gate along Calabash Road seen in 2016, with Most Holy Trinity Parish seen on the background
Location
Calabash Road, Barangay 539, Balic-Balic, Sampaloc, Manila, Metro Manila

Philippines
Coordinates14.6107°N 121.0028°E / 14.6107; 121.0028
Information
Other nameMost Holy Trinity Academy
TypePrivate parochial co-educational school
MottoLove, Unity, Equality
Religious affiliation(s)Roman Catholic
(Diocesan)[lower-alpha 1]
DenominationCatholic Christianity
Patron saint(s)Blessed Virgin Mary
EstablishedJune 1947 (1947-06)
FounderRev. Fr. Bernardo Torres
School code406338
DirectorRev. Fr. Marion C. Munda, Ph.D.[1][2]
PrincipalDr. Evelyn B. Tallod, Ed.D.[2]
Faculty52[3] (2016)
GradesK-12
Enrollment3,000[1]
Language
Campus size1.75 ha (estimate)
Campus typeSuburban
Color(s)
  •  Royal Blue 
  •  White 
  •  Yellow 
Song"HTA Hymn"
AccreditationPAASCU[4][5]
PublicationThe Triune Voice (2019)
YearbookThe Trinitarian (2014)
AffiliationRCAMES[6]
Alumni
Websitehta.edu.ph

The school currently maintains a Level 2 accreditation from the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities (PAASCU) since its approval in December 2015. The school is part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila Educational System (RCAMES), an educational system and a group of catholic and parochial schools governed by Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila, where the school is under the fourth cluster, headed by the school's director, Rev. Fr. Marion C. Munda.

Holy Trinity Academy offers the K–12 curriculum program. In the Senior High School Department, the school offers five academic tracks, which prepares students for college and their preferred undergraduate program. As of the school year 2019–2020, the school currently serves a population of around 3,000 enrollees annually in its preparatory, elementary, and high school departments.[11]

Some of the HTA alumni have been recognized for their works in artistry, media, filmmaking, journalism, and science, which includes, Lexi Gonzales,[12] Mon Gualvez,[13] and Kyxz Mendiola.[14]

History

As Cementerio de Balic-Balic
The façade of Cementerio de Balic-Balic, taken in c. 1899.
The old map of the Balic-Balic area, before the establishment of Holy Trinity Academy, where is marked as a "cemetery."

Before the establishment of the school in 1947, it was originally established as the Balic-Balic Cemetery (locally referred to as Cementerio de Balic-Balic in Spanish), a cemetery built in 1884, serving Sampaloc, during the Spanish colonization in the Philippines, where no burial vacancies in the area at the time;[15] it was also one of the largest cemeteries in Manila,[16] in which the cemetery had 1,199 burials at its peak in 1911.[17] The cemetery had a funerary chapel, which was built in 1890;[15] few years after the cemetery was initially built.

During the 1896 Philippine Revolution, Cementerio de Balic-Balic was used as a siege location of the American soldiers, due to its strategic location.[15] On February 5, 1899, the Battle of Balic-Balic began, in which the cemetery was destroyed due to damage sustained from the battle, and the American Health Institution shut its operations in 1913, and was permanently closed in 1925.[15]

As Holy Trinity Academy

Holy Trinity Academy was established in June 1947;[10] in which, its foundation was ascribed to Rev. Fr. Bernardo Torres,[10] the incumbent parish priest of Iglesia de Santissima Trinidad at the time (now Most Holy Trinity Parish).[15] The Franciscan Sisters was also credited with the foundation of the school in 1947.[15] Two Franciscan Sisters of the SFIC congregation were the first few people to work at the school as teachers for two years.[18]

In 1958, the management of the school was turned over to the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (later known as the Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco) by Rufino Santos, the incumbent Cardinal of Archdiocese of Manila at the time. The Salesian Sisters set up co-educational classes from Kindergarten to Grade 4, and separate sections for females in Grades 5–6. They stayed in the school for 30 years, managing Kindergarten to Grade 6 classes, and later the separate HTA Girl's Department in 1964.

During the directorship of Msgr. Isidro L. Jose in 1962, he had a plan of accommodating all children of school age. In 1964, the HTA Boy's Department was set up, under the supervision of the lay administrators. In the school year 1972–1973, the HTA Boy's Department started kindergarten classes.

During the 74th Founding Anniversary of Holy Trinity Academy in 2021, a ten storey building was proposed, and had its groundbreaking ceremony on June 3, 2021.[19]

In 2021, Holy Trinity Academy is part of Manila's 24/7 vaccination service which started on August 9, 2021, administering 2,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to residents classified under the A1 to A5 priority groups. The service is part of mass-vaccination program in the Philippines, against the on-going COVID-19 pandemic in the country.[20]

Campus
Holy Trinity Academy campus map (major buildings only)

The campus of Holy Trinity Academy consists of estimated 1.75 hectares (17,500 m²) of land in Sampaloc, Manila, bounded by Sobriedad Street to the northwest, Calabash Road to the northeast, Firmeza Street to the southeast, and T. Anzures to the southwest. It was previously used as a cemetery, serving Sampaloc, having 1,199 burials at its peak in 1911.[17] The campus is a kilometer (0.62 mi) away from Manila's neighboring city, Quezon City.

