HISTORY OF DEPED-NUEVA ECIJA

HISTORY OF DEPED - NUEVA ECIJA


Foreword

            As the brainchild of the newly installed Schools Division Superintendent, this document will trace the history of the Division of Nueva Ecija.

            This contains the pooled accounts by researchers who were inspired by the SDS who posted the challenge to the Education Supervisors in Araling Panlipunan, Mr. Dante Parungao (Elementary) and Dr. Eva Fe Taclibon, Ph.D. (Secondary).

Introduction

            The Philippine Educational System has undergone enormous curricular revision and redirection from the days of the Thomasites to the present just to meet the demands of society and provide quality education.

           

Through the years, The Division of Nueva Ecija withstood the challenges of the times. It has been housed in the Old Capitol Building, Cabanatuan City for several years until it was transferred to its present office just adjacent to its former building.

This edifice had undergone repair, renovation and reconstruction through the able leadership of the former SDS, Mr. Dioscorides D. Lusung who served the division for eight years.

Taking a glimpse of the list of SDS from 1901 to present, seven were Americans and 81 were Filipinos coming from different provinces of the country. SDS Tarcila P. Javier is the 22^nd. (she is the 34^th anyway, that is from 1901 to 2008).

Very notable with the superintendents is that, they are not from Nueva Ecija except a few among them.

            However, each of these educational leaders who were assigned with the division exhibits dedication and commitment to the vision and mission of providing quality education to its clientele.

           

Perhaps, a look at the history of the Philippine Educational System particularly in Nueva Ecija may help sharpen our focus.

Looking Back

Education During Pre-Colonial Period

            There was no formal schooling but schools had managed to exist out of bookless curriculum. Teacher trainings were purely survival and despite of this our ancestors became good farmers, hunters and fisherman.

Education During Spanish Period

            An education Decree of 1863 created the Superior Commission with Primary Instruction headed by a chairman. A primary school for each municipality was created.

            The cura paroco was the first teacher who began the work of educating the natives and their classes were held under the “silong” (space under a floor) of big houses. Education was for the well to do families that could afford to pay. The subjects taught in the parochial school were Religion, Spanish language, Reading, Writing and Arithmetic.

            The first classes in the primary level were held in the municipal hall and in the barrios; some classes were also conducted inside the vistas (chapel). Education this time was free and open to the masses, but at first the American Teachers find it difficult to convince parents to send their children to school.

Education during American Period

            The first group of American teachers was part of the big group of teachers brought to the Philippines by the U.S. Army Thomas in 1901 and in September 1, 1901 16 “Thomasites” were assigned to Nueva Ecija.

            The American teachers undertook the training of a group of native students. From their first classes they were able to accelerate the bright students and gave training in reading, writing, and arithmetic. Emphasis was focused on industrial arts for boys and domestic science for girls. After two years, the students were declared “graduates” and were given teaching assignments. Part of the 63 Novo Ecijano who were assigned to the primary level were Francisca Trinidad, Ursula Sevilla, Cipriana Lopez, Jacinto Ayroso and Gregorio Trinidad.

            The Philippine commission appointed Fred W. Atkinson to prepare a draft on education and on January 21, 1901, after several months of gathering information the Philippine Commission approved it as Education Act No. 74 paving the way for the establishment of the Bureau of Public Instruction headed by a General Superintendent whose jurisdiction covered ten schools division and later increased its number, each division under the supervision of a division superintendent.

            On September 1, 1901 Mr. T.W. Thompson was assigned as Acting Division Superintendent of Nueva Ecija and later in Ilocos Sur on April 1907. He was also appointed as Acting Superintendent of the Philippine Normal School.

The Elementary School

            The first classes conducted in 1901 were in the primary level which consisted of four years. After one year, the exceptional or bright students were accelerated to the intermediate level which consisted of three years.

            In 1902, Mr. L.C. Highley, an American Teacher assigned in San Isidro, Nueva Ecija conducted a number of classes in the intermediate grades. Pupil attendance began to increase in 1903, and in 1904, Superintendent T.W. Thomson of the Division of Nueva Ecija began to plan the construction of a building. The Insular Government provided a loan of P15,000 to the province of Nueva Ecija through the help of Gov. Epifanio delos Santos. The school site was donated by Crispulo Sideco. Through the efforts of Sideco, Supt. Thomas got not only a building for the intermediate grades but a high school to boot, the Wright Institute.

            In October 7, 1905, one of the first public high schools in the Philippines outside of Manila was opened in San Isidro. It was first called Wright Institute in honor of Governor-General Luke E. Wright and later was named Nueva Ecija High School. In 1972, Nueva Ecija High School was transferred to Cabanatuan City.

The Curriculum

            The intermediate curriculum consisted of Grammar and Reading, Arithmetic, History, Drawing, Domestic Science for the girls and Wood Working for the boys.

            The high school curriculum was purely academic subjects such as English, History, Economics, Mathematics, Biology, Physics and Latin.

