The SGIS Dream – How It Started 20 Years Ago
St. Gabriel International School celebrated its 20th year in June 2020.
Looking back, it started as a dream for our beloved founder, Dr. Mildred A. Go. She envisioned a school that will be guided by a Global Philosophy of Education, concretized by multicultural and intercultural approaches in the teaching and learning process. This dream came into fruition when she established Manila Xiamen International School (MXIS) in 1993 with Engr. Roman T. Go for children of expatriates in China. It offered a Basic Education Curriculum combining English and Mandarin Languages for instruction, while using Western and Eastern educational materials. To date, MXIS has successfully produced thousands of graduates from over 30 countries. MXIS is an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School. IBDP graduates are successfully admitted in prestigious universities and colleges around the world.
Following the success of Manila Xiamen International School, Dr. Go decided to establish another one in the Philippines. This time, she envisioned an institution for the children (ages 3-18) of returning overseas Filipino families and dependents of transient foreigners. St. Gabriel International School (SGIS) was founded in 2000, offering complete Kindergarten, Elementary and High School courses. Engr. Roman T. Go supervised the construction of its first 18-room building and a gymnasium. With a permit to operate granted by the then Department of Education, Culture and Sports, the school opened in June 2000. There were just less than 100 students from Kindergarten to High School, being taught by thirteen carefully selected teachers. Today, SGIS has grown from its humble beginnings into a sprawling campus comprised of six multi-storey buildings with 2 multi-purpose halls, a covered court, an indoor basketball court, and an indoor training pool. Its newest building, for completion this 2021, houses the new two-floor cafeteria and a state-of-the-art auditorium.
Through the years, Dr. A. Go has been recognized for her contribution in the field of Education, not just in the Philippines but also in China, and counts the following awards in her achievements: Presidential Citation Banaag Awardee - Philippines, Friendship Award as an Outstanding Foreign Expert National Level - People's Republic of China, Gusi Peace Prize in Education Awardee, et al.
SGIS has sown the seeds of education for the past two decades, and this is all through the vision of Dr. Mildred A. Go. Now, more than ever, we have seen the importance of education in this pandemic. 20 years later, SGIS is still going strong, and we are proud that we can still ably continue teaching and nurturing our students through our highly successful O-LIVE (Online Learning in a Virtual Environment) program. Our excellent programs not only address academics but all aspects of student life, socially and emotionally even through distance learning. We are proud of the work we have done the past 20 years and we look forward to doing more in the next 20 (and more) to come!
“One seed can grow a forest, one child can change the world, one idea can inspire a generation.”
CONTACT US
ABOUT US
