Dr. Onofre R. Pagsanghan

He was born in Manila on June 12, 1927 to Hipolito and Vicenta Pagsanghan. He married Florinda Duran in 1960. They have three children: Stella, Joel and Sylvia.

Educational Attainment

Secondary Education: 1947, Ateneo de Manila High School

College: A.B. Major in Education, 1951, Ateneo de Manila University

Postgraduate: M.A. in English, 1984, Ateneo de Manila University

Honorary Degree: Ph.D. in Humane Letters, 1991, Ateneo de Manila University

Honorary Degree: Ph.D. in Humane Letters, 2005, Ateneo de Naga University

Honorary Degree: Ph.D. in Humane Letters, 2005, Far Eastern University.

Professional Activities

Founder, Knights of the Sacred Heart in the Holy Trinity Parish of Balic-Balic, 1948.

Classroom Teacher since 1951, Ateneo de Manila High School.

Chairman, Filipino Department, for 25 years, Ateneo de Manila High School.

Director, Dramatics at St. Paul College, Manila, High School Department in 1952-1954.

Member, Board of Trustees, for three years, Ateneo de Manila University.

Director, Dramatics, since 1956, Ateneo de Manila High School. He directed big productions like Macbeth, The Merchant of Venice, Julius Caesar, Hamlet, Cyrano de Bergerac at the Ateneo Covered Courts.

Lecturer on Educational Topics like “Teaching as a Vocation” and “Love Your Calling With Passion.” He has been to different parts of the country — literally from Batanes to Jolo — for speaking engagements.

Author, Hasik and Makabagong Filipino, two textbooks used in several high schools. Recently published were Reaching Out and Sagwan.

Director, Ateneo Faculty Formation Institute.

Artistic Director, Folk Arts Theater, 1973-76 (he conceptualized the Philippine National High School for the Arts in Mt. Makiling)

Founder and Director, Sibol-Hesus Free Tutorial School

Awards

OZANAM Award for Outstanding Service as a Catholic Teacher from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1970.

PATNUBAY NG KALINANAGAN AWARD for contribution in the field of theater from the City of Manila in 1970.

GAWAD BALAGTAS for significant work in Philippine Theatre from the Surian ng Wikang Pambansa in 1970

C.A.T. Best Educational Television Program Award for a televised series of lessons in Filipino in 1964.

FAMAS Best Musical Film Award for Sinta from FAMAS in 1976

First Irwin Memorial Award for excellence in the teaching profession from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1977.

E.A.G.L.E. Fund Teacher Award for excellence in the teaching profession from the Ateneo de Manila University, every year from its inception in 1980 up to the present.

METROBANK OUTSTANDING EDUCATORS AWARD for excellence as a high school teacher in 1985, the first year of the Metrobank Awards.

GAWAD PAMBANSANG ALAGAD NI BALAGTAS from the Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Filipinas in 1992.

GAWAD CCP PARA SA SINING (DULAAN) from the Cultural Center of the Philippines in 1992

GAWAD MANUEL L. QUEZON from Quezon City and the Taliba ng Inang Wika in 1996.

Honored by the Ateneo de Manila University on the occasion of his 45th year as a teacher in 1996 at the Ateneo with the rechristening by the University of Dulaang Sibol after his name (the Onofre Pagsanghan Theater).

TOFIL – The Outstanding Filipino Award for Culture and Arts from the JAYCEES and the Insular Life and Assurance Company in 1996.

Centennial Award for Art and Culture from the National Centennial Commission in 1999

The Onofre R. Pagsanghan Endowment Fund for Basic Education was established by the Ateneo de Manila University in recognition of his 50 years as a high school teacher.

Gawad Paz Marquez Benitez for Outstanding Educator in Literature from the Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas in August 2002.

Gawad Geny Lopez Jr. Bayaning Pilipino Award in April 2003

ACES Award for Teachers – Award for Continuing Excellence and Service from the Metrobank Foundation in 2004.

Yes, the Filipino Can Award from the RFM Corporation, October 13, 2008.

Order of St. Michael the Archangel for Outstanding Contribution to Catholic Lay Education from Holy Angel University, Pampanga, March 8, 2011.

Natatanging Gawad Buhay (Life Achievement Award) given by Philstage on June 11, 2015

Grants

Ford Foundation Grant, to observe Educational Television in the United States in 1963

British Council Fellowship, to observe theater in London in 1971

UNESCO Fellowship, to observe theater in the United States in 1971

Japan Foundation Scholarship, to observe the Japanese system of education in 1981

New York University Scholarship on American Culture in 1986