I spent most of my childhood days in Barangay Guadalupe’s local elementary school. This public school is as old as the acacia trees that shade the parents waiting for their kids outside. My dad and his parents went to this school. (And don’t forget the rest of our clan who remain clustered in this institution until this very day.)
Guadalupe Elementary School is HOME, as far as I’m concerned. It is the very institution which formed and cemented my ideals, principles, and drives in life. It is where I first scraped my knees, sh*t my pants, got praised, got dissed.
The school was very HUGE then. Now, I don’t think it is. People say that when you’re a small kid, anything taller than ten feet is automatically HUGE.
When I went back to the same school last week to attend a meeting, every bit of memory came flooding back. Was I a good student then? Did I make a lot of friends? How did I get this huge scar on my knees?
And as I went in, I remembered spending all the money I had on very silly things sold outside the school – classic viewmaster, spiders, maya birds, goldfish, tops, fruit and vegetable seeds and yoyos. And how could I forget the wide range of chichiryas I enjoyed like chicharon, fishballs, squidballs, street ice cream, puto, budbud, and the oh-so-refreshing choco scramble?
It’s nice to look back at those days when things were a lot less complicated and everything that just made us genuinely happy.
This is the main building of the Guadalupe Elementary School. During my time, this building housed the TOP classes of each level, the Guidance Councilor, the Librarian, the Supervisor, and the School Principal.
Of course, no public school in the Philippines is ever complete without its own Joe. I remember hiding under the statue’s shade as I watched a classmate stand under the heat of the sun for a violation which irked a school teacher. Haha. Back in the day, kids knew bad deeds would never go unpunished.
My classmates and I spent most of our time playing here. When the energy level was quite low, we would sit down and guess the brand of vehicles passing outside the gates. The winner got to hit everyone else’ head.
Our teachers believed that urine + water = good fertilizer. So, after we do our thing (we had restrooms inside the classroom,) with the ‘mixture’ placed in a small bucket, we would march down the stairs and ‘feed’ the plants. Students from other classes often thought it was quite trendy. So the idea easily caught on.
This is the mango tree that I planted when I was in Grade Six. I specifically remembered its exact location so I went back to see if it survived. It was my grandpop who helped me look for a mango seedling to plant. Knowing that I was the only one who planted a mango tree back then, I’m pretty sure that this was it. I’m so glad it survived! (Note: I returned several years later and found that someone else’s name has been attached to the tree. That’s sad!)
Today, Section A students from each level are now housed in this building. (Note: Section A students are basically the ‘cream of the crop’. Other students look up to these groups because of their quite impressive academic standing. They are also often referred to as special classes.)
This school canteen was HUGE the last time I was here. Now, I think it’s no bigger than a sari-sari store. This canteen used to sell ‘puso with chorizo’ for only Php1.50 and ‘burger with hotdog bits’ for only Php1.25. Back then, the usual baon was from P 0.50 to P 2.00.) So, students who could afford to buy COKE for lunch were, by default, super rich. LOL
During our time, each kid (especially those from Section A), had a plot to maintain. We planted monggo beans and other easy-to-grow plants. Some days, we would find our plots all flooded or completely destroyed. We would never feel bad about this. Instead, we would just retaliate and trash other people’s plots. Haha. I miss those days.
I used to frequently visit this office – The Nutrition Center. The reason? Well, I was always underweight. What can I do? I was just a small kid! So, inside this office, they would force me to eat ‘burgor’ and all those ‘nutritious’ stuff that I didn’t really fancy. Haha.
This was the main area where most activities were held. Playground demonstrations, scouting marches, and feeding programs were made here.
An example is this picture taken after a scouting competition. That’s me in the middle with white shoes. Haha.
Today, most buildings inside the GES grounds have at least three floors.
This was the Guidance Office. I was asked to report here once. No, I didn’t cheat or fight anyone. I was caught throwing a candy wrapper on Cleanliness Week. It was such a scandal back then. Haha.
