Embedded Files
The History of Elementary Public Education in Baliwag
Public education was brought and started here in the Philippines by the Americans. The instruction of the subjects is in English. Because of the difficulty of communicating with Filipinos, Americans only use ‘sign language’ to understand each other.
Only a few have learned to communicate in English. The most frequently or consistently heard foreign words, imitated or imitated by Filipinos in the Americans practicing in Plaza Publica, are “Gardempul”, “Gardehmet”, “Salambibit”, “Sanabagan”, Hetsolem, hep! ” etc. These words god-damned fool, god damn it, son of a bitch, son of a gun and right shoulder, are mura or "curses" in the English language.
Americans rented large Spanish-type mansions to make schools. The first Filipino teachers to be approved by the municipal council on June 23, 1902 and appointed as public school educators were Raymundo Wisco, Hilarion Fernando, Dorotea Caasim, and Mrs. Petronila Guevarra, better known as “Maestrang Leleng”. Each of them earns Php 25.00 per month.
Education in the American era was ‘compulsory’.
The highest educational institution was renovated or set-up in 1905 in the home of Dr. Juan Carlos son of former Gobernadorcillo Gil Carlos. It is called Baliwag High School even though it is only an intermediate course (up to Grade VII). The first principal was Guy Clinton, followed by W. W. Pettit, who also taught History and Government. The teachers were all Americans then.
It was only in 1906 that Baliwag High School was officially built - even before Malolos. In the same year, the provincial government asked the municipal government to donate or allocate a site to build a ‘provincial high school’, which would be funded by the provincial government. For some unknown reason, the municipality refused to provide for the construction of the Provincial High School ’so it was built in Malolos. H. A. Bordner was the first Schools Division Superintendent.
A private citizen allegedly refused to provide land for the construction of the Provincial High School in Baliwag. No one knows the reason for his refusal, the refusal may be ignorant or innocent or there is a personal reason, but what is certain is that the town of Baliwag has lost the opportunity to become the capital of Bulacan.
Only five (5) were the first group to graduate from high school in Malolos in 1909. They were Miguela Baltazar and Irene San Juan (both from Baliwag), Enrique Ochoa, Gabriel Bernardo and Juan Bernardo (from Bulacan, Bulacan).
In 1913, the concrete Baliwag Central School was built with a million funds allocated by the Lower House for the construction of school buildings throughout the archipelago. These buildings were called “Gabaldon Buildings” named after representative Isauro Gabaldon who proposed the funding of the school buildings.
Three years later, in 1916, the Baliwag Intermediate School was built due to the increasing number of people enrolling to study. These two schools are the first public schools in Baliwag.
HISTORY OF BALIWAG NORTH DISTRICT
When the Baliwag North District or District of Baliwag North became independent and settled in Baliwag North Central School and separated from its long-time partner Baliwag South District or District of Baliwag South, it brought with it eleven ‘children’ (11) to nurture and nurture. Baliwag South left ten (10).
‘Children’ or villages in Baliwag North comprised of primary and elementary schools headed by Mrs. Julia J. Bognot. These include schools in Poblacion / Bagong Nayon, Sabang, Tilapayong, San Roque, Barangka, Tangos-Pagala, Tibag, Subic, Piel, Hinukay and Catulinan.
When Mrs. Bognot retired, other District Supervisors followed her. In addition, she added two more children, Pagala Primary School, which was later merged with Tangos and Paitan Elementary School, which to this day remains under Baliwag North. This was during the former District Supervisor, Dr. Adoracion D. Cruz. Years later, a school in Paitan also became covered by Baliwag North.
The ‘special education center’ of Baliwag North has been temporarily shut down because there are no qualified teachers to handle it, since the teachers who run it have retired. During that time only the District supervisor, Miss Flor T. de la Cruz restored special education classes to the teaching of Miss Maria Caridad B. Monsayac, but most students have ‘visually impairment’ or ‘multiple disabilities’
The Baliwag North District has from then until now soared to the pinnacle of recognition. Most of the principals and teachers who have come here and have risen to success, have all been promoted. Most of the teachers in Baliwag North have also been recognized in various national, regional, branch, provincial and EDDIS competitions. Many of the teachers honored with Bulacan Outstanding Administrators and Teachers are from Baliwag North. The schools in Baliwag North have also gained recognition-academically, physically. In the field of ‘campus journalism’, counselors and young journalists are the ‘team to beat’ because they do not go home in tears every time they participate in a school journalism contest.
