As I remember, it all started like a seed of an idea years ago. Diliman Prep, as an undertaking, began simply, spontaneously, and with a dash of courage.
I had just returned from graduate studies at Stanford in Palo Alto, and was now assistant professor at the Institute of Mass Communications. I had also enrolled my youngest son, Perry, then seven, at the U.P. Elementary School in the Diliman Campus. That was how I met my colleague, Mrs. Felisa C. Generoso, the U.P. Elementary Principal to whom I later discovered education was not only a vocation but life itself. In 1969 Mrs. Generoso was due for retirement after a long career as a teacher.
And I, having met some difficulty in re-enrolling my other children who went with me to the United States in their original schools, the idea of putting up an elementary school became a beckoning possibility— as well as a challenge. Mrs. Generoso was the most logical opportunity. Would she be interested? Yes, she would. As a matter of fact, it was what she had always planned to do after retirement. Why not a school of our own? The idea quickly took shape.
That settled, the next step was to look for friends who would join the venture—and keep the faith. And so, in the early part of 1969, together with Indalecio P. Soliongco who scouted for the school location and applied for the permit; Dr. Irma R. Apelo who became treasurer and school physician; my sister Mrs. Sylvia Orozco; and Mrs. Titchy Lopez Marquez, my sister-in-law; Atty Deogracias G. Eufemio, a family friend who became legal counsel and corporate secretary; Modesto Ventura, an entrepreneur; and my mother, Mrs. Judith Guanco Marquez, incorporators all, the Diliman Educational Foundation, Inc. (later to be renamed Diliman Educational Corporation) was launched.
There was no turning back from then on. With a modest authorized capital of One Million Pesos and a loan of One Hundred Fifty Thousand from Philam Life, Engineer Felix Marinas was given the go-signal to clear the school grounds and construct the 10-classroom one-storey school building.
In July 1969, a new community school, Diliman Preperatory School, opened for business. Mrs. Generoso, as Principal, and her assistant principal Ms. Yolanda Marquez Lim, and her raw recruits of six teachers bravely welcomed their first batch of 45 students.
And so the journey began.
By: Alicia M. L. Coseteng, Founding Member, and former President and Chairman of the Board of the Diliman Education Foundation.
This excerpt was taken from the article “Brief History” printed in the Diliman Preperatory School Silver Jubilee Book published in 1994.