It is with great honor and privilege that we pay tribute to the greatness of our alma mater, Morong High School.  The role it played in molding our characters, the solid foundation that enabled us to be what we are today, are indeed legacies imparted by this great institution.

One can only reflect on the importance of Morong High School, to the town, to its people, and to all the students who stepped on its threshold.  But how did it all begin, and who were dedicated to the task in making Morong High School a reality?  Most of the key players have since passed on, so I relied on a few individuals and some research to make this historical tribute possible.

When the war broke out in 1941, Eastern Rizal Academy was shutdown, leaving the town of Morong without a high school.  The ugly images of the war did not hinder one of Morong's citizens, Mr. Monico Mateo, Sr., to find a way to provide the much-needed education for the children.  When the Philippine government was re-established in 1943, Mr. Mateo, accompanied by Mr. Vivencio Bernardo and Mr. Jose Alegre, approached his compadre, then-Governor Nicanor Roxas (ninong of Dr. Cesar Mateo), to help establish a high school in Morong.  This ardent plea touched the heart of Governor Roxas who approved the opening of a high school in Morong in 1944, to be called Morong High School, to be located in the Old Commandancia.  Mr. Mateo was appointed principal, with Mr. Bernardo as the assistant principal.  The rest of Morong's educators, Mr. Serapio San Diego, Mr. Agripino Constantino, Mr. Felino Angeles, Miss Rosario San Miguel, and a few others agreed to join the faculty, including Mrs. Encarnacion Martin of Cardona. The school was briefly closed with the landing of the American liberation forces, but it was reopened, welcoming the first batch of 33 seniors graduating on November 24, 1945, among them Francisco San Miguel, Araceli Napiza, Priscilla Matawaran, Juanito Angeles, Pura San Felipe, Amado de Castro, Virginia Aralar, and Victorino San Antonio.

In the ensuing years, efforts were intensified to pursue a better site that can also accommodate the students from Cardona, Binangonan, Angono, Taytay, Teresa, Antipolo, Baras, Tanay, Pililla, and Jalajala.  With the endorsement of the Department of Public Schools and, as approved by then-Governor Eulogio Rodriguez, Sr., Mr. Mateo looked for such a site.  After much negotiation, an agreement was reached with a number of Morong landowners to acquire their properties for the construction of a high school.  (Parents from the neighboring towns received this news with great joy as this was the realization of their dream to find a suitable place for a high school education for their children.)  Hence, a much larger, more modern, Morong High School emerged at the new site in 1952.  Indeed, the students came on foot, by bus, jeepneys, and boats.  A few years later, Mr. Mateo moved on to become the Superintendent of Public Schools in the Province of Marinduque.

It is with great pride to note that the Town of Morong has since become a premiere educational destination.  With the passing of time, Morong High School has developed into a notable educational institution.  It received numerous recognition for academic excellence, and eventually evolved into Rizal Technological and Polytechnic Institute (RTPI), under the helm of Dr. Avelina Teston Llagas.  By virtue of R.A. 7933, it was converted into a state college called  Rizal Polytechnic College (RPC) on March 1, 1995, under the leadership of Dr. Olivia Feliciano De Leon.   On August 11, 2001, under R.A. 9157, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo approved the change of RPC to University of Rizal System (URS). Dr. Olivia Feliciano De Leon was elected president effective January 1, 2003.  In March of 2004, the URS Board of Regents approved the re-naming of the Laboratory High School to "Morong High School" as petitioned by Morong High School Alumni Association, Northern California Chapter..

As we carry the banner of our Alma Mater in the twenty-first century, let us celebrate our achievements, with renewed vigor to carry through its ideals.  Let us commend and give thanks to our parents, principals, teachers, and mentors for the values we acquired.  And, let us also pay tribute to Mr. Monico Mateo, Sr. for his commitment and dedication.  The legacy of his work will forever be with everyone who stepped on the threshold of this great institution.  Let us salute him, the educators, and the public officials for providing us and succeeding generations the opportunity to acquire the solid educational foundation that made us what we are today!

 As dedicated alumni of Morong High School, let us take the changing wind as a challenge to our spirit of unity and friendship, inspired by a town and its people who were determined to welcome every child who yearned for learning a generation or so ago.  Like birds flying under the rising sun, those children spread their wings to faraway places, but never forget to come back - we are the proud alumni of Morong High School!

Normita Feliciano Fenn
Class '58

Updated Mar. 16, 2006