Our Distinctiveness

History

The vibrant journey of Gideon Academy is a testament to God’s amazing grace and faithfulness. From its humble beginnings to its progressive present, His power, provision, and presence have been evident at every milestone of Gideon’s existence. The school believes that this is all part of God’s grand plan to establish a Filipino-Chinese Christian school right in Pasay City.

The vision of creating a Filipino-Chinese Christian school in Pasay City began in 1983 when members of the United Evangelical Church of Pasay (UECPasay) discussed an evangelism project with Rev. Johann Lai, the Senior Pastor. Rev. Lai proposed that establishing a daycare center could be an effective way for the church to connect with parents. In 1984, they pursued the vision of starting a Filipino-Chinese school that would provide quality education integrated with Biblical teachings. A Nursery class was officially established under the name of Pasay Christian School, with Ms. Mary Yu heading the first Board of Directors.

The year 1987 was a blessed year for Gideon Academy. The UEC Pasay acquired the current school site on F.B. Harrison Street, Pasay City. At that time, the site had only two bungalows, which were repurposed into an administrative office and classrooms. Additionally, the first batch of Kinder 2 students progressed to the Elementary level. In the same year, the school decided to officially register with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under the name Gideon Academy, Inc.

In 1989, driven by prayer and faith, the construction of the school building began. The plan was to construct a five-story building in three phases. God’s goodness was once again evident as He provided the means for the construction of the Phase 2 building in 1998. By this time, the school’s population had grown to over 300 students. New facilities and activity rooms were added including an auditorium, music room, computer laboratory, a THE laboratory, and a science laboratory. These additions significantly contributed to the school’s upgraded academic standards, highlighting the many blessings bestowed upon Gideon Academy. With God’s provision, the final phase of the building was completed in late 2005.

Over the years, there was a growing demand for a class that accepted children below the age of four. In response, the board decided to explore the possibility of a class for three-year-olds. Thus, in 2010, the Toddler Class was established with 13 first enrollees. In 2012, the Philippines launched its “K to 12” Program, a comprehensive reform of its basic education system. This pivotal change was driven by “the need to align with global standards in secondary education and placed a high value on kindergarten”. As part of these changes, the labels “High 1 – 4” were replaced with Grade 7 to Grade 10 for Junior High School and Grade 11 to Grade 12 for Senior High School.

The year 2016 was eventful for Gideon Academy. Out of the 18 secondary private schools in Pasay City, Gideon Academy ranked first in the National Achievement Test in the Secondary Levels for three consecutive years from SY 2012-2015. The school was awarded a Certificate of Recognition by the Department of Education – Pasay City Division on March 8, 2016. Additionally, within that year, the school received another citation from the same government agency, being awarded a Certificate of Recognition for being the Most Efficient School in Data Management & Learners Information System (LIS) during the End of School Year (EOSY) 2015-2016, given on June 27, 2016.

Among all the private schools in Pasay City, Gideon Academy was endorsed by Assistant Secretary Tonisito Umali of the Department of Education as the school to visit and feature on the Asia Business Channel. On March 28, 2017, the female journalist and her crew conducted a school visit and interviewed Vice-Chairman Chan Ching Bor and Board Director Monica Ang-Tan. In the 2017-2018 school year, Gideon Academy decided to enhance its Mathematics curriculum by implementing Singaporean Math with Koobits in the Elementary Department, allowing them to compete with peers from different schools across Asia.

In May 2019, Ms. Grace Y. Tan joined Gideon Academy as the School Principal. That same year, the school celebrated its 35th Founding Anniversary. For the first time, students and parents were invited to perform Chinese cultural dances at Double Dragon Mall and SM Mall of Asia, showcasing the school’s rich cultural heritage.

On November 16, 2019, Gideon Academy participated in the 2019 詩詞集體朗誦比賽 (2019 Inter- Chinese Schools Chinese Poetry Group Recitation Contest), competing against larger Filipino- Chinese schools in Metro Manila for the first time. Our students brought home honor and prestige, winning First Place in the Grades 4-6 Category and receiving an exemplary award in the Grades 7-10 Category.

In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared a global health pandemic, confining all students, faculty, and staff to their homes. Despite the challenges, the school remained committed to continuing education. This determination led to a swift transition from onsite to online learning. Educators embraced technology, equipping themselves with the necessary skills to implement this new mode of teaching, ensuring that learning continued seamlessly despite the unprecedented circumstances.

Gideon Academy, in cooperation with the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII), responded to the health emergency by offering one hundred free vaccinations to students, parents, alumni, employees, and their family members. This initiative made a significant difference in the school community, showcasing the academy’s commitment to the well- being of its members.

Undaunted by the challenges of the new education terrain, the school successfully implemented the online learning modality while the world slowly recovered from the catastrophic effects of the pandemic. In response to the growing demand for reliable internet service, Gideon Academy undertook a major infrastructure upgrade in August 2020, transforming the entire school into a fully WiFi-enabled campus.

By SY 2022-2023, the school took the initiative to gradually return to normalcy by adopting a blended mode of learning. Students attended classes on campus for one week and online the following week. In the same school year, Gideon Academy embarked on the journey of accreditation with ACSCU-ACI, selecting them as the accrediting agency. From March 29-31, 2023, accreditors from different schools and universities conducted the preliminary virtual accreditation. Thankfully, Gideon Academy was awarded the Candidate Status for the Preschool, Elementary, and High School levels during the 37th ACSCU-ACI National Assembly held in Davao City on June 13-15, 2023.

In SY 2023-2024, the school launched a re-labeling initiative for its preschool levels. The Toddler Class was renamed the Nursery Class, while the Nursery Class was rebranded as the Pre-Kinder Class. Additionally, the school saw a significant increase in enrollment, registering over 300 students and achieving a 46% growth in its student population.

On January 13, 2024, the school participated in the 2024 詩詞集體朗誦比賽 (2024 Inter-Chinese Schools Chinese Poetry Group Recitation Contest) for the second time. The students delivered a stunning performance that left the judges in awe. Praise God for the wonderful results, as our students achieved First Place in the Grades 1-3 Category and received Exemplary Awards in both the Grades 4-6 and Junior High School Categories. Gideon Academy distinguished itself as one of only two schools to win in all three categories.

On February 24, 2024, the students of Gideon Academy again made history by participating in the Inter-Chinese Schools Chorale Singing Competition for the first time and proudly winning the First Place Award in Category B Competition. Time and again, our students rise to the challenge and win, proving not only their excellence but also the high caliber of the school in producing outstanding achievers.

Gideon Academy, Inc. is a dynamic institution on a journey of growth, with exciting projects ahead and challenges to conquer. Our mission is resolute: to impact lives, spread the gospel to our students, and empower them to become catalysts for positive societal transformation. Guided by the unchanging nature of God—His goodness, grace, and faithfulness—this institution will stand firm, poised to shine brightly for Jesus in the generations to come.

The Story Behind the Name

The school’s name has a fascinating history. As they prepared to register with the SEC, the incorporators brainstormed and reflected on the best name for the school, one that would embody its mission. They chose the name “Gideon Academy, Inc.” from the Chinese words “基中” (ji zhong), inspired by the phrase “以基督為中心” (Yi ji tu wei zhong xin), meaning “making Christ the center of the school.” Thus, Gideon Academy, or in Chinese “基中書院” (Ji Zhong Shu Yuan), was officially registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission.