Towards Excellence

The tremendous increase in enrolment of existing public high school in Aparri became an eye opener for the LGU Aparri. Spearheaded by Hon. Mayor Ismael V. Tumaru & Aparri East District Supervisor Dr. Roselily E. Padre, conceived, planned and made feasibility studies for the establishment of a National High School in Aparri.

Hence, the Department of Education Culture and Sports Region 02 Director, Dr. Teresita G. Domalanta, Division of Cagayan Superintendent, Mr. Mario L. Ramirez, the Hon. Mayor Ismael V. Tumaru , Aparri East District Supervisor Dr. Roselily E. Padre, LGU Chairman of Education. Mr. Reginald Tamayo, TESDA Vocational School Administration, Mr. Vicente R. Paguila, Lal-lo National High School Principal, Mr. Leandro C. Bacuyag and the Provincial Government through 1st District Congressman, Hon. Juan Ponce Enrile Jr., worked hand-in-hand in the realization of this goal.

Because human, physical as well as financial resources were not readily available, the school has yet to be attached to a very stable and established school. Since Lal-lo National High School was qualified to become the mother school, Mr. Leandro C. Bacuyag accepted it as its annex. The school then, has to bear the name Lal-lo National High School-Maura Annex.

Through Municipal Resolution No. 97-754, requesting the Department of Education Culture and Sports for the establishment of a National High School in the Municipality, the Department of Education Culture and Sports approved its opening last June SY1998 and was temporarily housed at Aparri East Central School for two years. Requesting him to work on the Congressional Act Establishing a National High School in the municipality, The Honorable Jack Enrile Jr., Congressman of the First District of Cagayan, worked for its realization.            .

Maura Annex began its operation in June 1998.

With only one hundred four (104) students from Aparri School of Arts and Trades. Said students were divided into two sections, Narra and Acacia. Three teachers from the main schools, Mrs. Teresita Rosales, Mrs. Daria Alonzo and Mrs. Nimfa Alagao volunteered to take over the two sections while waiting for the teachers to be deployed in the school. After a week, Mrs. Rosales and Mrs. Alonzo went back to the main school when Ms. Jonah Joyce R. Abuyuan reported as a volunteer teacher. Likewise Ms. Elvie Tumaru reported on the last week of June 1998. For six months, they were compensated by the principal, Mr. Leandro C. Bacuyag. On Nov. 1998, three teachers were given permanent items, namely, Ms. Jonah Joyce R. Abuyuan, Ms. Elvie Tumaru and Mrs. Roselyn dela Cruz.

School year 1999-2000 started with one hundred four (104) enrolees, forty-four first year (44) students and (60) sixty students for the 2nd year class. Through the initiative of the LGU headed by Hon. Mayor Ismael V. Tumaru, it was on this year that a three classroom building donated by Hon. Congressman Jack Ponce Enrile Jr. was constructed on a one-hectare lot donated by Ex-Mayor Miguel C.Say at Maura, Aparri, Cagayan beside the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.

With the assistance of the Local and Provincial government and the PTCA Officers and the members headed by Mr. Valeriano Alambat, problems were minimized and given immediate solutions.

Year 2000 marked another milestone for the Annexians because finally, it was in this year the school continued its operation in its own campus at Maura, Aparri, Cagayan.

There was a sudden increase in the enrolment for the SY 2001-2002 due to the gradual high school phase out program of the Aparri School of Arts and Trades. Its conversion from DECS to TESDA resulted to four hundred ten (410) enrolees from the previous ninety-eight (98) students.

Because of the sudden increase in the enrolment, Mr. Vicente R, Paguila, in agreement with the scheme presented by the Local School Board, sent some of his teachers to help the school meet the required number of teachers to teach the 410 enrolees. Aside from ASAT teachers, Ms. Eva Garcia and Mrs. Agnes Tabisola, teachers from Iguig National High School and the Logac National High School respectively were also borrowed to render their service at Maura Annex. Effective November 2000, two teachers namely Greg Tuvilla, a volunteer teacher paid through canteen fund and Miriam Colosoga were given permanent items.