This was my Grade 3 classroom. Our teacher, Ms. Rodriguez, told us that we should always be good. For she could transform herself into any kind of creature to see our every move. She said that she could be the cat on the roof or the ant on the ground. Haha.
These floors used to be sparkling clean. Now, they’re dull and definitely not in their best form. Students in the Main Building were not allowed to wear shoes. Instead, we wore ‘foot socks’ or just socks so the floor would remain immaculately clean.
This is the main building corridor. The first door was my Grade 5 room under Mrs. Gallardo. The next two doors are the doors to the library. The door after that (the one after the extinguisher) was my Grade 4 room under Mrs. Lawas.
This was my Grade 6 classroom under Mrs. Chiong. Now, I think it’s being utilized as the ‘Practical Arts’ room.
This is the small veranda in front of our Grade 6 room where we played ‘takyan’ and ‘dakpanay’. I remember we’d scamper back inside the room whenever we realize that our teacher was on her way back to the classroom.
This is the grotto where everyone ‘reports’ every morning. Madam Retuya, our music teacher was always there to see to it that everyone was in their best behavior. The choir members would usually lead the rosary and everyone was supposed to attend.
This is the Mini-Cultural Center of Guadalupe Elementary School. Plays, magic shows, contests, teachers’ meetings, and graduations and held here.
This shot was taken just outside the MCC after me and my cousin Onyot’s Kindergarten Day.
This is the stage where I performed as a young kid. I was a member of the Guadalupe Children’s Choir and for a time, was its soloist. I’ve performed countless times on this stage and I have many fond memories of the MCC.
Kindergarten Day – December 12, 1988
NAMCYA Choral Contest – (1993 or 1994)
Kindergarten Graduation – March 1989 (Yay! First Honor! Haha!)
Madam Retuya’s Birthday – Grade six (1996)
More photos of Guadalupe Elementary School
(L) Music Room (Mrs. Retuya’s Home Room) and her garden
(R) Walkway to the Music Room
(L) Grade 6 classroom exterior
(R) Grounds in front of Grade 5 rooms
(L) Boys Scout Oat Taking
(R) Valentines Day King and Queen
(L) Kindergarten Graduation
(R) Linggo ng Wika
What are your fond memories of Guadalupe Elementary School? Let us know in the comments below!
lan, ma ka relate gyud ko ani..bwahahahahah.i miss those days!!!
i can’t help but laugh out loud remembering the memories I had in this school…most especially the choir days…very memorable!
hi,nice to saw dis again my alma matter.matagal ko n hinahanap ko f may naka recognize pa skin batch 1993-94.na alala ko ung tym na elemtry pko.1988-89 din ko nag kinder jan sa homr economic pa yta ung room namin malapit sa canteen hehehe.
My goodness! Looking at those pictures bring memories to me of my good old Tejero Elem School too. The main building, the corridor, the walls, the creaking floors… wow!
During those years, most of the heavy-populated public schools were actually of the same design.
Now TES have lost its old main building to give way to a high rise new structure. I wonder if anybody has preserved its colorful past just as what you have done to GES. Congrats again.
what batch ka?? ako kasi 2001
hi… 2001 pud Q.!! hehehe apir b.??
Hi, me to was in that school Section A all the way till I graduated, I don’t think i was in your class maybe my older bro Rhannel, I graduated 1998 I think and left to come here in NZ.. Thought you might know my bro…
Thanks for the photos tho.. memories!
I loved that school!
waaaa my classmate!^^
hi freinds
any from-1985
i’m a graduate of 1985
I hope that our good mayor TOMMY OSMENA would put aside some money to help maintain some of this public school.It is important to take care of them because they’re not just schools but a learning institutions.I’ts the first place where a kid learns about math ,science,sports and a lot of things that a child needs to be able to face life as an adult.I always believe that an educated person makes you a better person.Thank you for the pictures LEY.It brings back a lot of good memories.P.S. those kids are our future and it’s our responsibility to look after them.Someday when we get older they might return the favour.