            The faculty line up for the intermediate department consisted of Filipino teachers, namely Filomeno Jacinto, Eusebio Maniaul, Sixto P. Lustre, Eugenio Ramos and Francisca Bunuan who was the first Filipino to be appointed principal of the Wright Institute.

            In 1906, Clinton D. Whipple, the second Division Superintendent of schools of Nueva Ecija reported that 99 schools already opened. He also included that the number of Novo Ecijano teachers increased to 136 and enrollment in the province increased to 10, 748.

            In 1907, Isauro Gabaldon introduced his first educational bill before the Phil. Assembly in 1907, known as the Gabaldon Act of 1907; it appropriated one million pesos for the construction of public schools throughout the country. And because of this Education Act from 99 schools in 1906 it increased to 155 in 1918.

            The continued effort of the provincial government to resolve the problems in education in Nueva Ecija finally got its headway when the Insular government released additional funds for the acquisition of schools sites and the construction of school buildings in 1928. The first two school sites acquired in 1928 were allocated for the construction of the Insular provincial high schools, namely; the Nueva Ecija Trade School and the Nueva Ecija High School. These schools were located in the capital city of Cabanatuan. Twenty-two more schools sites were acquired in the same year with a minimum land area of one hectare for the central schools, and one hundred-seventeen site for the Pangilinan.

            The total number of school sites acquired by the provincial government towards the end of the American rule was 182 with estimated value of P80, 152. 02 broken down as follows:

            Provincial and Insular School Sites                            P12,600.00

            Municipal Central School Sites                                   P31,311.04

            Municipal Barrio School Sites                                    P36,240.49

            Seventy four of the schools were acquired through donation; ninety were purchased and eighteen by reservation. Resumption of the construction of school buildings base on standard and special plan (either concrete or semi-concrete) began in 1928. a total of 27 school buildings were constructed at the total cost of P344, 026.19. The following year, 22 additional buildings were built based on the special plan. These new school buildings with a total number of 76 classrooms cost P327, 802.10 by 1931 a total of 182 concrete and semi-concrete school buildings were constructed throughout the province. Of these numbers, 52 were central elementary school; 128 barrio elementary schools; and 32 secondary schools.

            This widespread acceptance and eagerness of the Novo Ecijanos to obtain formal education can be interpreted as a positive reaction toward a particular American colonial policy.

            Through Executive Order No. 10 dated April 12, 1907, Governor General James F. Smith ordered that the 658 hectares of forested public domain was truly reserved for Central Luzon Agricultural School. One June 10, 1909 the school finally opened with thirty students and three faculty members (2 Americans and 1 Filipino). However, five months after the opening, a strong typhoon destroyed the buildings which were made out of light materials. It was Kilmer Moe who introduced a lot of changes such as expansion and using strong materials for the schools house. Student dormitories, a superintendent office, a house for American Teachers, a machine shop and a sawmill were constructed.

            In 1925, the Philippine Legislature passed Act 3162 and 3196 which created the Board of Educational Survey. This was headed by Dr. Paul A. Monroe and according to his report Central Luzon Agricultural School was the best agricultural institute in the country in terms of training and instructional facilities.

 

                       

The Wright Institute, one of the first high schools outside Manila, now the San Isidro Central Elementary School.

        High school students, three in cadet uniform, at the Wright Institute.

                        A group of high school girls of the Wright Institute

     An American teacher in San Isidro during the early years of the American Period with a native teacher.

Education during the Japanese Period

            A big setback happened in the educational system in Nueva Ecija. Many teachers stopped teaching because of fear, classes were always disrupted and the school children studied under very poor conditions.

Education during the Post War Period

            After the Liberation, DepEd – Nueva Ecija just like any other institution rose up from the ruins of war. There are 17 Division Superintendents from different places who were assigned to DepEd – Nueva Ecija after Mr. Elias M. Caray whose term started from 1945 to 1948. There was 3 Division Superintendents who stayed to their post for 8 years the longest term so far. They were Mariano R. Guevarra of Cabiao, Nueva Ecija, Gerardo D. Erguisa of Tarlac and Dioscorides D. Lusung of Pampanga. A short term period was given by Antonio Javier (1962), Eulogio De Guzman (1966), Anastacio C. Ramento (1975), Gavino J. Mabagos (1976) and Edgardo S. Erguisa (1986).

            At present (2008), DepEd-Nueva Ecija welcomes its new Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Tarcila P. Javier who hails from San Fernando, Pampanga.

