HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL

The development and recognition of a true SPECIAL EDUCATION CENTER of STO. NIÑO CENTRAL SCHOOL, STO. NINO, CAGAYAN has long been an aspiration and dream of the Division of Cagayan to lend credence to the commitment of the new constitutions Sec.1 Article XIV which states that “all children must be given the opportunity to realize their fullest potentials and this does not exclude the exceptional children.” The dream became a reality when STO. NIÑO CENTRAL SCHOOL, now, STO. NIÑO CENTRAL SCHOOL SPED CENTER was officially recognized by the Department of Education on March 27, 2012 to meet the growing number of exceptional children in the municipality.

The realization of the dream of Sto. Niño Central School SPED Center is made through the approval and support of Mrs. Lourdes G. Angoluan, Ph.D., Regional Director; Ms. Fely C. Lattao, CEO V, Schools Division Superintendent, together with the Regional SPED Supervisor and Division SPED Coordinator and because of the efforts and sacrifices of the School Head, Mr. Lauro A. Daquioag, Ph.D., together with his cooperative teachers and education stakeholders.

The SPED Center sits on a two hectare land more or less along Veridiano St. in the South, Templo St. and Pimentel St. in the North. It is located at the Poblacion just at the back of Hon. Leandro M. Pagurayan Memorial Gymnasium and Sto. Nino Parish Church overlooking the Sto. Niño Municipal Hall and beside the Sto. Niño Public Market in the North.

The initial operation of the Center started with 26 SPED G/T pupils in 2005-2006, the kind of exceptionalities catered now includes the blind, children with autism, learners with intellectual disability, and those with learning disabilities. There were only two SPED G/T teachers and regular teachers headed by their TIC, Mrs. Julita E. Sebastian, an MT-2 in 2005, during its humble beginnings. Her successors as well as those assigned as school head in the regular school before her are as follows:

Year TIC, Principal, PIC

1953 Miss Teresa Carag

1954 Mr. Pedro Pagela

1955 Mrs. Jesusa Garcia

1957 Mr. Rufino R. Templo

1960 Mr. Pedro Quimosing

1964 Mrs. Cellie T. Bunagan, PIC

1970 Mr. Rodrigo Culangan, PIC

1978-1985 Miss Presina Singson, PIC

1986 Mr. Modesto Pinera

1986-1987 Mr. Jose Calagui, PIC

1990 Mr. Hygenus Soriano, PIC

1990-1995 Mrs. Preciosa Reynante, TIC

1995 Mrs. Eleanor Canapi, PIC

1997 Mr. Eliseo Pinera, PIC

2000 Mrs. Corazon Cardona, TIC

2004-2008 Mrs. Julita E. Sebastian, TIC

2005-2007 Mrs.Marfuria O.Ugaddan, PIC

2007-present Mr. Lauro A. Daquioag, Ph.D.

Long before, Sto. Niño got its name in different occasions. The establishment of Sto. Niño as a town can be traced back to as early as the Spanish period. In search of greener pasture, a certain Captain Manuel Faire, who hailed from Dingras, Ilocos Norte came across the place which he founded. Later, the first Municipal Government was established with Captain Manuel Faire as the Gobernadorcillo. Under his leadership, construction of roads were made linking several barrios and sitios, and later other developments eventually followed.

The church of Sto. Niño was later established in memory of the only son Manuel Faire, named Nino, who died in his infancy. Sto. Nino eventually became the town Patron Saint and finally, the town was later called “Sto. Nino”.

The town of Sto. Niño was officially established in November 27, 1897. Manuel Faire continued to head the Sto. Nino government until 1901 when the first election of President Municipal was held through “viva voce”.

The town is well known both as “Faire” and “Sto. Niño”. During the incumbency of Ignacio Luz, a resolution was drafted by the Municipal Council to request the assistance of Representative Juan Quintos to rename the town to “Faire”. By virtue of Executive Order No. 2390 dated February 28, 1914, the town was renamed “Faire”.

In 1969, during the incumbency of Mayor Leandro Pagurayan, a resolution was passed and approved for the renaming of “Faire” to “Sto. Niño” the name that it holds until today.

Thus, with the events happened; Sto. Niño Central School then was also named “Faire Central School”.

Now, Sto. Niño Central School SPED Center is a public school catering to regular children from kindergarten to Grade VI, SPED Gifted and Talented from Head Start to Grade VI and to Special learners with Intellectual Disabilities (ID), Hearing Impairment (HI), Visual Impairment (VI), Children With Autism (CWA), and Children with Learning Disabilities (LD).

Sto. Niño Central School SPED Center is the first SPED Center in the Division of Cagayan. It is located in Centro Sur and is catering to the needs of the children in the barangays of Centro Norte, Centro Sur, Palusao, Mabitbitnong, Sidiran, nearby Barangays and even the whole Municipality.