Guadalupe Elem school is my alma mater Batch 1999-2000. I would like to extend my regards to all of my teachers in Guad.
pls magkaroon naman tayo ng home coming.
regards and more power teachers.
Hello everyone!
I’ve been trying to search more classmates from 1985-1991 without any success. I went to this lovely strict school, which my aunty Rebecca Cuizon used to teach here. Seeing the photos made me think of how much fun I had there when I was a child. The teachers I remembered was Mrs Retoya, Mrs Jimenez & Mrs Monticello, I can’t quite recall the rest, I left Cebu in 1991 to migrate here in australia with my family, but nearly all the Cuizon family attended that school…. For me although our school are lacking the amenities and needed much more funds to fix our school buildings compared to the western countries, but the way we were taught manners, respect, hospitality, to give, received and our academic structural emphasis outweighs far better than most western school teachings & there buildings. So therefore we all should be proud of our Philippine Schools, may that be private & public. Thank you for reminding me how lucky I am to be a proud student of this humble school, who by the way have produce some of the strong people who have achieved their dreams and kept intack of who & where they came from.
So Guadalupe Elementary School more power and good luck to our Current & Future Students….!
Hi, just want to Thank You for posting these fotos as it really brings me back a lot of beautiful memories in this school. I was in Batch 1982 and a member of the famous Guadalupe Children’s Choir. Hopefully one day all the members of the Guadalupe Children’s Choir can have a Grand Reunion ( it would be lovely ).
Thank you again.
i was also a member of the guadalupe children’s choir. hehe
lan….sharmaine ni kmusta nka?miss all the fun i had in guadalupe elementary school esp. being a choir member!!!!!MISS all our teachers back then…
same here!
same here!!!
OMG—I was, too!! Retuya used to scare the hell out of me! His photos bring back a lot of memories!! Couldn’t believe the main building still exists. Hoping to go home next year. It has been 13 years since I last visited Phil.
hehehe..GES children’s choir the best!^^
CATHY, this is your brother.I got your sms and i try to call you but i could’t get through.I had a surgery on my left shoulder 2 weeks ago.Here’s my e mail… leo28rex@hotmail.com.au.I hate Retoya, i think she’s an old witch.Regards to Nenen and Angel and Auntie Raquel.
hala. mao baya na ako mentor si madam nadia retuya. hehehe.
no she’s not! she might be strict but deep inside she’s a lovely person.
the last time I have been in this place was around 1998 or 1999, dili ko kahinumdom when exactly, ahente ko sa coke sauna sa Guadalupe area and we delivered stocks to this canteen every tuesday…..strikta pod tu ang in charge didto, sige pangayo freebies….. 🙂
this is the best… edward here…. graduated 2002 … i remember how young i was before… haha though i only have few pictures from this school yet i love this school… i was section A since grade 3 to 6 and was in section N with Miss Veloso in grade 2.
This school is renowed for its children’s choir!
agoy!kahilak man pud ta og bogbog ani.realy miss those days.the teachers and classmates.i’m one of the baseball player’s at this school.guadalupe.i miss sir talion and ma’am caballero who happened to be my ninang at my wedding last year.hehe.and what’s more amazing about this school right now,is the assistant principal.who happened to be my older sister.she graduated at this school too in elementary.amazing.this school realy got history.
hi bro! we all had our share of memories in guadalupe. its nice to see some of our teachers are still teaching in this school. and to note that the present asst principal is our very own sister who graduated from this school too. hahay miss those days really.
there’s no place like home jud.tinuod jud na.hehehe.God bless guadalupe elementary school….
tiga guadalupe sad ko what a memorable childhood indeed, bag-o ra mi nagkakita sa ako mga ka batch para mag reunion.
