Anthology of Memories: A Reading of the Book Bulacan High School Antolohiya ng Alaala

“A school is a community with distinct personality…” “…an anthology of memories …handed down and enriched through generations.”

This is how Jaime FlorCruz, multi-awarded international journalist, started his foreword for the landmark book, Bulacan High School – Antolohiya ng Alaala.

Published by Solidaridad Resource Center and the Marcelo H. Del Pilar High School Alumni Association (MAA), the book offers a rich collection of vintage and unpublished photographs, rare documents, and memorabilia that bring back to life the history and memories of the old Bulacan High School since its founding in 1909 until it was renamed Marcelo H. Del Pilar High School in 1951.

FlorCruz’s introductory note sets the tone for the entire book. It is indeed an anthology of memories that highlights the achievements, struggles, and joys of generations of young Bulakenyos who once called Bulacan High School their second home.

The book is a labor of love primarily by its editor, Perfecto T. Martin, himself an alumnus of Marcelo H. Del Pilar High School. Martin spent precious time, effort, and resources collecting rare photographs, graduation annuals, and other pertinent documents to complete the anthology.

In his word of introduction to the anthology, Martin said that his creative team acted more like “secret agents” looking for leads to discover unpublished materials for the book. Their hunt for primary sources led them to old printing presses in Bulacan and to the homes of alumni, former teachers, and administrators of the high school.

Wading through dusty archives, Martin persisted in his hunt for more clues that will lead to other valuable memorabilia. His persistence and diligence paid off as he was able to compile enough materials that will bring the glory days of Bulacan High School to light.

And the result is this tome, aptly subtitled Antolohiya ng Alaala (Anthology of Memories). The book gives the reader snapshots of student life during the early years of American occupation in Bulacan.

This anthology covers the early attempt of American colonial authorities to “educate” the youth of Bulacan. It also gives substance to the missionary role of the Thomasite teachers who competed with the Spanish-owned colegios in the town of Baliwag where the interim campus of Bulacan High School was established.

The special thing about this book is the inclusion of primary sources such as the handwritten letter of Harvey A. Bordner, who served as the head of public schools in Bulacan, to his “home folks” informing them of the construction of a new high school under his supervision. There are also group photos of the pioneering teachers and students with lovely messages written at the back.

Antolohiya ng Alaala is clearly more than just a collection of mementos and photographs. It could serve as a valuable resource for students of history who want to delve deeper into the educational designs of American colonialists in the Philippines.

Consider, for example, the introduction of “Domestic Science” course in Bulacan High School in 1908. The Americans built a special building for this course in order to teach Filipino girls to be “good housewives” so that they could bring “cultivated standards” into their homes.

One can also find in the book the photographs of the first dormitory for students. This dormitory was a large “bahay kubo” made entirely from bamboo and nipa.

One of the most compelling stories included in this book is the so-called “first student strike” in Bulacan. This event shattered the veneer of peace being cultivated by the Americans in the campus. Martin, in his introductory note, recalled that the students of BHS launched their strike in 1912.

The students boycotted their classes and marched through the streets of Malolos waving the flag of the vanquished Philippine Republic. It must be recalled that during those times, the display of the Philippine flag was considered seditious.

The student strike showed that the undercurrent of nationalist sentiment was still alive in the minds of Bulakenyo youth. The strike was triggered by a campus-based issue against a presumably repressive American school principal, William McVey.

This event was amply covered by Bulacan’s community press, Plaridel. The good thing is that archives of news reports about the student strike were included in the book. The actual articles published in 1912 were digitized and encoded to give present day readers a complete picture of the dramatic incident.

The book pays tribute to the distinguished alumni of Bulacan High School. It offers a complete list of graduates from 1909 to 1951 and highlights the contributions of BHS alumni in the fields of science, literature, and public service.

Included in this collection are the profiles of three National Scientists – Francisco O. Santos, Gregorio T. Velasquez, and Geminiano T. De Ocampo -- who were proud “sons of Bulacan High School.” The book also features some of BHS’s literary greats such as Bienvenido A. Ramos, Antonio G. Sempio, Catalino V. Flores, Casiano T. Calalang, among others.

Bulacan High School: Antolohiya ng Alaala is a must-have book for everyone. It is not just a book of memories and recollections about a humble high school. More importantly, it is a living history of the youth of Bulacan who, by way of education, contributed to the building of a nation.