Quezon City Academy

Quezon City Academy is a Secondary school located at 1144 Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA), in Quezon City.

Humble Beginnings

Established in 1953, it was first known as Bago Bantay Academy, a "kamalig"-type structure that was made as a cradle of young minds in the metro. On its first year of operation, there are only 62 students.

Ten years later (1963), Justice Carmelino Gomez Alvendia, Sr. of the Court of Appeals, was offered to buy Bago Bantay Academy in its chronic stage of decay. At its first operation since Justice Alvendia took over Bago Bantay Academy and changed it to Quezon City Academy, there was only one (1) section per year level with a total school population of 89 students. Also in that year, Bago Bantay made a relocation area for squatters from Sampaloc to Intramuros, Manila. But there was a big public school was established nearby, the San Francisco High School (formerly "Don Mariano Marcos High School"), and it became one of the rivals of Quezon City Academy. Obviously, QCA was receiving scanty patronage from the people it aimed to serve.

But Justice Alvendia, an educator and an economist, was a visionary. So he made renovations in Quezon City Academy until it become one of the famous IT secondary schools in the Philippines. But before that, in 1965, enrolment rose to 132. In the 1980's, the population rises to 2,700 students with almost 450 graduates every year. It is clear that patronage of residents of Bago Bantay, Project 7, Project 8, Sto. Niño, Pag-asa, Project 6, Balintawak, Bagong Barrio, San Francisco del Monte, West Avenue and other nearby areas in Quezon City has been won over by QCA.

Tuition and other fees in QCA are far less than that charged by other private schools in Quezon City, whereas education in the Academy has always maintained its high standard especially in terms of Information Technology. In the 1997-1998 National Secondary Assessment Test, QCA carded a general average of 98.9%.

In terms of new technologies, QCA students have been taught basic and advance IT software programs. During first year, students are taught with basic and advance Microsoft Operating System. This includes MS Word, MS Powerpoint, MS Excel, MS Frontpage and other programs. In the second year, students are taught with HTML and webpage creating. Adobe Photoshop, and GIMP, are taught to students during their third year. The final year, students are taught with Macromedia Flash and GIF animations.

QCA students now talk of leadership and citizenship training as an integral part of their education in the academy, matter-of-factly. The fight for academic honors is very keen but healthy. That's why even if they graduated in QCA, they topped professional board and bar examinations. The academy also received reports that many of its students are either dean's lister or president's list and many have been graduating with honors in colleges and universities. In the year 2000, the U.P. Diliman Student Council chairman was a graduate of Quezon City Academy, Raymond Palatino (batch 1996).

Vision of Quezon City Academy

"A Learning institution that provides quality education at the least cost and develops leaders in effective, creative and productive communication to meet the global competition of the next century."

Mission of Quezon City Academy

"Direct its curriculum and programs to technology and other community oriented projects and activities that should enhance moral and spiritual values, critical thinking and better livelihood opportunities to meet the educational challenges of today and life in the future."

Himno de Academia de Ciudad de Quezon (QCA Hymn)

There's no other school like QCAWhere the youths are trained so wellTo glorify our family, our country dearand God Almighty!

Oh, QC Academy!

In thy name, we live and striveAnd golden laurels of victoryShall offer thee.

Hail to thee Alma Mater dearHail QCA!

QCA Administration

*Carmelino P. Alvendia, Jr. "Chairman"
*Jose Alvendia "Director"
*Sylvia Alvendia Rodriguez "Director"
*Carmen Alvendia "Director"
*Amador Alvendia "Director"
*Tomas Ongoco "President"

("Note: Esperanza Pahati Alvendia was also one of the directors and wife of Justice Alvendia, but she passed away in 2001")

Famous Alumni

NATIONAL REFORMERS
* Raymond Palatino (QCA batch 1996 Valedictorian; President, University Student Council, U.P. Diliman 2000; Activist)

BEAUTY PAGEANTS
* Denille Lou Valmonte (Binibining Pilipinas-International 2006)

SHOWBIZ
* Martin Bautista - Batch 2003 (Fashion Designer)
* Olyn Meimban (actress, Pinoy Big Brother Finalist)
* Joshua Zamora and Jason Zamora (well known dancer)
* Renato Medina Custodio - Batch'89 (Well respected script writer GMA-7 Kapuso Darna, Majika, Atlantika)

POLITICS
* Manuel Mamba (Congressman, 2nd District, Cagayan)

Website

Quezon City Academy [http://www.qca.edu.ph] The Official Quezon City Academy Webmail [http://www.qca.edu.ph/webmail]

References

* QCA Handbook
* QCA Webpage
* QCA Echo - The Official School Publication of Quezon City Academy
* QCA Gintong Ani Yearbook

ee also

* [http://www.kyoka.co.nr/ Kyoka] - Quezon City Academy Online Community
* [http://mongpalatino.motime.com/ Raymond Palatino] blog
* Denille Lou Valmonte
* Justice Carmelino Alvendia, Sr.
* Manuel L. Quezon University
* [http://qca78.wordpress.com/ QCA BATCH 78] - Quezon City Academy Batch '78 Blogsite
* [http://www.groups.google.com/group/kyuka-90] - QCA '90 Alumni