In preparation and anticipation of the increase in enrollment for the following year, a ten (10) classroom building donated by Hon. Congressman Juan Ponce Enrile Jr. through the initiative of Hon. Mayor Ismael V. Tumaru was being put up. With a campus of its own, the school was able to host the November 16, 2000 Triangular Meet. It was also in this year when the school had its official publication, the Sand Dunes.

In response to the school’s needs in sustaining its operation, the school became a recipient of three hundred (300) tablet arm chairs from the DECS Regional Office through the Asst. Regional Director and School’s Division Superintendent, Dr. Teresita G. Domalanta.

Through the initiative of Hon. Florencio L. Vargas, Governor of Cagayan, a waiting shed in front of the school was also constructed by Maura Barangay Council headed by Barangay Captain Jaime Abad.

The first-ever JS Prom was also worth noting because it was attended by the achiever of the coveted award for Excellence on Local Governance, Hon. Ismael V. Tumaru and the very supportive and active principal, Mr. Leandro C. Bacuyag.

For SY 2001-2002, the school’s population once again increased, but Aparri School of Arts and Trades reopened its high school. Consequently, out of the six hundred seventy three (673) enrolees, one hundred seven (107) 2nd year students were requested to transfer to ASAT to minimize overcrowding of students. It is in this school year that the school was in its full blast of operation since it already catered all year levels.

By June 2001, the teaching staff composed only of five (5) permanent teachers. However, by mid of July 2001, 13 teachers were hired by the Provincial School Board and the Local School Board.

The school started sending students to different competitions which eventually made the school being known through the awards received by the students.

March 2002 was indeed a remarkable event for the school held its first-ever Commencement Exercises and Recognition Program at the Aparri Public Gymnasium with only twenty nine graduates who are pioneers of Lal-lo National High School-Maura Annex. Hon. Edgar R. Lara, always being supportive to the school was the school’s Guest speaker.

Another year began with a gradual increase in the school’s population. The more than five hundred enrolment in the previous year jumped into seven hundred fifty eight (758).

As a growing school, Lal-lo National High School – Maura Annex expands fast and in the quest of quality education, four new teachers again paid by the Local and Provincial school Board joined the faculty. Effective June 2002, Mrs. Vina Abadilla, Mrs. Imelda Tumaru, Mr. Romeo Catubag and Ms. Armelyn Marabut were give extension items. However, on October 2002, Ms. Armelyn transferred to Ballesteros and had a swapping agreement with Mrs. Mildred Acebedo.

Through the initiative of TIC, Mrs. Nimfa Alagao Computer Education Program was offered to the students in order for them to cope with technological sophistication.

Likewise, to enhance teaching effectiveness all teachers of Lal-lo National High School – Maura Annex had undergone a one day Follow through Training Program on the implementation of the Basic Education Curriculum on October 2002 at LNHS-Main. Enrichment Training on Student’s Assessment for English, Math and Science was attended by the whole teaching force.

Students excelled in different fields of endeavors. Joel Indong, a 3rd year student made it to the National level when he was announced 2nd place winner in the National Student Technologists and Entrepreneurs Skills Olympic Competition held at Lahug, Cebu City on January 29, to February 2, 2003. Auvifer Ayuyang, a 3rd year student bagged the championship award in the Provincial Poster making contest held at Capitol Hills, Tuguegarao City but was disqualified to join the Regional competition because he was under age. Jayson Malazzab, a 2nd year student ranked 2nd place in the long jump and 3rd place in the Triple Jump competition during the CAVRAA meet on March 3-7, 2003 at Quirino Grandstand, Cabarroguis, Quirino. LNHS-Maura Annex volleyball team became a champion during the Inter-High School tournament here in Aparri.

