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West Mindoro Academy
West Mindoro Academy is a private institution and Catholic school pioneering the secondary education in the western part of Mindoro. It is the first high school in the province of Occidental Mindoro. It was established on 1945. As a private secondary school, it was administered by a group of private individuals as stockholders that made up the West Mindoro Academy Inc.

West Mindoro Academy its operation for seven years under the incorporators with Mr. Maximiano E. Vicente as director and his wife Mrs. Paula L. Vicente as principal. Then in 1952 the Society of the Divine Word Missionaries acquired the school from the incorporators and turned it into a Catholic school. On March 15, 1953 West Mindoro Academy was granted government recognition.

West Mindoro Academy has survived the various challenges through the assistance from the Almighty who provided the school with its “Biblical Daily Bread in the guise of government subsidy and the generosity of PTA generous members of the community. It has continually proven its worth in its commitment to the delivery of quality Catholic Education and its adherence to the Vision/Mission towards the work of evangelization.

West Mindoro Academy as a learning institution of Apostolic Vicariate of San Jose is a community of academically and socially equipped individuals fulfilling its service rooted in the life and teachings of Christ.

History
West Mindoro Academy is a private institution pioneering the secondary education in the western part of Mindoro.

As a private secondary school, it was administered by a group of private individuals as stockholders that made up the West Mindoro Academy Inc. A governing board was organized with Mr. Mariano Ramirez as its President; Mr. Pascual Castillo Sr., Vice President; Mr. Agrifino Villarosa, Treasurer; Mr. Felix Almero and Mr. Tomas Rendon, Sr., as student employees respectively.

This institution started its operation on November 26, 1945 and classes ended on June 28, 1946. However, the permit of operation came into effect on December 1, 1945 and expired on November 30, 1946.

Official logo of the West Mindoro Academy.

In those years, there were two year levels which were kept on going, occupying the old house of Mr. Epifanio Pacal along Del Pilar Street, Mamburao. It also started with only 48 students enrolled in the First Year, of which 13 were male and 35 were female. On the Second Year level, there were only 9 students wherein 3 were male composed of: Remigio Agpalo, Cesar Servando and Avelino Vizconde and the 6 females students. Mr. Maximiano E. Vicente acted as the Director of school with the following instructors: Mr. Paulino, a PNS Graduate and Mr. Apollo Tria, who were later joined by Mr. Guillermo Clar De Jesus, Mr. Conrado T. Ramirez, Mrs. Artsenia Villena and Judge Bienvenido Cubarrobias from 1945-1948. The pioneer graduates of school year 1948-1949 had additional instructors like Mr. Eduardo Arguelles and Ms. Ceferina G. Juan.In 1947, one of the stockholders, Mr. Mariano Ramirez, who acted as District Supervisor recommended that the student fees were designed as follows: First Year – P100.00 per year; Second Year and Third Year – P150.00 per year. With the cooperation of the other stockholders namely Mr. Esteban De Jesus, Mr. Felix Almero and Mrs. Paula L.Vicente, they applied for the next permit of operation which took effect from July 5, 1946 to July 4, 1947. Fortunately, on July 1, 1947, the class for the Third Year level was approved by then Secretary of Instruction Manuel Gallego and the Director of Private Schools Manuel Carreon. On July 1, 1949, the Fourth year class opened and its operation was approved by then Secretary of Education Prudencio Lasangcaoan and the Director of Private Schools Manuel Carreon. Later in 1952, West Mindoro Academy was run by the SVD Fathers. Rev. Fr. Enrique Smithz, SVD was then the Parish Priest of Mamburao. The couple, Mr. Maximiano E. Vicente and Mrs. Paula L. Vicente held the positions of a Director and Principal, respectively.

On March 15, 1953, the offering of the secondary course by the West Mindoro Academy, Inc. was fully recognized. During that year, the school was able to acquire its own site and constructed the first building of four classrooms made of wood and light materials that housed the whole student population. Consequently, the administration took the initiative to hire competent and qualified teachers. Thus, teachers were given equal loads of subjects on a full time basis according to their areas of specialization. Spanish subjects were offered to the third year and fourth year levels.

With the coming of the new breed mentors in the 1960’s down to the next decade, there was a gradual change in the methods of instruction. Since the teachers were graduates of bachelor degrees, this encouraged the parents and students to seek the admission in this school. Those culminating years heightened the achievements and recognitions for the school. Likewise, the school administration was responsive to the needs of the faculty members who were not permanent residents of the place by providing them comfortable accommodation in which the Teacher’s Dormitory was purposely constructed for them. Whereas, another concrete building was put up the augment an increasing enrollment. Improvements of the school facilities were undertaken thereon and thereafter.

The 1978-1979 marked the 25th foundation anniversary of the beloved Alma Mater. WEMA Alumni Association Inc. mostly coming from the nearby towns and communities started organizing themselves and spearheading various activities and projects which were beneficial to the school.

The following years after the retirement of the aging Mrs. Paula L. Vicente, the school wasadministered by Ms. Corazon G. De Jesus who later became the mentor in the Manila Science High School. In 1981, she was succeeded by another WEMAnian teacher, Ms. Petronila Calis, who after her marriage transferred to Sablayan Penal Colony as an Administrative Officer. From 1982 – 1985, the administration was taken over by Mrs. Luzviminda C. Agutaya, another WEMA teacher. She has shown her dedication and devotion running the school. While she was on study leave during the school year 1985 – 1986, Ms. Priscilla E. De Jesus served as the acting principal until she retired by the end of the school year. From then on, Mrs. Agutaya took her place again up to the present.

In the 1980’s, a series of upheavals posed threats to its survival, like the opening of barangay high schools, which somehow affected the population of the school. The administration took the firm hold for the continuance of its operation despite the financial deficiency it encountered. Being aware of this turning point, parents and alumni were faced with a challenge to continuously support the administration with their concerted effort to form and shape again. Later in 1992, the WEMA Alumni Association, Inc. was organized. The officers elected were: Dr. Reynaldo Feratero, President; Mr. Paulino Alcaide, Vice President; Mrs. Pilar P. Mendoza, Secretary; Mr. Cesar T. Lacuesta, Treasurer; Atty. Manuel T. Tria, Jr., Auditor; Atty. Ulyssess D. Delgado, Atty. Manuel T. Tria Sr., Ms. Priscilla E. De Jesus, Mr. Wilfredo Fajardo, Mrs. Luzviminda Agutaya, Mrs. Ma. Shirley C. Trajeco, Mrs. Corazon B. Tamayo, Mr. Eduardo Maneja, Jr. and Mr. Ariel Viguilla as Incorporators.

The Alumni Association extended its helping hand to the school, aware of its inadequacy to maintain and support its operation. Generous members supported generously school activities and donated much needed items.

In celebration of its 25th foundation day in SY 1978-1979 and its 50th anniversary in 1995 alumni from all over the province came to visit their Alma Mater.

Despite economics constraints they came once again for the grand alumni homecoming on Dec. 28-29, 2005, a 60th Anniversary of West Mindoro Academy.

West Mindoro Academy has survived the various challenges through the assistance from the Almighty who provided the school with its “Biblical Daily Bread in the guise of government subsidy and the generosity of Parents - Teachers' Association generous members of the community. It has continually proven its worth in its commitment to the delivery of quality Catholic Education and its adherence to the vision and mission towards the work of evangelization.