Batch ’93 mi, if naa diri na at one point na section A then ka batch ta please email us at ges93@hushmail.com para ma contact mo namo.
hi batch 1993-94 ako,my brother daniel hoyumpa batch1992-93.
looking for batch ’85…nice pictures of the school u got here…brings me back to memory lane..hehehe…i met Mrs. Retuya last year (2008), at my aunt’s wake.. I was actually glad to see her again after 23 long years.
I’m 1985 graduate, sang for the Pope (couldn’t remember the year). Mrs Nadia Retuya, she was a good music teacher. I hope to gather names or pictures of my old classmates and friends. Can someone help?
Hi im from batch 1985..kahinumdum ko a few names of my classmates( old na me cguro)..i remember contessa moleta,Flora may singson
iyang manghod ra.. si jojie akong classmate… batch 1987 mi
hi….im liezel…jan din aq nag aral,nung elem.kc jan lang din aq nkatira sa tapat ng school,sa my fairlane vill.jan aq ng stay sa mga tita q.but hindi q n maala2 mga classmates q…pati mga teachers….kc ung mga pixs,q nung elem.aq eh nasunog lahat,so i try searching in web or friendster and in facebook f any of my classmate r der….but sad 2 say,i cant fined anyone of them….i belong in class 1988 to 1989…..i dont even remember my sec….but hopefully through dis….some of my classmate might recognize me….i have question?db my school p ng high school n katabi ng school ntin?anu nga ung school n un?kc i have friends din sa school n un….so sana mahanap ko mga long lost classmates ko…..by d way super tank u,kc dahil s pixs n gnwa mo…naala2 at super n mizz q ang elem.days q and of course the school….tanks ingatzzzzzzz……
Hi miss Liezel, what batch exactly are you? I graduated in GES batch 1988. BR. God Bless
apo d i ko ni lolo kulas or c nicolas retuya taga tipolo manddaue d i ko mag bilin lang ko sa ako # aron makakontak mo sa retuya dri sa tipolo bahhhhhhhhh mao ni ako #:09238929140 txt me ha???????????????????
Hi miss Liezel, what batch exactly are you? I graduated in GES batch 1988. BR
hi jude,i graduated 1989…and study my 1st yr.high scholl at ramon duterte,just beside GES…hope that ur 1 of my classmate f ever…god bless
cath naka limo nka? heheh
waaaahhhhh…i just loOoOoOove this school..^^
ahak ani makangisi man sad q recall ani school nko oi ug mkahinumdum sa mga terror teachers,, ug mga teacher nga permi q pasuwaton sa blackboard unsaon man nga aside frm good penmanship pas2 man ayo q suwat pr kauli dayon aguy dili man kaikyas… but i miss my teachers gyud esp Mam Blanko nga pinangga ko hehehe… alegre mingaw kaon ug Nutri ban or Pan de ok-ok ug Burgur kalouy kay tikling man ko… nga pla Batch 1993 sna kita kits tayo…
is there any chance na mag reunion ang choir? how is madame retuya now? la nko balita nya kay im out of country naman gud. but anyways, its so nice na u blog this. so proud coz during my childhood days i was a part of madame retuyas choir “the Guadalupe Childrens choir”.hehhe me and my brother jay-ar pescante. heheh. take note! section A pud.just like you.
Hi, mga bagets man mo tanan diha. Wala juy mga ni graduate pag 1970 diha? bitaw sad I wish there would be reunion of all choir members. I been a part of that choir for three years from grade 4 to six and those three years Guadalupe jud ang champion. gipa kaon mi ug pansit ug slice bread ug coke syempre.
hi Cath do you need a job in dubai? please give me a call asap.. 0567239421
wowww…nice blog..i remember my good old days here, spending my 6 years in elementary and six crushes every grade LOL..miss the place really for the last time i was here is when i graduated elementary. ^_^
hi
am so happy hearing those messages from pupils of guadalupe elem sch. i also have some memorable days in guadalupe coz i graduated there last 1980 if am not mistaken. happy to inform everybody that i am now the assistant principal of guadalupe elem sch. i still can see my former teachers there like mrs caballero, mrs chiong and the rest.thanks to all my teachers you’re all part of my success. hehehehehe
WOW! its been ages na gyud ,seeing those pics brings back lots of wonderful memories.Nisayaw ko og pandanggo sa ilaw hehehe,i can never forget nadagma ko sa gitna sa playground hagba gyud face down hahahha,medyo kiat lagi hehhe.I still have my class group picture taken sa may playground..i cant remember ang batch nako murag 84 or 85 ( old na me i guess!!)
