SCHOOL HISTORY

Before June of 1995, the then Municipal Mayor, Attorney Arsenio Gonzales saw a vacant and barren land being grazed by some farm animals. It is then that he realized to transform the land into another sanctuary of another secondary education institution since the population of secondary students keeps on increasing each and every year and that, students cannot afford to go to private school and the distance also became one of the problems in order to afford secondary education. And in June of the same year, a school is born, the Gonzaga Comprehensive High School with Rebecca National High School as its mother school.

As a maiden school in the Southern part of Gonzaga, the humble school also started humbly with just 35 enrolees and students. Teachers both from the Local Government Unit and from the Cagayan State University Laboratory High School were sent to teach and cater the needs of the students. Mrs. Visitacion Allan, the then principal of the South Central School became its first mother in terms of acceptance of enrollees and supervisory and managerial sides in order for the proper functioning of the school and later, the responsibilities were given to Mr. Noli E. Licuan, now member of the Sangguniang Bayan of Gonzaga as the first ever officer—in—charge.

In 1996, the first ever recognition rites were held and the first batch of freshmen students were promoted to the first batch of sophomore. In 1997, due to the increasing population of students, additional teachers from all over the locality were hired to teach under the Local and Provincial School Boards. With this, GCHS started to spread its wings and conquer the academic, socio—cultural and sports arenas and won its first Championship Title in the first ever Inter—High School Cheers and Yells Competition during the Patronal Town fiesta and Jingle Competition with Mr. James Jonathan Sabiano as the trainer and coach and 2nd Place in Pagsulat ng Sanaysay with the then transferee, who later became the first Editor—in—chief and SSG President, Michael Verdyck Calija with Mrs. Minerva Somejo as his coach.

To further grow personally, aside from its first winnings in academic, sports and socio—cultural, the then MAPEH and Biology teacher, Mr. James Jonathan Sabiano decided to form the decided to form the first Drum and Lyre of GCHS under the baton of the first star majorette Lenie Manalo and the first Band Majorette, Adelina Gabriel in 1998. In the same year, the first batch of juniors is the creation of the first ever school publication, The CHAIN where Mrs. Glenys Santiago was the first publication adviser where Christine Joy Garma was the first NSPC qualifier in Pagsulat ng Lathalain and Michael Verdyck Calija as the first RSPC qualifier in Copyreading and Headline Writing and bagged 3rd Place in the Regional Super Quiz Bee sponsored by RBC Cable Network alongside with Manahan Viernes and Lei Yen Mae Yadao with the then Ms. Dona Lopez now Mrs. Garo. In addition to these feats, the first CAT Company was created with Levi Agluba as the first Battalion Commander and Mr. Rogelio Sinco as the Commandant. In terms of sports, volleyball teams for boys and girls were formed under the captainship of the siblings, Bryan and Joy Ann Manilay and brought GCHS in the Firs Runner—up spots both in the boys and girls categories during the 1998 Inter—High School Sports Tournament. It is also in the same year where GCHS grabbed the First Runner—up spot in the basketball tournament with the first captain, Resiemar Patil—ao. The skillful and triumphant students of GCHS never stopped soaring in terms of sports when the Manilay siblings, together with Lenie Manalo and Leo Baclig were the first ones to join the Congressional meet in volleyball along with Emelson Bucaneg in baseball.

The year 1999 came which marked the first success of Gonzaga Comprehensive High School as an educational institution, the PIONEER graduates marched on the very stage with the Then Ms. Rosettes Asuncion as the class Valedictorian. After that very memorable and momentous ceremony, GCHS grew bigger every year. Students from all over the municipality’s barangays and poblacion flocked and have chosen it as their prime provider of formal and quality secondary education.

The graduation was a success but the dream of being an independent secondary institution still remained a dream for 18 long years of struggles, but on May 2, 2013, after the relentless and tireless collaborative efforts of the present principal, Mrs. Violeta T. Ibera, municipal mayor, Honorable Carlito F. Pentecostes Jr. and municipal Education Committee Chairman, Honorable Noli E. Licuan and other members of the town’s local legislative and executive branch, the endorsement forwarded to DepEd’s Regional Director, Madam Lourdes G. Angoluan, CESO IV was approved and the former Gonzaga Comprehensive High School was renamed to Gonzaga National High School.

In addition the separation and autonomy from its mother school, the Sta. Clara – Annex was put up with the efforts of again, Mrs. Violeta Ibera, Honorable Carlito F. Pentecostes Jr., Honorable Noli E. Licuan and Barangay Captain, Honorable Hermogenes Baclig with Mr. Walden S. Ventura, Teacher III as the designated Officer – in – charge.

In 2016, Gonzaga National High School joined the rest of the secondary schools in the country by offering the first batch of Senior High School offering TVL-AFA, for technical and vocational track and STEm, ABM and HUMSS for academic track.

Now, with the new name and expansion of Gonzaga National High School, it is again ready to cater the youths of Gonzaga just like it did after 26 years.