The Timber City Academy, formerly Butuan Chinese School, was established some time in 1947 by the Chinese community through the sponsorship of the Chinese Chamber then a-forming. Quite a large number of Chinese families were living in the City and its environs and they saw the need to have a school that would cater to the Chinese language and cultural development of their children. In order to encourage as many families as possible to enroll their children, including those born of native women, the school did not charge any tuition fee from the students. This was possible because of the financial subsidy given by the commercial establishments, shipping firms, logging companies and sawmills through voluntarily agreed upon monthly contributions. The scheme was well accepted and enrollment was satisfactory.

Since then, from humble beginnings the school has metamorphosed into an institution offering complete elementary and secondary courses with students excelling in government conducted aptitude tests. Hundreds have graduated from the secondary level and pursued courses in higher education. After completing their courses, most are now respected professionals in their fields of expertise. Some even among the top-notchers in Professional Regulatory Commission Board examinations.

The Board of Trustees presently headed by the dynamic Peter C. Dy, and supported by other pillars of the Fil-Chinese community, tries its best to direct the affairs of the school.

CL Young

Mission Statement

Timber City Academy is a Filipino-Chinese, non-sectarian, educational institution. It aims to develop the mental, spiritual, moral, Social, cultural, and physical capabilities of its students, provide them with the learning experiences in the democratic way of life, and inculcate the ideals, knowledge and skills, and the values necessary for an enlightened, responsible, patriotic, upright, and useful citizenship.

As a Filipino institution, Timber City Academy seeks to foster a genuine love and appreciation of the Filipino heritage. It endeavors to preserve, to cultivate, to propagate, and to take pride in its customs and traditions, and the internalizations of desirable Filipino traits and values.

It likewise takes pride in its Chinese heritage which is based on 5,000 years of culture and civilization. It aims to inculcate the Chinese virtues of loyalty, respect for elders, kindness, love for fellowmen, trustworthiness, integrity, love for peace, and industriousness which kept our forefathers in good stead during their pioneering days. (CL Young)

As a school which offers Chinese Language Arts, Timber City Academy emphasizes the study of Chinese communicative competencies, aimed at developing abilities in reading, writing, and speaking in Chinese language.

As a non-sectarian school, Timber City Academy welcomes students into its learning environment regardless of creed or religious affiliation. It fosters in the students the development of wholesome personality imbued with values and virtues. It is involved in the human and holistic development of the student with emphasis on social responsibility and moral integrity.

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

The list of Alumni is quite impressive. Judging from their last two Homecomings which were successfully held, the Alumni are a force to reckon with. Indeed, with Alumni now successful businessmen and professionals, the future direction of the school will be shaped by these people.

The 5th TCA Grand Alumni Homecoming held at the Almont Inland Resort Convention Center had more than 350 Alumni and guests in attendance. It was jointly sponsored by class 1974 headed by Helen O. Tiu and the Silver Jubilarians headed by Marilou Cagalingan-Gaspar of Class 1980. Their fund-raising activity was so successful that they were able to cover the lobby, pathways and faculty offices of the administration building with granite tiles and improve the girls' toilet facilities.

The 4th TCA Grand Alumni Homecoming held at the Dottie's Convention Center was likewise a successful affair. 290 alumni and guests attended the celebration. It was jointly sponsored by Class 1975 headed by Dr. Chyrl Tan-Bautista and Silver Jubilarians he aded by Marichu Tan-Geson of Class 1979. Their project was the donation of laboratory equipment and apparatus.

Previous Alumni Reunions had been held in the TCA basketball court or Social Hall , which venues are deemed inadequate to accommodate the number of participants who attended. They had their own projects which added to the improvement of the school's physical facilities.

CL Young