By: Celia L. Singcol/Cynthia L. Abarquez

Pursuant to the guidelines specified in Department of Education – Pasay City Division Circular No. 1355, widely recognized as the Memorandum on School Heads’ Reassignment, Mr. Agapito Teodoro N. Manaog was reassigned as the new principal of Pasay City West High School (PCWHS) on Aug. 23, 2023. He replaced Mr. Peter R. Cannon, Jr. who was earlier transferred to Pasay City North High School.

The formal turnover of leadership from Cannon, Jr. to Manaog occurred in the presence of notable figures including Assist. Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Arturo A. Tolentino, Curriculum Implementation Division Chief Mr. Librado F. Torres, Public School District Supervisor for Cluster 9 Dr. Basilisa D. Tomimbang, as well as two other recently reassigned school principals, Mr. Efren E. Canzana and Mr. Sonny Adriano. The event was also attended by Mrs. Jessy J. Reyes, Administrative Officer V of the Human Resource Management Office; Mrs. Fatima P. Fajardo, Education Program Specialist II for Monitoring and Evaluation and the OIC-Planning Officer, Mr. Ronel U. Arellano; Administrative Officer IV in charge of Property, Supply, and General Services; and Mr. John Anthony M. Labay, Accountant III. The new principal, Manaog, promptly affirmed his oath of duty in the presence of Dr. Tolentino, Mr. Torres, Dr. Tomimbang, Mr. Cannon, Jr., and Mrs. Reyes.

Joining Sir Aga in his transfer to PCWHS are the department Heads of Kalayaan National High School and the OIC – Principal of Pres. Corazon C. Aquino National High School Mrs. Grace B. Torres. He was warmly welcomed in PCWHS by the school administrators, department heads, Faculty President Mr. Reynante S. Panlaqui, teachers, SSG officers, Boy Scouts, and SPTA officers. Mr. Canniel Ordoňez and Mrs. Narcissa Lim (both MAPEH teachers) performed a special dance number.

Earlier on the same day, Manaog, who also holds the position of president of the Pasay City Secondary School Principal Federation joined the aforementioned SDO personnel in Cannon, Jr.’s transfer of station from PCWHS to Pasay City North High School (PCNHS), where Canzana, the former school head, handed over the management of PCNHS to him. Canzana was subsequently reassigned to Kalayaan National High School to take over for Manaog. Later that afternoon, he also witnessed the reassignment of Mr. Sonny Adriano as the new principal of Pasay City National High School, replacing Mr. Rouell A. Santero, who was then transferred to Pasay City National Science High School, Adriano’s previous school.

Prior to his reassignment as the new PCWHS principal, Manaog had already served as school head at several schools, including Kalayaan National High School from 2019 to 2023 (beginning as principal III and later advancing to principal IV), Pasay City South High School from 2015 to 2019 (principal II), Pasay City North High School – Tramo (now Pasay City National High School) from 2013 to 2015 (principal I), Pasay City North High School – M. Dela Cruz from October 2011 to 2013 (principal I), and Pasay City North High School BASA from May to October 2011 (principal I). His career as a school head commenced with his role as OIC principal at PCNHS – Tramo from 2010 to 2011, followed by PCNHS – Cuneta Annex from 2009 to 2010. Notably, he initially served as a Science and Technology teacher at PCWHS and is now returning as the new school head.