HISTORY OF GOMBURZA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

GOMBURZA Elementary School (formerly CAES 1) was in the past an annex of Cecilio Apostol
Elementary School Main, that is why the name CAES-Unit 1. It was situated near Victory Liner in Rizal
Avenue Extension. It was only an old building made of wooden materials. Classes were only from
Grade I to IV. Some classes were even housed at CAES Main. Two Grade I classes were in an old
residential house somewhere in Francisco Street. When classes were getting bigger, the school
relocated on Samson Road, Caloocan City. The pupils from Grade I to VI stayed in an old building
which was formerly occupied by the Metro Manila Aid employees. Two Grade VI classes still remained
at CAES Main. It was a two storey old and dilapidated building. The principal was former City Schools
Division Superintendent, Dr. Elizabeth T. Manalo.

In the year 1985, under the administration of Mrs. Petronilla N. Mariano, the city government built
one classroom for a home unit. Then in 1994, the old dilapidated building was demolished. A two
storey 6 – classroom building was constructed through the initiative of Mrs. Aida U. Reyes, who was
the principal during that time. The construction was made possible through the assistance of the city
government. The enrolment kept on increasing that on 1998, the second two storey 9 classroom
building was again constructed through the assistance of Cong. Luis “Baby” Asistio.

During the time of Mrs. Adoracion S. Baro, there was a thought of changing the school name. This
was brought about by the parents because they wanted to have its own identity to avoid confusion
and convinces particularly with regards to mix -up in mails and communications since it has a similar
name CAES -Main in which both schools belong to the same district. So, with the concerned effort
of the PTA Officers, parents, teachers and Mrs. Baro herself, the name of the school was formally
changed by Odinance No. 0394 s. 2005, an ordinance changing the official name of CAES – Unit 1 to
GOMBURZA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL , which was approved on July 7, 2005, at the time of Mrs. Digna
M. Abao.
From then on, the school was led and headed by the following principals:

Dr. Elizabeth T. Manalo – 1980-1983

Mrs. Petronilla N. Mariano – 1984-1989
Mrs. Milagros M. Crispino – 1989-1990 (4 months)
Mrs. Aida U. Reyes – 1990-1994
Miss Roberta R. Sta. Ines – 1994-1995
Mrs. Lorenza H. Orongan – 1995-1998
Dr. Josefina B. Dimalanta – 1998-2001
Mrs. Adoracion S. Baro – 2001-2004
Mrs. Digna M. Abao – 2004-2006
Mr. Gilbert O. Orteza – 2006-2008
Dr. Carmenia C. Abel – 2008-2010
Mrs. Jocelyn A. Navarro – 2010-2012
Mrs. Adoracion R. Santos – 2012-2014
Mrs. Jacqueline V. Luzon – July 28, 2014-Aug. 31, 2015
Mrs. Josefina A. Pelayo – Sept. 1, 2015-May, 2018
Dr. Rowena V. Pineda – May 2018 to present

The teacher populace has increased from twenty (20) to forty-nine (49) teachers to date. The school
has so far undergone many improvements in terms of physical development. Likewise, during the
leadership of Mrs. Pelayo, a stage was built which is very essential specially during different school
programs, also, an emergency gate, plant boxes, windows with chicken wires, renovation of the
school canteen, feeding area and school clinic was done for the betterment of the school.

Although, Gomburza Elementary School is a small school, it is a performing one because it has won
in different contests.