History

OUR HISTORY

Dr. Mildred A. Go and Engr. Roman T. Go co-founded St. Gabriel International School (SGIS) in 2000 following their earlier success with its sister school, the Manila Xiamen International School  (MXIS). Learn about SGIS’ milestones through this quick slideshow and find out more about its founders below.

  • 1993

    Manila Xiamen International School opens its doors near Xiamen University, with Dr. Mildred Go serving as headmistress.

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  • 1994 - 1999

    With its growth, MXIS encourages expatriates to settle in Xiamen and spurs foreign investment. Founder Roman Go is awarded Honorary Citizen of Xiamen for his contribution to the city.

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  • 2000

    The Go family establishes Saint Gabriel International School in Pasig City, with less than 100 students.

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  • 2001

    SGIS Pioneer Batch 2000 ranks 6th in the National Scholastic Aptitude Test, versus all fourth year students from other, more established institutions.

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  • 2006

    Sister school MXIS becomes a prestigious International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, opening study tour opportunities for SGIS students to experience the IB way. 

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  • 2014

    SGIS adds a new three-storey building housing function rooms and an indoor pool. From just one building in 2000, the campus now has seven multi-storey buildings with various facilities.

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  • 2015

    SGIS implements K-12, offering various academic strands for senior high schoolers. 

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  • 2019

    SGIS seniors score an average percentile rank of 89.4 in the National Career Assessment Examination General Scholastic Aptitude test.

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  • April 2020

    As an early COVID-19 pivot, SGIS launches its distance learning program, Online Learning in an Integrated Virtual Environment (O-LIVE) via Microsoft Teams along with guidelines for faculty, students, and parents.

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MEET OUR FOUNDERS

DR. MILDRED A. GO

Dr. Mildred A. Go laid the foundations of Manila Xiamen International School (MXIS) and St. Gabriel International School (SGIS) with her expertise in education. A native of a small town in Palawan, the girl who would become Dr. Go worked her way through college and postgraduate school in Manila. She was a teacher in Brent International School while she was earning her Ph.D. from the University of the Philippines–and eventually graduated with a dissertation on cross-cultural learning in international schools. When her husband gained the opportunity to open an international school in Xiamen, it was only fitting that Dr. Go serve as MXIS’ headmistress. 


Armed with the experience of managing Manila Xiamen International School, Dr. Go decided to build another one in the Philippines. This time, she envisioned an institution for the children of returning overseas Filipinos and dependents of transient foreigners. Her vision was realized with the establishment of SGIS in June 2000, then only an 18-room building and gymnasium. Now, numerous Gabrielites from Pre-School to Senior High School each enjoy an interdisciplinary global education.


Dr. Go now serves as the head of both schools, usually splitting her time between Xiamen and Pasig. With the pandemic however, she has stepped up to run MXIS remotely and has successfully transitioned the schools to distance learning. Her storied career in the academe has earned numerous accolades: Outstanding Foreign Expert from the People’s Government of Xiamen City (1998), the Presidential Award for Outstanding Overseas Filipino Worker (2000), Outstanding Foreign Expert State Award from the People’s Republic of China (2002), and the Gusi Peace Prize (2003) for her contribution to global peace and progress. Yet the real reward for Dr. Go comes with the vocation of teaching, as she continues to engage and shape young minds for the future. 

ENGR. ROMAN T. GO

Engr. Roman T. Go is a visionary whose efforts have helped scale St. Gabriel International School. Go graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering from Adamson University and led his family’s steel mill to become one of the First 500 Corporations in the Philippines. As a keen businessman, Engr. Go was exploring opportunities in Xiamen when he was presented with one by its then-mayor. This would lead to his deeper involvement in the educational sector. 


Xiamen was opening up to trade and becoming a new home for many expatriates, who had children in need of schooling. Engr. Go was well-known at this time as a capable businessman and manager, so he was approached to take on the expatriate school project in Xiamen. The result was Manila Xiamen International School (MXIS), which had just 14 students from five different countries in 1993. Engr. Go’s wife, seasoned educator Dr. Mildred A. Go, managed the school as its capable headmistress.


With the growth of MXIS came more expatriate families, and Xiamen flourished with foreign investment. In recognition of Engr. Go’s contributions to the city’s progress, he was awarded Honorary Citizen of Xiamen. Still, Engr. Go hoped for similar progress in the Philippines, and helped open MXIS’ sister school, Saint Gabriel International School, in Manila. Indeed, over the past 20 years, both institutions have continued to shape young minds for the 21st century–a continuing legacy born from the vision of Engr. Go and his wife.

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