From small beginnings come great things!

This line greatly suits the humble beginnings of Illuru Barangay High School, now Illuru National High School for it started from scratch to a well-structured school. A school which is now considered the citadel of knowledge to more than five hundred students coming from the fourteen feeder-barangays namely: Illuru Norte, Illuru Sur, Gaggabutan West, Gaggabutan East, Cambabangan, Nanauatan, Pasingan, Masi, San Juan, Villa Cruz, Batu, Poblacion, Angguan, Mabbang and Duyun.

In the early years, students from the feeder-barangays have to enroll at St. Francis Academy, a private school, which is located at Poblacion, Rizal, Cagayan. The location of the school is at the end –point of the town; hence, students need to walk few kilometers just to quench their thirst for knowledge.

Such situation is indeed a difficult endeavor on the part of the students together with their parents, Thus, the dream of having a near public high school ignited in their hearts, but this remains to be an impossible dream.

However, way back in the year 1975, the Illuru Barangay High School was officially declared open on July 25, 1975 by the late Mr. Sabino Acorda , the Schools Division Superintendent of the Province of Cagayan with sixty nine (69) enrollees in the first year level and twenty three (23) enrollees in the second year level. As expected, problems were encountered during the first year of operation, but through the determination of the initiator, the most awaited dream turned into a reality.

The opening of this institution was initiated by the active Head Teacher of Illuru Elementary School, Mr. Proceso Melad Gannaban, who recently passed away last January 2, 2019 . This was his initial plan and opened it to the District Supervisor which was immediately approved by Mr. Proceso Dayag . So, they referred the matter to the Division Office and as expected, several requirements were set before such plan was materialized. The approval of the opening of high school was indeed a blessing for it opened a new door of opportunity especially to the students. This new experience brought chance to the students to enroll at the soon to open public high school.

At first, though it was already approved by the District Supervisor, the plan of opening a secondary school was not that easy since there are many requirements set by the DECS (now DepEd). Nevertheless, Mr. Dayag did all his best just to meet the said requirements. He started to pass on the good news or the so called campaign just to invite more enrollees. Luckily, he made it through the help of the Barangay Officials headed by Honorable Florencio Tarayao and the Head Teacher of the elementary, Mr. Proceso Gannaban; therefore, the ultimate rise of Illuru Barangay High School.

The new experience of knowledge acquisition had started from the four corners of a simple classroom made up of bamboos and roofed with cogon grasses or better called as “hut”. The pioneer teachers were Mrs. Fe A. Gundan, Mr. Froilano Gundan, Mr. Julian Ruam and Mrs. Liwayway Bauag and Mr. Proceso Gannaban, the Assistant Principal of IBHS. They continued advertising the newly-opened high school until such time, the number of enrollees grew bigger.

Mr. Dayag headed the high school from its first day of operation until 1979. Through his leadership, passing solicitation letters had also started just to accumulate funds for putting up new classrooms. Based from the stories related by the pioneer teachers, they even experienced holding benefit dances just for them to have funds for the improvement of their classrooms.

As years passed by, the number of enrollees had started to increase. The sixty ( 60) pioneer graduates of 1979 marked a milestone in the history of IBHS. This is a great manifestation of success; thus, the march of victory had continued until the high school had produced many successful graduates who are now contributors to community development.

Mrs. Teresa Carag took over as Principal from 1979-1980. However, she did not stay longer in the academe so, Mr. Proceso Gannaban, the Head Teacher of Illuru Elementary School was concurrently the Principal of IBHS.

More than two hundred (220+) enrollees of the high school are still housed at the elementary school for how many years under the administration of Mr. Gannaban, but the thought of being separated became an issue. With this, the administration together with the Parent Teachers Association tried to look for lot donors. At last, one generous donor, Mr. Pedro Gannaban, the heir of Mr. Solomeo Gannaban offered his lot which is just an adjacent to the elementary campus with an area of 0.6 hectare but with some conditions. So, business went on and after some agreements, Honorable Edgardo Lara paid half of the said lot from the Congressional District Fund (CDF), and the issue on the separation of the high school from the elementary was granted.

Immediately, with the strong determination of the school head, a two-room school building from the DECS(now DepEd) was built on the new site while classes were going on in the elementary campus.

Clearing the new area in preparation for the formal transfer was not that easy for it entails a strenuous work. With the concerted efforts of the administration, teachers, community and the students, the transfer to the new home of knowledge was made possible.

Not long after, the concurrent Assistant Principal, Mr. Proceso M. Gannaban was replaced by an Officer In-Charge, Mr. Nemesio P. Anguluan due to reorganization of government officials. Mr. Anguluan then took charge of the high school from 1986-1995. During his administration, enrollees had increased more such that classrooms and teachers became an issue. Therefore, new mentors were hired and the administration had put up provisional classrooms to house the students. But putting up such temporary classrooms is not a solution to the existing problem because classes were interrupted whenever there is heavy rain and strong winds.

