About the founder
Dr. Jose G. Rivera, Jr. was born on March 26, 1939 in Manila. He is also known as Pepito, Pito, Jun and Joe to his family and friends. Dr. Jose G. Rivera, Jr. was the third of five children. His father, Lt. Jose G. Rivera, Sr. worked as a Police Investigator in San Juan, Metro Manila while his mother, Agnes G. Rivera was employed as a Public School Principal also in San Juan, Metro Manila. At a very young age, Dr. Rivera was observed to have passion for teaching. Being influenced by his mother, he took up education and obtained his degree in teaching at the National Teachers College in Manila. He pursued his Doctoral degree, Bachelor in Secondary Education-Major in Physical Education at the Ortañez University in Quezon City.
Dr. Rivera was employed in various public and private schools mostly on part-time basis. To name a few, he taught at Manuel L. Quezon High School and Marian College. In one of the schools where he practiced his profession, he met a woman who changed his viewpoint in life and career, his spouse, Remedios Soriaga-Rivera. They got married and were blessed with two children.
Through his hard work and dedication, Dr. Rivera received commendations. He handled different positions in all the schools where he taught. He was the Recreational Manager at Pope Pius XII, P.E. Consultant at Victoria School, and Supervisor at EARIST.
Years passed, Jose took his teaching profession to a new level. Using the experiences and skills that he acquired, he planned of establishing his own school in the province of his wife. He really wanted to make a difference, hence, Holy Rosary School Foundation was established in 1988. Spouses Rivera were indeed hands-on in managing their life-long dream while raising well their two children. Because of his work style which he called “diskarte”, the school became known for its good reputation of providing quality education. His eagerness for change regarding the trend in education paid off since HRCF presented a bench mark in terms of providing a safe, enjoyable, and conducive learning environment with all the amenities that it can offer its students. These include a spacious gymnasium, a swimming pool, laboratories and open court, among others.
With the blessings that Dr. Rivera acquired, he had a scholarship program which was named after him. He also designed activities and programs for the well-being of the less fortunate people in the community.
Apparently, what people say, “people are breakable”. No matter what we do, we can never be God. Time will come that we’ll leave. Albeit he did, he left with a predominant legacy, this institution that boasts of how hard work and dedication paid off. The spirit of his personal guiding principle, “Destiny is not a matter of chance, Destiny is a matter of choice” will always live in our hearts. He will invariably be commemorated as a good father, a loving husband, a loyal friend, a great mentor and a remarkable educator.
HOW THE SCHOOL WAS FOUNDED
With an ardent, optimistic vision to see that quality education may come into reality in words and in deeds, Dr. Jose G. Rivers, Jr. established a school that will promote modern ideas and strategies to sustain all the changes in the 21st century.
At the onset, the school – “Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Kindergarten” – was formally established in June 1988.
In its first year of operation, the school became the second home of 49 pre-schoolers, ably handled by Mrs. Remedios S. Rivera, the Directress, ably supported by a teacher and an aide.
On its second year of operation, enrollment grew unexpectedly to 99 pupils. Grade 1 was opened that year and Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Kindergarten was renamed and incorporated as Holy Rosary School Foundation.
The positive developments bolstered the high spirits of the founders to keep on the noble project they initiated. More classrooms were built thus the rapid increase in enrollment and hiring and training of more teachers and staff to assist the administration.
The school continued to grow with a new grade level being added every year. It was in School Year 1994-1995, when the first set of 35 Grade 6 pupils held their Commencement Exercises on March 28, 1995. This memorable event marked the first realization of the founders’ dream– quality education at its best.
As envisioned, before the first graduation ceremony was held in 1995, the Government Recognition of the Elementary Grades was issued in 1994.
Likewise, on its first Grade 6 commencement exercises, the school welcomed the Chief of the Non-Formal Education Division presently Asst. Division Superintendent of School of Nueva Ecija, as its first ever commencement speaker. The guest speaker lauded the efforts of the administration, faculty, staff and especially the students for a job well done. During that school year, the graduating pupils garnered the Second Highest Rank in the NEAT test among Private Elementary Schools in the provincial level.