The campus is composed of 5 major buildings, 4 of which are designated for learning, and the other is for religious gatherings. The Grade School Building is overall the biggest building in the campus, followed by the High School Building, the Annex Building, the Most Holy Trinity Parish, and the HTA Gymnasium being the smallest. All campus buildings uses the modern architecture.

The overall worth of HTA facilities and buildings were never disclosed publicly; however, it was revealed that one of its major facilities, the HTA Gymnasium, cost ₱8.8 million pesos at the time of construction in 2001.[8]

Most Holy Trinity Parish is the oldest structure inside the campus, standing for more than 10 decades. It was first built in 1890 as a funerary chapel and reconstructed in 1925.[15]

  • Outside view of the Grade School Building seen in 2016, before the construction of Rev. Fr. Bernardo Torres Gymnasium.
  • Outside view of the High School Building, seen in 2016.
  • Outside view of the Annex Building, seen in 2016.
  • Outside view of the HTA Gymnasium, seen in 2016.
  • Outside view of the Most Holy Trinity Parish, seen in 2016.

Administration
Holy Trinity Academy School Directors
NameYears served
Rev. Fr. Bernardo Torres1947–1955
Fr. Felix Perez1955–1955
Fr. Francisco Avendano1955–1957
Fr. Felix Ignacio1957–1962
Msgr. Isidro L. Jose1962–1983
Msgr. Danilo Pascual1983–1988
Msgr. Cesar Pagulayan1988–1991
Msgr. Manuel Gabriel1991–1998
Rev. Fr. Enrico Martin F. Adoviso1998–2014
Rev. Fr Marion C. Munda, Ph.D.2014–present
References[1][15][21]

Holy Trinity Academy is governed by 6-person Board of Trustees,[22] as well as a 22-person school administrators, 12 of them being academic and institutional coordinators.[23]

The current school director is Rev. Fr. Marion C. Munda, the tenth to hold the title. The current assistant school director is Rev. Fr. Leo Angelo S. Ignacio, Ed.D.[23]

Academics

Accreditation

Holy Trinity Academy currently holds a Level 2 accreditation from the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities (PAASCU).[1][5]

Academic tracks

Holy Trinity Academy offers 5 academic tracks that prepares students for college and their preferred undergraduate program in the Senior High School Department for 2 years.[24][25]

Culture and traditions

HTA Hymn

The Holy Trinity Academy Hymn (often shortened to as HTA Hymn, also occasionally referred to as the Glorious Song) is the school's hymn.

HTA Hymn
Lyrics: Cirilo H. Bautista
Hymn: Emy Munji

Let us sing the glorious song
Of truth that brings eternal light
And wave proudly our banner high
Of purest blue and white.

With love as our inspiration
And God our guide by day and night
Our noble aim we will achieve
For truth will give us might.

Holy Trinity Academy
In you, wisdom we will always find
The truth with which you
Light the world
Will always light our mind.

Source:[26][27]

Notable people

People associated with the school either as students, faculty members, or administrators are known as "Trinitarians" or colloquially "HTAcians." Some people associated with Holy Trinity Academy have been known in artistry, media, filmmaking, journalism, science, and as a world record attempter.

HTA alumni includes Lexi Gonzales,[12] an actress, singer, and dancer, known for being hailed as the First Princess on the seventh season of the Philippine reality talent competition, StarStruck.[28] She was previously part of ABS-CBN's talent management arm of Star Magic, where she has been part of several TV show, that includes: Magpahanggang Wakas, Pusong Ligaw, Maalaala Mo Kaya, Ipaglaban Mo and The Good Son as either an extra or an uncredited guest cast.[29] Gonzales now appears in the Philippine variety show, All-Out Sundays of GMA Network as a recurring cast.[28]

Mon Gualvez,[13] who graduated Holy Trinity Academy in 2007, is known as a recurring news anchor and correspondent for TV5. He is currently the head anchor in the Philippine hourly news bulletin, News5 Alerts, previously known as Aksyon Ngayon. Gualvez also serves as an instructor in the Senior High School Department for Humanities and Social Sciences.[13]

Filipino inventor, Kyxz Mendiola, who also attended Holy Trinity Academy,[14] notable as a founding member of a former Filipino hip-hop group, Philippine All Stars, a filmmaker,[30] and for inventing and developing an ultralight aircraft, Koncepto Milenya, which broke a world record for longest flight by hoverboard in 2021,[31] surpassing the Guinness World record set by Franky Zapata who flew a jet-powered hoverboard across a distance of 2.25 km in 2016.[31]

A scene in Maria Leonora Teresa, shot at Holy Trinity Academy.

