15/06/2025
DAO BUILDING OF SFHS SIGNS OFF AFTER 45 YEARS
After 45 years of service, one of San Francisco High School’s oldest and most cherished structures has officially closed its doors. The Dao Building, built in 1980, is being remembered not just for its architectural presence, but for the countless memories it sheltered.
As one of the last three original buildings still standing (alongside Narra and Heritage buildings), Dao was home to several essential school facilities. the School Library, SFHS Social Hall, Panitik Room for the school paper, the Filipino Center, and the old AP Center. For decades, it also hosted District and Division meetings and numerous school programs.
In an emotional Facebook post, SFHS teacher Mon Aspa reminisced about the building’s history and impact on the community:
“Ito ang 45 yrs old Dao Bldg ng SFHS, Isa sa tatlong ntitirang pinaka sina unang mga gusali ng paaralan... Halos lahat ng mga naging kasabayang G**o ng gusaling ito ay wala na sa San Francisco, wala na sa serbisyo.”
He described how the building was not just brick and mortar, but a living part of the school community. Having served at SFHS for more than two decades himself, he reflected on the generations of students and faculty who passed through its halls:
“Di ko na tanda kung ilang batch subalit ntitiyak ko na s bwat estudyante n minsan ito’y naging Pngalawang tahanan ay may kanya kanya silang ntatanging kwentong Dao.”
Photos attached to the post paint a powerful contrast. one showing the building’s proud exterior in black and white, the other revealing the damage and decay within: collapsed ceilings, charred desks, and abandoned furniture. Once a second home for students and staff alike, Dao is now a fading memory of SFHS’s formative years.
“Salamat sa iyong 45 taon mga d maliilimutang alaala at aral s kbilā ng iyong masaklap n dulo. ”
Even as its walls fall silent, the Dao Building lives on in the stories of those who walked its corridors. More than a building, it was a vessel of dreams, lessons, and friendships. etched permanently in the heart of a school that continues to evolve.
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Facebook post by Mon Aspa
Photos and reflections courtesy of Mon Aspa
