Sto. Tomas National High School - SPA

In consonance with House Bill no. 2817, dubbed as the Special Program in the Arts (SPA) Act of 2004, introduced by Hon. Roque R. Ablan, Jr. during the first regular session of the 13th Congress, the Department of Education (DepED) has intensified its implementation on the SPA which is a nationwide program for students with potentials or talents in the Arts, namely: Music (Vocals and Instrumental), Visual Arts, Theater Arts, Media Arts, Creative Writing (English and Filipino), and Dance. Pilot school in every region was selected to pilot and implement this program. In the Division of Davao del Norte, Schools Division Superintendent Aurora Cubero, through the Education Program Supervisor for MAPEH Cristy Epe, chose Sto. Tomas National High School, with School Principal Dr. Aser M. Samsona, to be the satellite school for the implementation.

It traces its pioneering implementation back in school year 2005 - 2006, with two sections of 79 1st Year students, purposively selected with consent to be part of the program geared toward honing the artistic competence and inclination of students. After a decade of implementation, it finally received its recognition as an implementer of the Special Program in the Arts on January 9, 2017 through the Special Order No. 003, s. 2017 signed by Regional Director Atty. Alberto T. Escobarte, CESO IV. More than a decade of dedication to the young artist of today and of the future generation and of service to the cultural community, the Special Program in the Arts of Sto. Tomas National High became a hallmark of cultural preservation, innovation, production.