The birth of San Rafael Parochial School was a dream came true. In 1965 Msgr. Laureano Caoili and Mrs. Josefa L. Dionisio a former Supervisor of DECS (Department of Education, Culture and Sports) with CFM parents tenaciously worked together to realize a common mission to give sound, complete and Catholic Education. It was erected on a 3,143.2 sq. meter lot owned by RCAM (Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila). The school was established on July 7, 1969. It was officially opened for Kinder and Grade 1 on July 14, 1969. The Kinder class had ninety - nine (99) pupils while Grade 1 had thirty - five (35) pupils. The first administrative staffs were: Msgr. Laureano Caoili, School Director; Rev. Fr. Salvador Jose, School Principal; and Mrs. Josefa L. Dionisio, the School Treasurer. They were also the first batch of the Board of Trustees (BOT).
In July 6, 1970 the school was granted government recognition followed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) registration as a non - stock, non - profit corporation with the official name SAN RAFAEL PAROCHIAL SCHOOL INC.
The rapid increase in population prompted the founders to house the students in the parish pastoral building adjacent to the school. In 1975, SRPS offered a complete elementary education with Mrs. Josefa L Dionisio as the principal.
In 1980, the school became one of the member schools of Manila Archdiocesan Parochial School Association (MAPSA) under the chairmanship of Bishop Leonardo Z. Legaspi, OP, D.D. From that time on, the school actively participated on the undertakings of the association to ensure a sound school system.
After seventeen (17) years of service from 1969 - 1986 Mrs. Josefa L. Dionisio retired from office. She was replaced by Mrs. Mercedita V. Canta, one of the pioneering teachers. She served the school as School Principal from 1987 - 1991 under the directorship of Rev. Fr. Ernesto Tobillo for two (2) school years (1987 - 1989) with Ret. Msgr. Jose Flores for two (2) school years (1989 - 1991) as well.
Rev. Fr. Gerardo Mascariña was the next school director. He served the school for almost two years (1991 - January 1993).
In 1993, Rev. Fr. Erick Y. Santos was assigned to take the seat of directorship and Mrs. Rosita Rodriguez as principal with fifteen teachers.
Aiming to expand the educational service to the parishioners of Balut, Rev. Fr. Erick Y. Santos spearheaded the opening of Secondary Education in 1974 after twenty - five years of its founding.
In 1995, the Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) and the school administration paved the way for the construction of a new four- storey building which housed both the school and the Parish Formation and Renewal Center. The sister’s convent adjacent to the school was built through the generosity of Mrs. Aurelia Gopuansoy who had a lion share in the expense of the construction of the four - storey school building. To give tribute to her generosity, the fourth floor of the school building (Aurelia Hall) was named after her.
In view of the absence of permit to operate in the high school level, Rev. Fr. Erick Y. Santos sought the help of Augustinian Sisters. His Eminence Jaime Cardinal Sin, D. D made the request to the Congregation of Augustinian Recollect Sisters to transfer religious teachers from San Miguel Catholic School which was recommended for closure due to downtrends of enrollment to SRPS. Most Rev. Mother Eufemia Lanzon, A. R entrusted the sisters to the hands of Balut parishioners, Sr. Ma. Marcela A. Dela Cruz, A. R, Sr. Ma. Divina Caabay, A. R, and Sr. Malou Alcala, A. R. They worked as Principal, School Treasurer and Guidance Counselor / Religion Coordinator respectively. 6
On June 28, 1995, His Eminence Jaime Cardinal Sin inaugurated the four story building located at 177 Taliba St. SRV, Balut, Tondo, Manila on the 28th years of His Episcopacy. School year 1996 – 1997 was a year of transition and adjustment for the faculty and staff and the A.R. Sisters. The school started to plan to work on an organizational direction through the development of its institutional desired future, the plan focused on the faculty, student, curriculum and physical facilities with the Vision - Mission as a guiding light.
Toward the end of S.Y 1999 - 2002, Fr. Erick was transferred to Manila Cathedral in Tayuman. He served the school for seven (7) years.
On February 1, 2002, Rev. Fr. Nestor Gungon assumed the office of the School Director. The school was suffering from the downtrend of enrolment, difficult year for the administration of Rev. Fr. Nestor Gungon. Inspire of the situation, the Director was positive and inspired the administration and staff to continue the implementation of academic and non - academic programs.
The Vision - Mission of the school continued to flourish under the directorship of Rev. Fr. Elpidio D. Biliran, Jr., the 10th Director of the school who was appointed in June 2002. His first school year was difficult because the school was experiencing the downtrend of enrolment and the school revenues could not meet the demands for operations. The first move by Rev. Fr. Elpidio D. Biliran, Jr. was to submit the institution to the Intitutional Self - Survey with the assistance of Sir. Noemi O. Mapa, A.R the school principal.
For effective implementation of the results of the ISS, Rev. Fr. Elpidio D. Biliran, Jr. took the initiative to partner with Sr. Maria Josefina Magat, R. A., President of Assumption College Basic Education in mentoring the SRPS teachers in instructional methodologies (Multiple Intelligence Approach, Computer - aided Instruction and Cooperative Learning).
Through the persistent prayers, cooperation and dedication of the administrators, faculty and staff, the school enrolment improved, from 300 to 482 in S.Y. 2007 - 2008.
To ensure the continuous increase of enrolment, Rev. Fr. Elpidio D. Biliran, Jr. with Mrs. Leonida F. Pastrana, appointed Principal in SY 2012 – 2013 continued the undertakings.
Rev. Fr. Elpidio D. Biliran, Jr. served the school for eleven (11) years before he was transferred to MaPSA as head of the Commission on Public Affairs, Networking and Linkages in August 2014.
In an effort to respond to the changing global trends in Education, the Archdiocese of Manila grouped the Diocesan Schools into different cluster school with one director and assistant director per cluster. San Rafael Parochial School is clustered with Manila Cathedral School and Holy Child Catholic School, then later with St Joseph School, Espiritu Santo Parochial School, Holy Child Catholic School and San Pablo Apostol Learning Center. The twining of cluster schools was made to prepare the assistant director for directorship.
School year 2014 – 2015 became a progressive year to SRPS with the appointment of Rev. Fr. Nolan A. Que and Rev. Fr. Nicanor A. Celiano Jr. as the cluster director and assistant director. Through their stewardship school facilities were upgraded (Computer Lab., Science Lab., TLE Lab) and two classrooms for the Senior High School was constructed. He also upgraded the benefits of all school personnel.
April 21, 2015 was a blessed day for SRPS as the school was granted provisional permit to operate Senior High School Programs. After a year, in SY 2016 – 2017, SRPS was granted Re – Certification status by Private Education Assistance Committee (PEAC). The school’s first taste of certification was in May 2011 by the Fund Assistance to Private Education (FAPE), thus becoming beneficiary to Education System Contracting (ESC) and Education Voucher System (EVS).
In school year 2019 – 2020, Mrs. Melita G. Magsombol was appointed principal to assist Rev. Fr. Nolan A. Que in the delivery of the curriculum and instructional programs. 7 The SRPS will continue to realize its Vision - Mission with God’s intervention to produce responsible Catholic graduates and who will bring greater Glory and Honor to our Country and to Jesus Christ, our Great Creator.