HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE SCHOOL

The Libertad Barrio High School was founded in the year 1967 by virtue of the Republic Act No.6054, otherwise known as the Barrio High School Charter through the joint efforts of the PTCA Officials, barrio officials headed by the Bo.Captain Rodrigo Asejo, Community Leaders and Miss Felina Guimmayen, now Dr. Felina G. Castillejos, who was then the School Administrator of Libertad Elementary School.

A temporary building was constructed in its present site but when it was blown by a strong typhoon classes were moved to the Libertad Elementary School thus occupying some rooms for some years. Miss Felina S. Guimmayen was then the First School Head. The Enrolment was first year-52 and the second year-32. There were two (2) full time teachers and one (1) part time teacher. In 1968-1969, Mr. Eladio Miranda was the school head. There were 51 first year, 48 second year, and 31 third year. There were 3 full time teachers and 1 part time teacher. In 1969-1970, Mr. Eladio Miranda was still the school head. In 1970-1971, Mr. Pedro Agaceta was the School Head with 3 full time and 4 part time teachers. Mr. Pedro Agaceta continued to be the School Head up to 1977 with 6 full time teachers and 2 part time teachers. In 1977 to 1980, Miss Priscilla Fernandez was the School Head with 8 full time teachers. In 1980 to 1982 Mr. Wilfredo Agustin was the Principal with 9 full time teachers. In 1982-1983 Miss Paz F. Tagoc was assigned as OIC. From year to year enrolment increased thus in 1983-1984 the school was moved to its present site and Miss Paz F. Tagoc was the School Head.

The Libertad Barrio High School was nationalized and was then named as Libertad National High school by virtue of the Presidential Procalamation No. 699 July 9, 1989.

School years 1987 to 1988 registered a record of high enrolment that necessitated for more number of teachers. From 1987 to 1988, the teaching staff has increased from 10 full time teachers to 23 teachers. Miss Paz F. Tagoc continued to be the school head until she retired in January, 2001. After the retirement of Miss Paz F. Tagoc, the LNHS was headed by the assigned Officer Incharge Mr. Abraham C. Acosta, a Teacher I who was later promoted to Head Teacher III on December 2002. Mr. Acosta remained to be the Officer Incharge up to March 2003. March 3, 2003, Dr. Priscilla T. Pacis was appointed Principal of Libertad National High School.

Now the beautiful Libertad National High School with 24 teachers headed by Dr. Priscilla T. Pacis, Secondary School Principal III is catering to the needs of 859 students who came from different barangays of Abulug, Pamplona and Luna, Kalinga Apayao

Under the able leadership of Dr. Priscilla T. Pacis and with support of the PTA, SGC, LGU and Local School Board, the school is slowly but firmly working on the fulfillment of its Vission-Mission. Her services lasted for more than a decade and left the school in June 2014.

The office was succeeded by Mr. Alejandro A. Barangay who was officially installed by Mr. Jose Talosig, the Administrative Officer IV of the Division of Cagayan, in July 2014. He continued the unfinished plans and projects for the improvement of the school showing a big difference from what and where it had started.

During his administration, Libertad NHS made a name in the Division of Cagayan bagging the 2016 Regional Best Brigada Eskwela Implementer (large category) because of the numerous improvements in the school, to name some: pergola of the main gate, renovation and tiling of the gym, landscaped surroundings, purchase of school van and more.

The school also garnered Division topnotcher of the National Achievement Test (NAT) in the school year 2015-2016 which paved the way of a P35,000.00 Performance Based Bonus (PBB) of each teacher.

With these achievements, the school started catering the educational needs of the students from the different barangays and even from the far-flung barangays of Abulug which extends to the neighboring towns of Apayao Province.

In the school year 2016-2017, the Senior High School or Grade 11 opened with their own newly constructed 2-storey building with 6 classrooms. The students’ population had increased then to 1186. Thus, an increase of teachers and students became evident with thirty-nine (39) permanent teachers and employees with added five (5) Senior High School Teachers and four (4) job order employees. Mr. Bangay stayed in the institution for three (3) years and was transferred to Allacapan Vocational High School in September 2017.

Lolita Cabalza-Unida, PhD continued the educational management of the past administration. Her one (1) year stay (September 2017- September 2018), she made various changes in the school’s programs and projects like: the Girl Scout, CCTV, public address and various winnings in academics and co-curricular activities (Radio Broadcasting and Script Writing Contest, UP Palaisipan, MTAP etc.). The total population then was 1,186 with fifty-six (56) permanent teachers and employees and four (4) JOs.

Truly, principals come and go. After Ma’am Unida’s leadership came Sir Gilbert I. Colosaga, PhD. He was responsible for the purchase of the assembled multi-purpose jeep (tora-tora)construction of the gate at the western part of the school and the soon to-be main gate at the north and started the construction of the HD landscape (I LOVE LNHS) and 3 photocopiers used in reproducing modules. The construction also of the new LNHS gym at the school quadrangle had started which was donated by the Provincial Capitol of Cagayan.

In the school year 2018-2019, there were 1,593 enrollees with 60 permanent teachers and 4 JO's. On October 2, 2019, the LNHS Hymn was launched which was composed by Mr. Ezra F. Vidad, SHS Teacher, and with the musical accompaniment of Mr. Crisostomo P. Arellano Jr., an SHS Teacher.

In 2019-2020, the school enrollees popped up to 1,657 fully forced by 64 permanent teachers and employees and 5 JO's. The school was also blessed with 2 3-storey SHS buildings with 7 classroom each.

Unluckily, at the midpart of March 2020 before the school year ends, our country was put in a state of “community quarantine” or lockdown due to the widespread of COVID19 virus. So, in the school year 2020-2021, the new normal kind of education/modular distance learning was implemented due to the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) health protocols. Numerous donors doled out their full support by giving their donations of bond papers and on health kits to the school. Despite of the said pandemic, enrollees had increased to 1,820 with 67 permanent teachers and employees with 5 JO's.

On the first day of December 2020, a reshuffling of principals was done and came Ma’am Cherry Z. Dimaandal, PhD who was once a teacher here for 23 years. She is now presently focusing on the academic progress of the school though it is on modular basis and is also working out on the physical beautification particularly the painting of the required DepEd colors of buildings and infrastructures, the completion of the HD landscape (I LOVE LNHS), the continuation of the soon-to-be main gate and the concrete fence at the northern part, the repair of roofs of the administrative building and the PASMEP, the improvement of the FBS room and the setting up of permanent nooks of teachers per grade level and the new SBM room.

For a couple of months of her stay, she had established her own leadership/managerial style with dedication and passion to her responsibility as a principal.