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American officials and Navy sailors are keeping the
Thomasites’ old school in Intramuros well-equipped and modernized.
Visiting former US Ambassador to
the Philippines John D. Negroponte, who is the US Deputy Secretary
of State, and Mrs. Negroponte joined US Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney
on Tuesday in turning over to the students and teachers of Manila
High School textbooks, equipment and supplies to help modernize the
school’s facility.
They donated more than 1,500
textbooks, various science lab equipment, tables and chairs. These
gifts were sent to the Philippines by Guam-based US Navy sailors and
their families to highlight the continuing friendship between he
Philippines and the USA.
The donation arrived in Manila
onboard the USS San Jose earlier this year.
Manila High School and the US
Navy are old friends.
Large parts of MHS were damaged
by typhoons in 2006. Last February US Navy sailors from the USS Blue
Ridge cleaned old classrooms and built new ones.
The Intramuros school is the
first public secondary school established in the Philippines. Among
its first teachers were Americans known as the Thomasites.
These were American teachers who
arrived in the Philippines on August 12, 1901—aboard the USS
Thomas—to establish a public-school system, teach basic education
and train Filipinos to become teachers using English as the medium
of instruction.
“We are thrilled to continue
our partnership with the students and faculty of Manila High
School,” Ambassador Kenney said. “I know that Ambassador
Negroponte is excited to visit Manila, which he considered his home
for many years. There is no better way for him to express his
admiration for and love of the Filipino people than this opportunity
to turn over items that will directly benefit students.”
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