With this, the Officer In-Charge had reported the issue to the higher ups; hence, two classroom buildings were constructed to address the issue. In addition to that, many innovations happened for the ten-year administration of Mr. Anguluan. Due to his promotion, he was transferred to Cordova High School, Amulung, Cagayan as Principal I on October 16, 1995. So, Mrs. Imelda G. Ulangca headed Illuru High School as Teacher In-Charge for five years.

During her administration, the high school continued its operation as producer of active citizens in the community. Illuru High School students showed their academic excellence until the regional level.

Subsequently, Mr. Nemesio P. Anguluan came back to Illuru High School as principal II in the year 2000. Again, he started a new –page for the history of Illuru National High School. He continued his vision and mission for a better Illuru High School. As the father of the institution, he also worked on the titling of the school lot. He portrayed his dedication and commitment until his retirement in the year 2004.

Illuru National High School continued to operate under the administration of Mrs. Imelda G. Ulangca who resumed to office as Officer In-Charge/ HT III from 2004 to 2005. Due to her dreams for her family, she decided to leave the office and stay in Canada for greener pasture.

Mrs. Tessie J. Molina, Principal I headed Illuru National High School from 2005-2009. Under her administration, INHS experienced many changes both in physical and academic performances. Administration Building and Library were constructed through the PTA funds. A two-room was donated by the Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce Inc. which is blown by typhoon Lawin and for renovation and another two-room building was also donated by Honorable Manuel Mamba which is also destroyed by typhoon Ompong. INHS is really blessed that the school was also one of the recipients of the iSchools Project of the CICT which catered to the technological needs of the students. Hence, twenty (20) units of brand new computers were also used by the students during their computer classes. Several activities were also introduced which helped the students develop not only the academic aspect of their lives but also their social, moral, physical and emotional capabilities.

Nevertheless, Dr. Molina has to attend to her family needs and this prompted her to seek for her transfer to a nearer school. Her wish was materialized ! Though she learned to love INHS as a whole, she turned over the responsibility of managing INHS to Mrs. Joycel Macarilay, Principal I. Mrs. Macarilay continued the works of an administrator. Despite the short span of time she stayed at INHS, she gave more attention to the academic performance of the school.

Thus, Mrs. Aleli M. Bayadog, HT III resumed into office as Officer In-Charge as per order of the Division Office. During her administration, several transformations had also transpired. Buildings like the new Computer Laboratory and the TLE Room mushroomed in the campus. But in spite of the many improvements, INHS remains to be incomplete because every time programs are being held, problem on shed is always ringing. As a solution, temporary shed (sarong) is constructed by parents and students which causes disruption of classes and an additional burden to the parents.

Consequently, the administration together with the GHPTA Officers drafted a resolution asking the Office of the Mayor to donate a gymnasium. During one of the sessions, Mrs. Bayadog, attended and presented the resolution to the August Body. Fortunately, Honorable Joel A. Ruma, the Municipal Mayor, did not give a second thought and immediately promised to allot funds for the construction of the said gymnasium.

Promised fulfilled!

Before the new school administrator arrived, the construction of the gymnasium had started. Hence, when Dr. Rita C. Corpuz took over as Principal I of INHS on November 12, 2012, the construction is on-going until March. And luckily, the 35^th Commencement Exercises of Illuru National High School is another breakthrough in the history of INHS because the promised gymnasium served its purpose which completed the holistic development of the students.

Another history in the development of Illuru National High School is the creation of the Senior High School in which it offers Academic Strand and TVL Strand. Because of this course offering, the government gave a six- classroom- Two-Storey Building which is presently used by the senior students. Another Two-Storey Building is on-going construction as a Laboratory Room of the Senior High School.

On February 3, 2020, another man of wisdom came to man the Illuru National High School. He is a man who is fond of landscaping and beautifying the school, no less than Mr. Charles M. Marcos , Principal I who stayed from February to December 2020. After 9 months of stay in our beloved institution, he was replaced by a brilliant and a visionary leader in the person of Mrs. Maryan C. Diaros, Principal I. Through the leadership of our new administrator we can foresee a more soaring and majestic Illuru National High School as manifested by her way of leading the school. She is equated with the line "To see the silver lining of every situation". Her instructional innovations will surely define the outstanding future of this humble institution towards the achievement of its vision and mission.

What made Illuru National High School (INHS) from scratch to a splendid present is the outcome of the collaborative efforts of the smart and persevering school administrators and faculty members.