DIVISION OF NUEVA ECIJA SUPERINTENDENTS

NAME	YEAR
1. T.W. Thompson	1901 – 1907
2. Clinton D. Whipple	1907
3. E.A. Cooldington	1908
4. Clinton D. Whipple	1908 – 1910
5. Arch W. Milllar	1910
6. Clinton D. Whipple	1910 – 1918
7. John M. Roberts	1918
8. Levis P. Willis	1918 – 1922
9. Luther Parker	1922 – 1926
10. Charles V. Cline	1926 – 1931
11. Prudencio Langkawan	1931 – 1936
12. Apolonio M. Ramos	1936 – 1945
13. Cenon Monasterial	1945
14. Estanislao R. Lopez	1945 – 1948
15. Elias M. Caray	1948 – 1953
16. Miguel B. Gaffud	1953 – 1954
17. Gregorio Lardizabal	1954 – 1956
18. Alfredo J. Andal	1956 – 1961
19. Antonio Javier	1962
20. Jose C. Buddul	1962 – 1965
21. Mariano R. Guevarra	1965 – 1966
22. Eulogio de Guzman	1966
23. Mariano R. Guevarra	1966 – 1972
24. Anastacio C. Mamerto	1975
25. Cecilio R. Angulo	1975 – 1976
26. Gavino J. Mabagos	1976
27. Edgardo S. Erguiza	1986
28. Ester C. Baylon	1986 – 1989
29. Feliciana Santiago	1989 – 1991
30. Gerardo D. Erguiza	1982 – 1986, 1991 – 1995
31. Conrado E. Castillo	1995 – 2000
32. Dioscorides D. Lusung, CESO IV	2000 – 2008
33. Tarcila P. Javier, CESO V	2008 - Present

List of Barrios with Primary Schools, Teachers, and Salaries, Nueva Ecija 1902

Barrios	Teacher Assigned	Salary
Santor of Bongabon	Fruto Aquino	P25.00
Aduas, Cabanatuan	Expectacion Tombo	25.00
Sumacab, Cabantuan	Regina Calara	10.00
San Fernando, Cabiao	Clemente Romero	10.00
Entablado, Cabiao	Cayetano De Roxas	10.00
San Nicolas, Gapan	Benito Yamsu	15.00
		20.00
Pambuan, Gapan	Ernesto Maniaul	15.00
Papaya, Peñaranda	Jose Lorenzana	15.00
Tiquio, San Antonio	Vicente Tecson	10.00
San Francisco, San Antonio	Ismael Cruz	8.00
San Francisco, San Antonio	Antero Pallagud	8.00
San Francisco, San Antonio	Gregorio Fernando	10.00
	Lorenzo Tinio	10.00
Alua, San Isidro	Pablo Bunoon	10.00
Sto. Cristo, San Isidro	Francisco de Borja	10.00
San Isidro, Malapit, S.I.	Lope Nagazo	10.00
	Francisco Ileto	10.00
Tabon, San Isidro	Valeriano Tranquilian	10.00
Manga, San Isidro	Canuto Sarmiento	10.00
San Anton, San Leonardo	Maximo Saison	15.00

                        Source: Report of the Philippine Government, 1902

                                      (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1903) p. 904

List of Towns with Primary Schools, Teachers, Salaries in Nueva Ecija, 1902

Towns	Teacher Assigned	Salary
Aliaga	Blas Alejandro	P25.00
Bongabon	Lorenzo Kahukom	25.00
Cabanatuan	Valentine Castelo	25.00
	Expectacion Tombo	25.00
Cabio	Faustino Mesina	25.00
	Consolacion Velasquez	18.00
Cuyapo	Clodualdo Ringas	40.00
	Perpetuo Pestaño	20.00
Gapan	Paulino Lingangan	20.00
Jaen	Fedrica Cruz	10.00
	Maria Tuazon	10.00
	Ariston Aguila	10.00
Licab	Teodoro Ermita	25.00
Nampicuan	Antonio Juaquin	20.00
Peñaranda	Lino Saison	30.00
San Antonio	Anacleto Villarosa	25.00
	Juli Ortiz	8.00
San Jose	Vicente Lopez	15.00
San Juan de Guimba	Anastacio Tobias	20.00
San Isidro	Patricio Espiritu	25.00
	Antero Gempesan	25.00
San Leonardo	Alvaro Ventusi	25.00
Santa Rosa	Ruperto Casal	25.00
Zaragosa	Maximo Saulo	15.00
	Feliciano Ayroso	20.00

                        Source: Report of the Philippine Commission, 1902

                                      (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1903) p. 964

UNTITLED

Name of American Teachers	Place of Assignment
C.A. Belkap	Cuyapo
W.C. Damon	Jaen
Levi C. Highley	San Isidro
Annie S. Irtland	Peñaranda
J.E. Kirtland	Peñaranda
Arch. W. Miller	San Isidro
John R. Mitchell	San Antonio
E.J. Murphy	San Juan de Guimba
John J. O’ Donnel, Jr.	Licab
C.W. Olson	San Jose
C.D. Schell	Gapan
R.E. Stallings	Bongabon
Dora Thomson	San isidro
Fresenius Van Nuys	Cabanatuan

                        Source: Report of the Philippine Commission, 1902

                                      (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1903) p. 988

END NOTES

1. Leonila C. Gonzales, The History of San Isidro, Told and Retold, Quezon City, Philippine: National Printing Co., Inc.
2. Cesar C. Baroman, History of Nueva Ecija, 1896 -1946
3. History of DepEd – Philippines, Internet
4. DepEd – Nueva Ecija, 2008