Thanks sa pics..
cheerios
very lovely pictures of our beloved GES! your awesome recollection of those wonderful years mottled colorful pictures in my mind. I was a member of the choir, too, and was the first Maria 😀 If you have pictures from the bygone era of Mrs. Retuya’s choir, please post some more!
Thanks for sharing this wonderful part of our childhood! more power!
i realy love the skul wer i graduated
WoW!!! nice pix you got there!!! please post some more….I graduated in 1988 that if my memory serves me right….me too was a member of the famous Guadalupe Children’s Choir (soprano) I remember, it was during our time that NAMCYA would no longer include us as contestants but as guest performers only…that only showed how “ngilngig” we were but of course it wouldnt be possible if not because of our dear mentor ma’am Nading….It was also during our time that the GES Cultural Center was built where the image of Mama Mary was housed. Whew! too many good memories in that school…I wish we can have a grand reunion someday? I can’t wait for that to happen….could someone initiate? or we can start with the reunion of former choir members perhaps…..any????
hi guyzz… is 8 possible 2 hav reunions wd our clasm8s? im renen philip from grade 6 mrs. blanco….. hi to china chua,, marian josephine… kate marie suzuki…vylen tapales… darwin besin… if u ever read this… pls tx me… 09231010688…. luv u guyz.. miss uuuuu
my sister’s name is chayna chua ^^, nag basa lang gud ko sa inyong post.. haha naapil man gud dri.. i’ll inform her for you.. -Chen
hay!naay bago building murag drinking center left sa blue building
ambot lang nalimut naku sa ako classmate ako nahinumduman naa ko classmate jerlyn reyes iya ngalan mag dungan mi pamauli classmate pud mi naay chapel luyo sa school sa may singson anha mi stop over..naa pod ko classmate nga nakasumbagay nako …naa pod ko classmate name niya justine maldito kaayo cya …tnx REX JESUS TOCLE
I miss this place… I graduated in 1998 pud… naa koy classmate nga naa ra nagpuyo sa atbang sa school named Joy, Irish and Irene Navaja… og si Michael Navaja pud… miss you guys
Vincent Paul Ponteras
Thank you for this blog leylander! I’m from class of ’84. I’m planning to visit our school this year. Had great memories here. The main building. The teachers (whom names I have forgotten already). All I could remember was Ms. Cuizon (a neighbour). Was Ms. Rodriguez the one from Zamboanga? Sorry for asking. My classmates (whom I wanted to meet again). Edward Galan, Maximo Panal, Erbito Magnase, Jeffrey, Rico… names may be familiar to any of you from the class of ’85.
hi guyz…hos from batch 1999 in here? can we hav reunionss…? im from mrs. blanco.. tnx
catherineeee…. do you stil rmember me? clasm8 ta grade 3 and grade 6… rmember nmow kita kate, marian.. winston,,, chayna,,, didto sa luyo sa inyo which is agriculture.. didto ta sa usa ka tree cge kat2x din we even wrote our name on it? rmember?