Holy Trinity Academy had made its appearance to certain Filipino films and television series. The school was used as one of the production locations of the 2014 Filipino horror-suspense drama film, Maria Leonora Teresa, starring Iza Calzado, Zanjoe Marudo, and Jodi Sta. Maria. The film was directed by Wenn V. Deramas.

References

Footnotes
  1. Holy Trinity Academy was affiliated previously with the Franciscan Sisters of the SFIC Congregation and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians.

Citations
  1. "Holy Trinity Academy - About". Roman Catholic Archdiocse of Manila Educational System. Retrieved 2021-07-15.
  2. Holy Trinity Academy (2021-05-15). "HTA Senior High School Virtual Graduation Day SY 2020-2021". Facebook. Retrieved 2021-07-18.
  3. For citations about the school's number of faculty members.
  4. "PAASCU - Member Schools". Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities. p. D–H. Retrieved 2021-07-15.
  5. HTA 2019, p. 6: "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."
  6. "RCAMES Member Schools - Cluster 4". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila Educational System. Retrieved 2021-07-15.
  7. Gaerlan, Martin R. (2010-09-01). "A Requiem for Cementerio Balicbalic, Sampaloc, Manila (1884-1925)" (PDF). Retrieved 2021-07-15.
  8. "Historical Highlights". Holy Trinity Academy. Archived from the original on 2015-02-19. Retrieved 2021-08-12.
  9. HTA 2019, p. 4: "Holy Trinity Academy has emerged through the years as one of the biggest and most successful parochial schools in the Archdiocese of Manila."
  10. HTA 2019, p. 4: "Starting with a small Kindergarten class in June 1947 ... The school was founded by the late Fr. Bernardo Torres."
  11. HTA 2019, p. 4: "... the school presently serves a student population of close to 3,000 in its preparatory, elementary and high school departments."
  12. Holy Trinity Academy (2021-10-07). "Teacher's Day greetings of Lexi Gonzales, HTA alumna and TV Actress". Facebook. Retrieved 2021-10-19.
  13. Holy Trinity Academy (2020-06-27). "First Earthquake Drill for SY 2018-2019 with TV5 Aksyon Ngayon anchor Mr. Mon Gualvez". Facebook. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
  14. Holy Trinity Academy (2021-06-26). "Mr. Kyxz Mendiola, good luck!". Facebook. Retrieved 2021-08-09.
  15. "About Us - Most Holy Trinity Parish". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
  16. "Campo Santo: Manila Cemeteries, Past and Present". Manila Weekly. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
  17. "Balic-Balic Cemetery - Burials & Disinterments". Museo Santissima Trinidad. Retrieved 2021-08-11.
  18. HTA 2019, p. 4: "At the beginning of school year 1947–1948, two Franciscan sisters of the SFIC congregation came to teach upon the invitation of Fr. Bernardo Torres. They worked in the school for two years.
  19. Holy Trinity Academy (2021-06-04). "74th Founding Anniversary of Holy Trinity Academy". Facebook. Retrieved 2021-08-15.
  20. Clapano, Jose Rodel (2021-08-08). "Manila starts 24/7 vaccination service". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 2021-08-09.
  21. HTA 2019, p. 4–6, Historical Sketch of Holy Trinity Academy
  22. "Board of Trustees". Holy Trinity Academy. Archived from the original on 2016-03-30. Retrieved 2021-10-19.
  23. "HTA Adminstration". Holy Trinity Academy. Archived from the original on 2013-02-13. Retrieved 2021-10-19.
  24. "HTA Offerings". Holy Trinity Academy. Archived from the original on 2016-03-30. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
  25. "List of Senior High Schools". Department of Education. Retrieved 2021-07-21.
  26. Holy Trinity Academy (2020-07-20). "HTA Grade 6 Virtual Graduation Day". YouTube. Retrieved 2021-08-11.
  27. HTA 2019, p. 161, HTA Hymn
  28. "Lexi Gonzales - GMA Artist Center". GMA Network. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
  29. Anarcon, James Patrick (2019-06-26). "Former ABS-CBN talent Lexi Gonzales reveals reason for joining StarStruck". Philippine Entertainment Portal. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
  30. Grana, Rhia (2021-08-02). "Inspired by the movies, this Filipino filmmaker invented a flying sports car". ANCX. Retrieved 2021-09-19.
  31. Principe, Dennis (2021-07-12). "Filipino inventor breaks record for farthest hoverboard flight". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 2021-08-09.

Works cited
  • Holy Trinity Academy (2019). Holy Trinity Academy Student Parent Handbook (Revised 2019 ed.). Manila, Philippines.
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