The Araullo High School is the former Manila High School that was established on June 11, 1906. The first of its kind in the capital city of the country, it was later given its present name and was soon followed by three other secondary schools also honoring justices of the Supreme Court of the Philippines.

The four original high schools in the city of Manila are, in alphabetical order to avoid any suspicion of favoritism, the Araullo High School, the Arellano High School, the Mapa High School and the Torres High School.

The Filipinos first appointed to the Supreme Court in 1901 were Cayetano Arellano, as Chief Justice, with Victorino Mapa and Florentino Torres as associate justices. Mapa was transferred to the Cabinet in 1913 but was returned to the Court as the next Chief Justice when Arellano retired in 1920.

Torres who was then the senior associate justice resigned out of amor propio when he was by-passed, probably because he was already 76 at that time. But as fate would have it, the younger Mapa retired after only one year and died ahead of him at age 73.

Manuel Araullo was already a legal institution upon his appointment as Chief Justice in 1921, having earlier occupied many judicial positions, especially as head of the Sala de la Civil of the Supreme Court organized by the American military authorities in 1899. Upon its abolition, he was widely expected to be appointed to the new Supreme Court but was overlooked for unknown reasons. He was the logical choice, however, to succeed Mapa and served with great distinction until his death in 1924. Manuel Araullo High School in Manila is named after him.

In 1930, the four schools were renamed after four famous Filipino jurists. Manila High School became Araullo High School while the three were Torres High School, Arellano High School and Mapa High School.

At the close of World War II, Araullo High School (Manila South High School) was ruined during the bombing of Intramuros. When schools reopened in 1946, Araullo High School occupied Quonset huts in Singalong with Mr. James P. Bums and Mr. Victor P. Hernandez as principal and assistant principal respectively.

After a short while, Araullo High School was transferred to Lukban Elementary School because the Singalong Site was to be reoccupied by the Epifanio delos Santos Elementary School. Later on, Araullo High School had put up an annex to accommodate its growing student’ population. TwoButler huts in Mehan Garden had an initial enrollment of 221 first year students. From Lukban Elementary School, it occupied the Bordner Building in Padre Faura.

Comment:

I am sure there are other less famous but equally worthy men and women who have added to the luster of the Araullo High School. Beyond the glare of public attention and esteem, they have led quiet lives performing their assigned tasks for God and country according to the ideals inculcated in them by their affectionately remembered school.

It must be a proud and wonderful feeling to meet once-cherished friends again from the wistful and resurrected past. Recollection of those who have passed away must also be part of that feeling. And so too is the common pride in belonging to the Araullo High School with its rich record in molding its students for worshipful lives and responsible citizenship.

Similar accomplishment can be appreciated for the other three original high schools in Manila that have also exerted sincere efforts to help in the edification of the youth. In their separate ways, each of them has contributed to the welfare of the country with its own roster of outstanding or quiet but no less deserving graduates.

Honor to all four of them! But today, on the occasion of its centennial celebration, a special accolade is offered to the Araullo High School, its alumni and the teachers who guided them along the way, for its magnificent achievements in the service of the Nation.