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Macrohon Institute, Inc., or simply known as MACI, is a non-sectarian private school located in Macrohon, Southern Leyte, Philippines.

History

From 1948-1973

Mayor Rafael Diola Joven organized a collective effort to establish a private high school in Macrohon. The plan was established on April 4, 1948, when Macrohon Institute Incorporated (MACI) was built. It officially opened its doors in July 1948, with a total of 325 students enrolled.

Macrohon Institute garnered several awards during annual district, provincial, regional, national academic, athletic and cultural competitions. It received an accolade from the Bureau of Education in 1960–1962 in recognition of its achievements for the yearly National Senior High School Proficiency Examination. The school was ranked on the upper quartile among all other secondary schools in the entire country. In the field of military training, MACI won the annual PMT Tactical Inspection, conducted by the 38th PC Company for years 1955-1956 and 1965–1966. MACI is also the first recipient of the Governor Alfredo K. Bantug Military Trophy Award.

During its entire length of operation, Macrohon Institute produced high-grade professionals in all fields of specialty. Several school alumni are currently holding high-rank positions in both private and public institutions in the country and abroad.

Macrohon Institute celebrated its 25th anniversary in 1973. A week of festivities marked the occasion. With the financial support of the administration as well as of the student body government, the school's factions namely the Rising Youth of our Country and the Defenders of our Nation competed evenly on academic, cultural and athletic events. Some events were moved into the town's public square.

The year 1973 was also marked by two major national curricular innovations. A memorandum from the Bureau of Education and Culture mandated the imposition of National College Entrance Examination for senior high school students. Macrohon Institute was assured with a 98% passing rate. Philippine Military Training (PMT) was renamed to Citizen Army Training (CAT) and required the participation of all senior students, exempting the lower year levels.

1988-2001

A bourgeoning public school system created financial difficulty for Macrohon Institute. Some families decided to avail of this free education by sending their children to the three public schools of the township which are located in barangays Ichon, Villa Jacinta and San Roque. The successful pavement of the national highway also exacerbated the situation. As more families sent their students into the neighboring township of Maasin, the school's student population plummeted further.

With the ouster of the Marcoses on February 25, 1986, the country adopted a new constitution. The new constitution mandated an overhaul of the entire educational system. One of the provisions imposed an allocation of a substantial amount for the funding of private educational entities otherwise known as FAPE. Its introduction in 1988 successfully resuscitated MACI's failing financial capability. The school receives an annual grant from the national government amounting to 1.5 million Pesos. Eventually Macrohon Institute recovered from these losses as more families enrolled their students into the school system.

Macrohon Institute celebrated its 50th anniversary in April 1998. The school term which normally ends in the last week of March was moved into the last few days of April in order to accommodate the occasion.

However, due to the public's increasing allegations about the administrator's mismanagement, nepotism, absence of financial accounting, non-allocation of dividends for the stockholders, a dynastic form of succession involving the management structure, incompetence, ineptitude, and sexual exploitation victimizing some of the female students prompted the resignation of the officials of the governing council. A complete usurpation of the entire school system by the current administrator soon emerged. Leonardo Yuzon Joven, the founder's first born along with the heirs of Lazaro Kuizon and Julia B. Ligtas, organized a collective and legal effort of reforming and reorganizing the enterprise. Their effort was paid off when they successfully obtained a court order for the expulsion of the current administration and of a comprehensive accounting and review of the school's resources. A general meeting of all heirs was then called. An interim governing council was created and a new set of elected officials immediately assumed their posts.

This transition period was marked with much animosity between the new and the previous administration. Frequent episodes of intimidation and harassment involving the ousted school administrator, some police officers and barangay officials made the new administration's task of reorganization difficult. One incident called for an arbitration between the hired laborers who were painting the main building and the previous school administrator who was accused of physically harassing them while at work. Furthermore, its FAPE has been funnelled into a newly established private high school which was founded by the ousted administration. Efforts to recover this valuable resource were futile due to reasons that are beyond comprehension. As a result, the school's faculty and staff remained underpaid thereby placing the organization in a dangerously precarious situation.

