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Saint Louis High School – Philex is the southeastern part of Philex, a mining company of about 17 aerial kilometers or 30 land kilometers southeast of Baguio City in the municipality of Tuba, Benguet.

By 1975, Philex Mining Corporation had already more than 3,000 employees supporting more than 18,000 dependents.  The community is comprised of people from different provinces the majority of which come from the province of Pangasinan.  Today, it employs about 4,800 supporting about 20,000 dependents with free housing, water light, transportation, and educational and recreational facilities aside from medical and dental care.

Since the workers and none dependents are part of the company’s valuable resources, their dependents are part of the company’s development, especially that of their children, is one of the major concerns of the company.

Thus, the company initiated several projects among which include dressmaking, machine knitting home making techniques, food processing and preservation, adult education, and out – of - school (OSY) movement.  The company also established an elementary school for more than 2,000 school children.  However, after graduating from the elementary, the pupils continue their secondary education either back in their home provinces or in the nearby schools.  Most of them however, went to Saint Louis – Balatoc where they stayed in dormitory provided for them by Philex.

Because of the ever-increasing number of elementary graduates and the inconvenience of the students going to Saint Louis - Balatoc, Father Herman S. Flameygh, the rector of Philex Mines Mission, negotiated with the administration of Philex Mining Corporation for the establishment of a High school here in Philex.   After the go – signal was given by the company and the school site determined, ground preparation and construction of a two – storey building went to full blast starting as early as February of 1975. By June 1075, the school building was ready.  The building has 12 classrooms, a library, a science laboratory room, offices a faculty room and a Home Economics room for the girls.  The vocational shop for the boys is located at the basement of the right wing of the building.  Machine and tools were provided for the boy’s shop work.

In 1977, a new five – storey was started to provide additional classrooms for the opening of the curriculum years.  The edifice has a basement with 4 classroom, the second floor with five spacious rooms for Home Economics, the 3^rd floor with six classrooms, the 4^th floor with seven classrooms, and the 5^th floor which serves as a hall for conferences, programs and other social activities.  The rooftop of the building is the basketball court. The new building was inaugurated on August 2, 1978.  The inauguration coincided with the Silver Sacerdotal Anniversary of Father Herman S. Flameygh, the founder of the school.

Seeing the increase of enrolment, Father Herman S. Flameygh again negotiated with the administration of Philex Mining Corporation for the construction of another building for more classrooms. Completed in 1979, the building has five classrooms and the Guidance Councilor’s office. The rooftop accommodates two volleyball courts.

In 1983, the increasing enrolment again led to the construction of another building. In this building are three classrooms and the new library.  Where the library was in now the faculty room.

With only seven members of the faculty in 1975, the high school now has 54 teaching and non – teaching staff members.  On the other hand, starting with four sections of 181enrolleesin the same year, the school has 27 sections of 1128 enrollees (547 boys and 581 girls) for the school year 1985 – 1986.

In its curriculum today, Saint Louis High School – Philex provides quality education both in education and vocational training.  Since school year 1978 – 1979, our high school graduates have shown great performances in the National College Entrance Examination (NCEE).

At Saint Louis High School – Philex, the Practical Arts Program is designed to provide students opportunities for the development of vocational interest and skills.  This program includes courses for the boys, namely: Drafting, Practical Electricity, Machine Shop Technology, Automotive Mechanics, diesel engine Mechanics, and Woodworking Technology including introductory courses in Furniture and Cabinet Making and Building Construction.  It also includes six courses for the girls, namely: Drafting, Food Technology, Dressmaking, Tailoring, Machine Knitting, and Cosmetology.

In the 1^st and 2^nd year levels, the student’s courses which are taken for a maximum of ten weeks purely exploratory.  This means that upon enrolment in the 3^rd year, a student chooses one Practical Arts course, which he takes for the next two years.  Fortunately, the boys and girls’ shops boast of machines and supplies for the student’s technical training (thanks to the unending support of the Philex Mining Corporation).

Moreover, our Practical Arts teaching staff, like that in the academics, is composed of teachers who specialized in their respective fields.  Thus, equipped with the basic knowledge in their secondary education, we hope to see them leave our school to become successful men and women someday in their chosen field of endeavor.

Contributed on July 20, 2007 by Ms. Ginalyn G. Abian, SLHS Batch 2003