The whole of Baliwag North is active in local festivals and activities. It fully supports cultural and civic work.
Proof of this is the countless trophies and certificates of recognition received by its teachers and students. All honors, wins, activities are all recorded on the annual ‘report card’ that is submitted annually.
The association and cooperation of the teachers of Baliwag North District is also unbeatable. It has a legitimate association of teachers, principals and retired teachers, the Baliwag North District Teachers ’Club.
Baliwag North is also home to ALS or Alternative Learning Systems for the education of out-of-school youth. Its managing teacher is Mrs. Purita G. Dela Cruz.
If previously there were no kindergarten classes in public schools, now all schools in Baliwag North District have pre-elementary. Eighteen (18) are all teachers here, but only one is a regular teacher and it is in Subic.
The Gabaldon Building of Baliwag North is one of the few Gabaldon buildings in the Philippines that remains. Leaders and leaders try to preserve the memory of yesterday.
So far, twelve schools of Baliwag North District are now under the leadership of its new District Supervisor, Jennifer E. Quinto, PhD. who assumed her post on January 03, 2022.
HISTORY OF BALIWAG NORTH CENTRAL SCHOOL
In 1907, one of the country’s first legislators, Isauro Gabaldon, wrote the “Gabaldon Law” or Act No. 1801 which provided the funding for the building of modern public schools in the country between 1907 and 1915 with a budget of P1 million.
Acting rapidly , the construction of the school house began. The concrete Baliwag Central School was erected in 1913. The design of the building reflected the Spanish heritage while still embodying modern ideals. Its Gabaldon building has high ceilings with large windows for proper ventilation and lighting for learners. A standard size of 7 by 9 meters for the school building was observed during the construction, regardless of the number of classrooms.
History disclosed that the school was built on a parcel of land with a total size of 13,000 sq.m. Large portions of the land were purchased and the rest was obtained from donations. From 1913 to 1946, only primary grades (Grades 1-4) were taught in Central.
From ‘peace time’ to ‘post liberation’ in 1947, the town of Baliwag had only one complete elementary school — the Baliwag Elementary School located in barrio Sto. Cristo. It is the only school in the province of Bulacan to be given the Principal III category.
As already mentioned, Baliwag Central School (1913) was first built for the primary level and only moved to Baliwag Intermediate School when a Grade V student entered.
Due to the excessive size of enrollment, during the 1968-1969 school year, the two schools were split into two, to become two complete elementary schools. The ‘intermediate school’ was known as Baliuag Elementary Regional Pilot School for Science and Mathematics which is now Baliwag South Central School. The former primary school was called Baliuag Division Special Educational Center, now Baliwag North Central School
This is not the only change that has taken place in the history of elementary education. Separated it into two different districts: the Baliwag North District is managed by its District Supervisor, Mrs. Julia Bognot and the Baliwag South District under the supervision of Mr. Ramonato J. Cruz , District Supervisor.
The two districts continue to play their respective roles, to shape the Baliwag students. For example, in the ‘special education center’ (Baliwag North), students with speech and hearing disabilities are taught ‘sign language’. The teacher who organized the ‘special education class’ was Mrs. Estefania Samaniego-De Guzman, awarded a scholarship to the School for the Deaf and Blind.
On the other hand, all regional seminars and trainings are held at the ‘pilot school for science’ (Baliwag South). And since Baliwag has been granted by law to be the center of government work for the development of the people, all trainings are held here.
From May to December 1969, in three consecutive terms, the pilot school for science graduated 522 ‘trainees’ in various courses. Courses here include dressmaking, tailoring, radio electronics, cosmetology and machine embroidery. Qualified teachers and ‘professionals’ in this field serve as teachers here. The principal stands as training supervisor, District supervisor (then Mrs. Isabel de Borja) is the project director.
Mrs. De Borja has served as teacher (20 years), principal (13 years) and District Supervisor (11 years). All this she spent in serving Baliwag. She retired on April 25, 1970. According to the research, Mr. Esteban Samaniego and Mr. Mariano Bognot also became District Supervisors of Baliwag.
Page updated
Report abuse