With the completion of the Elementary Department, the next task was the necessity to setting up the Secondary Department. The Elementary Department area cannot accommodate the inclusion of a High School building. Taking into consideration the differences between the growth patterns and pace of development of the two groups, the need for another school site became an urgent concern. The school decided to purchase a property located near the Elementary Department campus. The establishment of the Secondary Department continued the quality education that Holy Rosary School Foundation offers.
The High School Department is located just a few meters away from the Grade School campus and occupies almost half hectare. It boasts of a clean, spacious, and healthy environment with a tall concrete wall and gently shaded by lush fruit bearing trees.
It has spacious and well ventilated classrooms, a library, a T.L.E. room, a science laboratory, an air-conditioned computer room, a front office reception area, as well as a well-maintained canteen. It also has a wide cemented quadrangle, two basketball/volleyball courts and multi-purpose stage for various socio-cultural and educational presentations.
After undergoing rigid written and oral examinations, a total of seventy eight (78) First and Second Year students were accepted in SY 1995-1996. For school year 1996-1997, Third Year was offered and in SY 1997-1998, 26 boys and girls composed the first batch of High School graduates.
The school kept on growing by leaps and bounds in terms of enrolment with the required manpower. A maximum of two sections per level both in the Grade School and High School Departments were reached. Invitations to teacher applicants were sent to different educational institutions. Many came but only a few were accepted due to the high standards set by the school. It is worth mentioning that the early teachers came from different provinces like Nueva Vizcaya, Isabela, Baguio City, Pampanga, Tarlac and Metro Manila.
The establishment of an “Early Toddlers Playhouse” was planned and materialized during the school year 2000 – 2001. An initial enrollees of 9 under the guidance of Mrs. Remedios S. Rivera and a teacher aide were accommodated in a room adjacent to the nursery classroom. The Toddlers Class was very challenging for it calls for patience and perseverance in cuddling 1½ to 3 year-old kids. However, it was very fulfilling as said by the Directress and the toddler’s mentor. After three years, Mrs. Rivera decided to concentrate on the Pre School and Grade School Departments due to the growing number of enrollees.
Facility Improvements per School Year
2001 – 2002 Swimming Pool
2002 – 2003 Social Hall
2003 – 2004 Chapel
2004 – 2005 Gym Bleachers and Comfort Rooms
2005 – 2006 Construction of High School Library
2006 – 2007 Volleyball Court with Benches
2007 – 2008 Speech Laboratory
Second Floor Elementary and High School
2008 – 2009 Renovation of the Social Hall
Audio Visual Room (AVR)
2009 – 2010 Extension of the High School Library
2010 – 2014 Extension Improved
Improved Science Laboratory
TLE Condo
Dressing Room
Renovation of Friendship Park
Renovation of High School Library
New Building are provided for Grade II
Badminton Court
Drawing/Drafting Laboratory
2015-2016 New lot was purchased for the Pre School Building and Grade School Canteen High School Additional Classroom
2016-2017 Senior High School Building, Grade School Classrooms are all Air Conditioned, A number of classrooms in the High School Department are airconditioned
2017 Purchase of a new set of computer system and 23 with server
2017-2018 All Classrooms are air conditioned
2018 All blackboards of classrooms were replaced with whiteboards
2018-2019 Total renovation of High School Office and Clinic
2020 Total renovation of comfort rooms in High School Campus
Purchase of 868 sqm. -lot at the back of the Grade School Campus
Started the construction of a gymnasium on the newly purchased lot
The College Department was opened during the A.Y. 2007 – 2008 hence the change in name to “Holy Rosary Colleges Foundation”. It aims to produce teachers who are well-rounded and can be of equal level of competence with those in the metropolis.
Humbly, the school truly believes in the saying that – “Destiny is not a matter of chance, destiny is a matter of choice.”