Hi guys…! any1 from batch 2004 OR 05? ill just liv my number so you can contact me. 09334459997
Mikki Toliao-
Hi mikki, batch 2005 here, from section Cultura. 🙂
hi to all sa mga classmate nko sa elementary.
from grade 5 to 6.. grade 5 mrs,sibua grade 6 mrs.anadya.. u can txt me this # 093271291612
ako, i come from a much earlier batch…..1970. while i stayed only for 3 years (up to grade three ra) ending in 1967, i also have a lot of memories there…. i really wish to reconnect with my former classmates under Mrs. Davide (grade 1 1964) Mrs. Norma Ardiente (grade 2 1965) grade 3 1966 under Mrs…. oops i forgot the name na…… my email: egue74@hotmail.com. mobile: 09209004491. i remember my dance partner was Ester Borres yata….. among my Grade 3 classmate was Tampus….
basin classmate ta he he he i don’t remember my teachers anymore but was one of the choir members too . I think classmate ta sa grade 2 my closed friends were two sherly’s vergara and scuico, my choir batchmates was the de lara brothers lyn and the other one. i remember fermin tapic, pablo, mercidita, milagros and etc. lol can I hope all choir members could gather on a reunion. I was he one who wore cratches and sits at the back on grade 2 as a result of a vehicular accident at nichols heights. my phone 09162210469 globe.
i now remember the first name….. its Susan, Susan Tampus……my classmate from Grade 3…
This post maybe kinda late but i think you are mentioning familiar names. my name is Ida torrevillas and i remember my classmates shirley suico and the other shirley milagros fermin tapic. I remember some names of my co choir members pablo and the de lara who were the soloist and had nice voices lyn and the other one. I hope i can meet some old classmates and school mates.
nice to bring back memories…..
gusto kung kumustahin ang mga ka batch ko nung 1974 , at ang mga kasama ko sa choir , lead by mrs . RETUYA ,,,,,,,,PRINCIPAL MR . GALLARDO .
gud day… nag start ko sa guadalupe 1975…my principal was mrs.rodriguez.Im rowena Albert i have a twin sister…. baka nagkasalubong tayo noon sa guadalupe
hahaha!! indeed small world.. i’ve been following your page for quite some time now to get ideas for my next stop of adventure around cebu but never thought that we came from same school. reading this blogs brings back funny old memories. 😉
hello ka-lupe! 🙂
oh my God,,,,, i really missed guadalupe elementary, school…… i spent my primary years in guadalupe….. i have a twin sister… Im Rowena Albert Olmoguez and my twin sister is Reina Albert Tuanson. i really mis you guadalupe….. I started school 1975… Our Principal was Mrs.Rodriguez.Our adviser was mrs. Ricardo in grade l. my grade 3 teacher was Mrs.Bascar….. i can still rememenber few of my classmates name.they are Benevolent Tan,Gino Mario Trucio Jr.,
… Teacher na ako ngayon… I stay in Davao…. but my memries… stil in Guadalupe,,,, Sa ilalim ng mangga…
Hi rowena I think I rermember there were two cute twins na schoolmate namo sa una my name was Ida Real Torrevillas under sad ko mrs bascar and mora same jud ta nga year
I am trying to remember if I could remember the the blogger but I can’t. I’m from batch 1994 with Mrs. China. My favorite teacher. The names I remember are Emanuel Obiedo, Sharol, Janice, Reymar, Farah etc. I missed this days. Unsay full name nimu? Salamat.
I hate this auto spelling. Hahaha.
**Mrs. Chiong**
Section A.
There used to a large gardening area by the fifth graders header by Mr. Sarabosing. He was very strict but efficient in teaching us how to do gardening properly. He was replace by Mr. Plaza who was also our art mentor. We (me plus 3 other kids) have won multiple painting competitions all over Cebu because of him.
I was batch 1975 and live right behind the former stage in between Kabajar and Andres Abellana.
The hallways were indeed very shiny and walls were newly painted and maintained.
Mrs. Aragon was my first grade teacher, Mrs. Monteclar my 4th, Mrs. Vano my fifth. Weird how I cannot remember my sixth grade teacher’s name anymore 🙁
Those memories.. Anyone here from batch 2000 Mrs Andaya?? Please contact me, Señorito Fernando on Facebook.
Ganahan ko mag reunion ta. Thank you 😉