HISTORY OF ABULUG SCHOOL OF FISHERIES

Abulug, one of the municipalities of Cagayan Province, lies along the shoreline of Babuyan Channel. The Abulug River runs like a backbone down its length. Along its riverside are marshes were nipa palms grow and aquatic animals thrive. Most of its populace are farmers and fishermen implementing the traditional methods of farming and fishing technologies. Though harvests are completely low, they enhanced an environment free from pollutants.

To harness the productivity of the place, the ABULUG SCHOOL OF FISHERIES was created and established by virtue of House Bill No. 3549, otherwise known as Republic Act No. 3733, sponsored by former Congressman Benjamin T. Ligot. It was approved and enacted into law by the Fifth Congress of the Republic of the Philippines in June 22, 1963.

Ten years after its establishment, the school formally opened in June 1973 through the collaborative efforts of Mr. Armando B. Cortes, Superintendent of the Aparri College of Fisheries and the Municipal Council of Abulug headed by Mayor Inocencio Maguddatu. The school had an initial enrolment of 49 first year students with two teachers and four support staff. Mr. Godofredo Galinato was designated as Teacher-In-Charge.

At first, the students were housed in a two-room nipa makeshift owned by Atty. Leoncio M. Puzon situated along Rizal Street. Classes were held there for more than a year while negotiations on the school site went on.

In the School Year 1974 – 1975, after the usual negotiations and coordination, the school settled to a lot donated by Don Cornelio de Ocampo (deceased) through his children. The number of teachers and support staff increased with the appointment of Mr. Romeo Astronomia as the first Vocational School Principal.

In the same year, a temporary three-room building which served as Administrative Office and classrooms was constructed. Simultaneously, the speedy clearing of the school site for the excavation of the first two fishpond compartments were made possible through the active leadership of the principal and the full support and cooperation of the pioneer students and teachers.

However, Mr. Astronomia did not stay long. He transferred to San Joaquin School of Fisheries, San Joaquin, Iloilo the following school year, hence, Mr. Godofredo Galinato was again designated Teacher-In-Charge in the School Year 1975 – 1976. Eventually, he was not able to make it through the end of the school year because of his untimely demise in February 1976. Ms. Wilma R. Alviar, one of the pioneer teachers took his place.

The period from 1973 - 1976 was of back aching and brain-wracking year for the pioneers. They had to work hard to solve the problems that usually confront a newly established institution.

From June 1973 to July 1976, the school was administered and supervised by Mr. Armando B. Cortes. It was in August 1976 that the school was turned over to the DECS under the direct supervision of the Schools Division Superintendent. In August of the same year, Mr. Bonifacio O. Jaravata, College Instructor of Aparri College of Fisheries was appointed as the School Principal.

From 1976 thereon; several permanent buildings were constructed such as Eastern Five - Classroom building, a two-storey Administrative Building, Principal’s cottage and a four-door cottage for teachers and employees, garage and a canteen. The former store room was also renovated into a Home Economics and Fish Preservation Building. Likewise, the school site was expanded through the purchase of 4.6 hectares agricultural land which is adjacent to the west of the school plan.

Due to the growing population, the number of teachers and staff increased. Several new positions were created thus, in the School Year 1981 – 1982 two of the pioneer teachers were promoted, Ms. Wilma R. Alviar as Master Teacher 1 and Mrs. Marilou T. Perez as Head of the Related Subjects Department. In October of the same year, the school together with the Fishery schools in the Region were placed under the direct administration and supervision of the Regional Office through a Regional Office Order No. 7, Series 1982.

Sometime in the School Year 1989 – 1990, ASF was identified and included among the 110 Science and Technology Schools Network in the country, a Science Education Program of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). The inclusion of the school in the Special Science Program was made possible through the initiative of Hon. Leoncio M. Puzon, Congressman of the Second District of Cagayan, who at that time was a member of the Committee on Science and Technology in the House of Representatives. These improvements were attributed to the active leadership of Mr. Bonifacio O. Jaravata who retired in March 31, 1992.