The Department of Education Regional office donated one hundred (100) tablet arm chairs to Maura Annex through the initiative of the principal, Mr. Leandro C. Bacuyag and the TIC, Mrs. Nimfa A. Alagao. In addition, another four (4) Classroom building was built to accommodate all the incoming first year students through the CDF of Hon. Congressman Juan Ponce Enrile Jr. and the initiative of Hon. Mayor Shalimar D. Tumaru.

It was also in this year when the school celebrated its 5th anniversary with a mass, playground demonstrations and Coronation of Campus King and Queen which effected to the concreting of the school fence initiated by the PTCA headed by the president, Mr. Jimmy Abad.

In its 2nd Commencement Exercises last April 08, 2003 at the Aparri Gymnasium, the school was able to produce 38 graduates accepted and confirmed by Asst. Superintendent, Dr. Antonio L. Nang with Regional Supervisor for Social Studies, Mrs. Linda Cornell as the Guest Speaker.

As expected, SY 2003-2004 was again an increase in enrolment totaling to eight hundred ninety two (892) from the previous 758. This time, the Provincial School Board hired ten teachers, as well as the Local School Board with two teachers.

The Association of Ministers in Aparri in their desire to help the school also hired one teacher to render her services to the school.

The school started adopting the Portfolio Rubrics Assessment as a way of evaluating the students’ performances in school. This is in connection to the trainings acquired by the TIC, Mrs. Nimfa Alagao when she participated in the Dep Ed PNU Short Term Scholarship Programs on school based evaluation on May 2003. Furthermore, teachers of Maura Annex had undergone a three days in-service seminar on the implementation of Rubrics Assessment on October 29-31, 2003 at Lallo National High School-Main.

Finally, the construction of the ten-class room building of Maura Annex was completed on September 2003 which is now utilized by 2nd year and 3rd year students. A basketball court, a joint project of Maura Barangay Council and Maura Sangguniang Kabataan initiated by Barangay Captain Jaime M. Abad was also constructed in the school campus.

With the active participation of the PTCA of LNHS-Maura Annex headed by the President for SY 2003-2004, Mr. Dario Miravel, the concreting of the school’s fence continued and reached twenty two (22) spans.

Talented students of Maura Annex joined several activities which brought honor and glory to the school especially when Auvifer Ayuyang bagged the 2nd place in Editorial Cartooning in the Regional Press Conference which qualified him to the National Press Conference.

Having been a beneficiary of personal computers for public high schools, LNHS-Maura Annex received ten (10) brand new computer units from the Department of Trade and Industry through the endorsement of Hon. Congressman Juan Ponce Enrile Jr. and DTI Secretary Mar Roxas as a part of the department PC’s for Public School Project Phase 2.

The school’s 3rd Commencement Exercises had one hundred eighty six (186) graduates, and honored guest was Dep Ed Region 02 Education Supervisor II, Mr. Basilio Bacuyag.

Right after the graduation rites, a four (4)-classroom building donated by the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce (FFCCC) members Mr. and Mrs. William Gatchalian was officially turned-over to the school on March 31, 2004.

SY 2004-2005 with a new Officer In-charge. On June 21, 2005, first day of classes, Asst. Div. Supt. Ermelinda Belarmino, Dr. Winifreda Malenab, ES-I Social Studies, Dr. Romeo Castillejos, District Supervisor of Gattaran West and Principal Leandro C. Bacuyag formally introduced and endorsed Dr. Rizalina P. Manuela, ES-I Secondary Mathematics as the new Officer In-charge after former Teacher In-charge Mrs. Nimfa A. Alagao turned-over her duties and responsibilities.

