vision

It was Albert Schweitzer in his immortal book " Civilization and Ethics" who opined candidly:

" who shall enumerate the many ways in which that costly piece of fixed capital, human being,

maybe employed! More of him is wanted everywhere. Hunt them, for some situation in which your

humanity may be used"

The above-quoted passage from Schweitzer's writings epitomize the greatness of Dr Mariano F.

Mejia, retired rural health physician and founder of the Red Arrow High School. He was trained to

be a physician, but he was nurtured as an educator of highest magnitude.

Through thick and thin, Dr Mejia has purposely directed the smooth operation of the Red Arrow

High School for the past 50 years ( acquuiring its government recognition mostly after its humble

start) Vis-a vis with his undying zest in pursuing the health of his towns-people is his unparalleled

commitment in providing quality secondary education for the growing population of his dearly

beloved town San Nicolas, particularly the poor and helpless students.

The unprecedented growth of the municipality for the past 50 years is analogous with the steady

twin-out of school graduates despite intrinsic and extrinsic pressures. RAHS alumni become

successful doctors, lawyers, military/PNP officers, teachers, engineers, medical technologists,

nurses, writers, economists, business men, technocrats and scientist in the governments and

private sectors, here and abroad.

Dr Mariano F. Mejia is endowed with a great mission and vision to accomplish in this life. That

of bringing the school close to the people. Long before the advent of the idea of green revolution,

clean and green contest and forest conservation, he was already preaching the gospel of tree

planting, backyard gardening, animal raising and cleanliness campaigns in the barangays.

He was a penchant of distributing seeds and seedlings to students teachers and barangay folk.

Every time he addressed his town people and studentry, he perked up his message with the

value of hard work, self discipline and self-reliance" You are what you are thinking" he would

say emphatically. " You will reap what you sow"

A gifted elocutionist and speaker of magnetic value, he possessed a vast reservoir of good will

and positivism which has created for him and immortal place in the hearts of his townmates

transcending the bounds of space and time.