Mr. Florencio G Gauat, Head Teacher III of the Vocational Department took over the Officer – in – Charge till August 10, 1992 when he was finally appointed as Secondary School Principal. Through his stewardship, ASF continued its voyage toward the realization of its mission. But it was not an easy voyage because at this point in time, finances became a constraint due to the rationalization of budget in the DECS. As a consequence, the school was no longer given appropriation for capital outlay and for other physical facilities development.

Through the initiative of the school head, the school established linkages with the GO’s and the NGO’s as well in order to source out funds for the maintenance, development, improvement and acquisition of prioritized school facilities.

In the School Year 1992-1993, the school was given the go signal by the DOST to formally launch the Special Science Curriculum offering, with its pilot class composed of nine boys and twelve girls. As provided for in the Memorandum of Agreement between the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and Department of Education Culture and Sports (DECS), the school was a recipient of a Model Science Laboratory Building which was later on equipped with the latest Science Laboratory apparatuses and equipment.

Simultaneous with the development and modernization of instruction facilities, the professional growth of teachers was also augmented. Ninety percent (90%) of the teachers were recipients to the scholarship grants of the DOST wherein they finished Certificate Courses in Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

With the steady growth of the school in terms of enrolment and facilities, the number of permanent personnel composing the teaching and facilitative staff increased. Several new positions were created and most existing positions were upgraded while others were reclassified. Dr. Priscilla T. Pacis, Mrs. Maura M. Casafrancisco and Mr. Felix U. Abugan were promoted as Master Teachers. Mrs. Felicidad M. Gauat was also promoted as Head of the Vocational Department in March 1997.

The Vocational Program was also enhanced. The Principal initiated the clearing and development of the 4.6 hectare agricultural land. With the cooperative efforts of the male teachers and employees, the area was gradually transformed into a productive farm. With this seeming success in agricultural venture, Agronomy was offered as a new field of specialization among third and fourth year students in the school year 1997 – 1998.

One very trying moment in the history of the Abulug School of Fisheries as a secondary institution, was when the Technical Educational and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) acquired jurisdiction over it among 225 Technical Vocational Schools in the country on April 1, 1997. This was pursuant to DECS Special Provision Item No. 18, p80 of the General Appropriations Act and by the virtue of a Memorandum of Agreement between DECS and the TESDA. This created so much apprehensions and anxieties not only among the teachers but also the students and other linkages as well. Despite of the confusion created by this event, everything went on smoothly for the whole ASF family. Finally, last April 1, 1998 the school was given back/turned over to the fold of the DECS by the virtue of DECS-TESDA Joint Memorandum Circular NO. 1, Series 1998.

Year went by and ASF soared high in terms of physical facilities improvement and more so in the academic development of students through their active participation in academic contests as far as Regional Level. June 20, 2015 was the moment when the School Principal, Mr. Florencio G. Gauat, retired from public service. He was succeeded by a brilliant and hardworking woman, Mrs. Alicia A. Ubasa, the former Head of the ASF Science-Math Department who became Officer-In-Charge of Claveria Nationa High School, Claveria, Cagayan. As challenged by her predecessors, she continued to build the good name of Abulug SOF to her best. The school offers Senior High School Program which opened along with other public and private schools offering same curriculum nationwide.

It was on August 2017 when the School Principal, Mrs. Alicia A. Ubasa, was transferred to Abulug National Rural and Vocational High School (ANRVHS). She swapped with Mr. Emmanuel P. Pacis, the Principal of ANRVHS.

Mr. Pacis retired on August 2020 after his three productive years in Abulug School of Fisheries. From September 2020 to Present, the Head Teacher III of the Related Subjects Department, Mrs. Josephine B. Amayun, was designated as Officer – in – Charge.

Unlike the previous school years which usually start in June, classes for the School Year 2020 – 2021 started on October 5, 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Today, the ASF family is faced with even greater challenge – the challenge of moving on to greater level of achievement by providing the youth adequate, reliable, modern and affordable quality educational services.

SAIL ON ABULUG SCHOOL OF FISHERIES!!!