2001-present

The darkest period of the newly reorganized Macrohon Institute occurred in the early morning hours of June 1, 2001 when there was fire involving the main building which houses the school's administration offices, library system, faculty room, armory, reception area, stock and utility room, the school's student exchange, two of its class rooms and science laboratories. None of its resources were saved. When the institution started its school year, only 38 students enrolled. All of them had to endure a school system that is completely devoid of a sound learning experience. However, they are lucky because of a group of dedicated, conscientious and loyal mentors who in spite of their own financial shortcomings unselfishly dedicated their time and attention equally into these interested learners.

The Securities and Exchange Commission issued MACI its registration on September 2, 2002. Having been out of an operating permit since June 17, 1998 due to the intentional failure of the previous school administrator, the institution lifted itself off from the alleged illegal existence. Dr. Sol Matugas from the Department of Education and Culture released the school's certificate of recognition in April 2003.

Macrohon Institute finally received its FAPE on August 1, 2005. The fund's release has lifted the school off from a lingering financial difficulty since its reorganization in 2000. The sum amounting to 200,000 Pesos provided a much needed relief to the institution that has been plagued with a chronic financial shortfall. Its 2005 freshmen and sophomore year level FAPE was also released on October 24, 2005. The fund's release was a surprise since it was determined earlier that it will be officially handed over in January 2006.

On April 7, 2006, Macrohon Institute handed over the amphitheater complex to the Sobrepenia family. This was in compliance to the agreement that was being entered upon by the institution with Cedric Sobrepenia who represented the family during its negotiations with the administration regarding the property's lease extension. The new lease agreement that was finalized in July 2003, allowed a transition period of 3 years. The institution was guaranteed of a space for the construction of a temporary school building while the administration is trying to secure the entitlement of the school's main lot in order to clear the way for the construction of the proposed four-story school building.

Campus life

The MACI students’ supreme government (MACISGO) has been in existence since the school’s foundation. Officers are elected annually on the third Tuesday of June. If the election results are inconclusive, a run-off is immediately scheduled. Elected officers are sworn into office on the first Friday of July. This date also coincides with the school’s annual acquaintance party.

Scholarship grants are awarded to honor students. A 100% tuition-free scholarship is given to the class valedictorian, 50% for the class salutatorian, and 25% for first honorable mention students.

The school’s foundation day is celebrated every October 24 in recognition of the school’s founding father, the late Mayor Rafael Diola Joven, whose birth anniversary is also celebrated on that day.

MACI Day is celebrated during the second week of February (movable). The school sponsors various fundraising activities to generate material resources with the sole purpose of upgrading the school’s facilities, equipment, and supplies, as well as augmenting the monetary compensation of its faculty and staff. Student participation during the occasion takes the form of academic, athletic, and cultural competitions. The school’s two factions, namely The Rising Youth of Our Country and The Defenders of Our Nation, compete evenly in academic, athletic, and cultural events. The holiday culminates on a Sunday with a school picnic at the school’s beach grounds and promenade.

The school encourages students to participate actively in civic and religious services. The township’s government and parish church enlist the school to provide assistance, usually during the annual town fiesta, Independence Day, and other designated holidays.

Tutorial sessions are scheduled daily for students who do not perform well academically. The school enlists the help of honor students to provide this support.

The school has also recently constructed a promenade where visitors can appreciate the school’s coral reefs, nearby beach, and clear seawater.

Factional organization

MACI has two competing factions, namely the Defenders of Our Nation and the Rising Youth of Our Country. The members of these factions are selected from first year and new students and no factional change is allowed.

References

• History of MACI
• The Founding Fathers
• Anthology

External links

• The Official Website of Macrohon Institute, Inc.
• The MACI Inc. Alumni Website

10°04′37″N 124°56′31″E / 10.0770°N 124.9420°E / 10.0770; 124.9420

• High schools in the Philippines
• Schools in Southern Leyte
• Educational institutions established in 1948
• 1948 establishments in the Philippines