History
THE HUMBLE BEGINNINGS OF CASA REAL MONTESSORI, INC.
Casa Real Montessori, Inc., originally known as Casa De Bambini is one of the oldest and authentic Montessori schools in Cavite. It started in 1981 with 54 children in Pilar Village, Las Pinas City under the guidance of Mrs. Milagros Tajo Jarlega. The bungalow residential house with three rooms was converted into a school, realizing Mrs. Jarlega’s simple dream is to have a group of children for her special child, Marigold, who needs friends for socialization.
Today, Casa Real Montessori, Inc. continues to flourish in a 4,000 square meter property, strategically located in Parkplace Village, Imus, Cavite. It envisions a continuous upgrading and enriching of curriculum to meet the demands for social and moral transformation, academic excellence, and vocational-technological aptitude skills which are globally competitive.
MRS. MILAGROS T. JARLEGA
Mrs. Milagros Tajo Jarlega is a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Elementary education and a Montessori teacher affiliated with the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI). She is the recipient of the much-coveted AMI diploma after undergoing training at the AMI Teachers Training Center in Mountainview California, USA. She passed the AMI Board of Examiners’ rigorous oral and written examination on May 29, 2000 conducted by the representatives of AMI Netherlands, the headquarters of AMI.
She completed her foundation course at St. Nicholas Montessori School in Queensgate, London, England. During her training in Mountainview, California, she visited various Montessori schools in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. She also observed other Montessori schools in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Italy, and Australia to study and adapt ideas for Casa Real Montessori, Inc. (CRMI).
In 1978, she took her Montessori Training Course in Maria Montessori Cooperative in Harrison, Pasay City, where her trainers were graduates from AMI Italy. She taught for four years before establishing her own Montessori school in Pilar Village, Las Pinas City.
Mrs. Jarlega is the founder and owner of Casa Real Montessori, Inc. (CRMI) and currently serves as its President, continuing to uphold the principles of Montessori education and ensuring the school’s commitment to academic excellence.
MRS. CHARINA MENDOZA JARLEGA
Mrs. Charina Mendoza-Jarlega completed the AMI Montessori Elementary Teacher Training Course from the Montessori Institute of Milwaukee (MIM) in Wisconsin, USA and has been awarded the Advanced Diploma of Association Montessori Internationale in 2006. Prior to this, she attended the Foundation Course in MIM from July to September of 2005 which gave her a comprehensive knowledge of the Primary Montessori Curriculum for ages 3-6.
She earned her degree of Bachelor of Science in Biology and the required Education units from De La Salle University-Dasmarinas. She obtained a rating of 87.60 in the Teacher Licensure Examination given by the Professional Regulation Commission in 2008 making her eligible in the Secondary Level as well.
MRS. ARLINE ARZAGA JARLEGA
Mrs. Arline Arzaga Jarlega is an Association Montessori International (AMI) Elementary teacher. She underwent her Montessori Elementary Training during the academic year 2007-2008 and received her diploma from the Washington Montessori Institute at Loyola College in Maryland, USA. She also completed a prerequisite course in Primary Montessori Education before her Elementary Training. During her training, she studied the principles and practiced the Montessori method of teaching children aged 6 to 12 years. She successfully passed the written and oral examinations administered by her esteemed trainers on May 18, 2008.
Aside from being a Montessori educator for many years, she is also a Registered Nurse. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Perpetual Help College of Rizal, Las Piñas City. She remains committed to advancing Montessori education through her contributions at the Imus Campus.
MR. JOSE MARIANITO TAJO JARLEGA
Mr. Jose Marianito Jarlega, or Sir Anthony as most people call him, has been a dedicated and integral part of Casa Real Montessori Imus (CRMI) since 1995. A graduate of Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education, majoring in English from Perpetual Help College of Rizal in Las Piñas City, he began his career as an elementary teacher, handling grades 1 to 6. His passion for teaching and commitment to excellence extended to the high school level, where he taught English to students at both the Bacoor and Imus Campuses.
Over the years, Sir Anthony demonstrated remarkable versatility and expertise, successfully managing and guiding international students under his care. His leadership abilities and dedication led to his appointment as the Principal of the Imus Campus, where he served from 2007 to 2010.
Beyond his contributions in the classroom and administration, Sir Anthony took on multiple key roles within CRMI. He served as the Purchasing Officer, overseeing the procurement of essential resources for the school. He is currently the Treasurer/Vice President of CRMI, where he played a vital role in the continued growth and success of CRMI.
Outside his professional endeavors, Sir Anthony is a devoted husband to Mrs. Arline Jarlega and a loving father to four children. His ability to balance his professional responsibilities with his family life is a testament to his unwavering commitment and strong values.
With his wealth of experience and dedication, Sir Anthony remains an invaluable asset to CRMI, contributing significantly to the school’s mission of providing quality education and fostering a nurturing learning environment.
DR. MARIA MONTESSORI
Dr. Maria Montessori was Italy’s first female doctor and a dedicated educator. From 1870-1952, she devised a method of early child education. She had studied the child, took what the child had given her and allowed her to experience the learning process herself. That is what the Montessori Method is all about.
Dr. Maria Montessori started out with an untrained assistant, a room, some furniture, and lots of didactic materials in her first “Children’s hOuse” in Italy. To Dr. Montessori, a child’s environment is the most important element in the learning process.
Dr. Maria Montessori is credited for the development of an open prepared environment, individualized instruction education, manipulative learning materials, and programmed instructions.