Because of the eagerness of Dr. Manuela to help the school move ahead towards the right direction, the first General PTCA was conducted on June 26, 2005 (Saturday) primarily to introduce to the parents and at the same time to encourage them to work with her and the teachers in the attainment of the school’s objectives. Aside from this, she also introduced the teachers as well as the twelve volunteer teachers who were later appointed as PSB teachers, and three (3) locally funded teachers. Aside from working for the hiring of teachers Dr. Manuela also initiated different programs that provided the teachers basic trainings to improve their teaching skills better. Although loaded with work from the Division Office, she worked hard for the production of needed documents for the school to be separated.

The school year was also welcomed by typhoon Igme. Classes were suspended for a week because the typhoon flooded the entirety of the school ground, but notwithstanding the harsh wind and rain, the teachers were still able to attend the Oath taking Ceremony of the newly elected Municipal Mayor and Councilmen last July 2, 2004 at the Aparri gymnasium.

On July 12, 2004, Mrs. Rose Espergal, permanent teacher from Ballesteros High School was officially accommodated at the LNHS-MA by virtue of the swapping agreement with Mrs. Elvie Rubino, TLE teacher. Said agreement was later approved September 15, 2004. Aside from Mrs. Espergal, Mrs. Ginalyn de la Cruz, PSB teacher formerly deployed at the Bulala Annex was also transferred to Maura Annex.

To show that they were eager to improve the school, parents of batch 2003-2004 finally decided to start their graduation project last July 27, 2004. Ballusters for the concrete wall at the façade of the school were finally completed. The PTCA headed by Mr. Reynaldo Oñate, approved the hiring of security guards, and two computer teachers, and before the school year ended, the PTCA was able to put up a stage for the school which was utilized during the 4th Commencement Exercises.

Mr. Edward D. Garcia, Faculty president and 2005 Most Outstanding Teacher was finally appointed as Teacher In-charge in June 2005. With his supervision and administration, different activities and programs were undertaken to provide the school its staff and students quality services in the attainment of quality education. He then, sought the help of the Local School Board, the Association of Ministers of Aparri for additional teacher items which effected to a bigger number of teaching staff.

It was in this SY 2005-2006 when the SSG put up a guard house and the PTCA still headed by Mr. Reynaldo Oñate to realign its fund for the construction of a gymnasium into a covered walk which runs from the gate to the 4th year building.

Approved on September 15, 2004. Aside from Mrs. Espergal, Mrs. Ginalyn de la Cruz, PSB teacher formerly deployed at the Bulala Annex, was also transferred to Maura Annex.

To show that they were eager to improve the school, parents of batch 2003-2004 finally decided to start their graduation project last July 27, 2004. Balusters for the concrete wall at the façade of the school were finally completed. The PTCA headed by Mr. Reynaldo Oñate, approved the hiring of security guards, and two computer teachers, and before the school year ended, the PTCA was able to put up a stage for the school which was utilized during the 4th Commencement Exercises.

Mr. Edward D. Garcia, Faculty president and 2005 Most Outstanding Teacher was finally appointed as Teacher In-charge in June 2005. With his supervision and administration, different activities and programs were undertaken to provide the school, its staff and students quality services in the attainment of quality education. He then, sought the help of the Local School Board, the Association of Ministers of Aparri for additional teacher items which effected to a bigger number of teaching staff.

It was in this SY 2005-2006 when the SSG put up a guard house and the PTCA still headed by Mr. Reynaldo Oñate to realign its fund for the construction of a gymnasium into a covered walk which runs from the gate to the 4th year building.

Besides school physical improvement, Mr. Garcia never ceased to work hand in hand with the principal, Mr. Leandro Bacuyag and the Local School Board for the finalization of documents for the school to become independent, and on September 22, 2007, the school finally attained its dream when it was finally separated from the mother school with Mr. Garcia as the Principal.

The Lal-lo National High School – Maura Annex is unfolding another page of its history as it comes to the finalization of its dream. From its humble beginning now rises a Giant in the making. Lal-lo National High School – Maura Annex now Aparri East National High School, stands proud of its history as it journeys to the attainment of quality education.