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PBHS HISTORY

WHO IS HE?

Ponciano A. Bernardo was born in Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija. His father is a son of Pandi, Bulacan Province who migrated to Nueva Ecija as well as his cousin [Francisco Bernardo Oliveros] of Papaya, Nueva Ecija whose two sisters were left behind in Pandi, Bulacan [Luisa Bernardo Oliveros-Cruz and Rosenda Bernardo Oliveros-Contreras] as well as the rest of the family and their cousins [Mariano Bernardo, Catalino Bernardo, Valentina Bernardo] whose sons and grandson became mayors of Bocaue, Bulacan - [Atty. Matias Bernardo Ramirez], Balagtas, Bulacan - [Mamerto Carpio Bernardo], Pandi, Bulacan - Atty. Jose Espina Bernardo and Mamerto Carpio Bernardo, 'The Father of Pandi, Bulacan', and Angat, Bulacan - [Benito Bernardo Cruz].

The wife is Josefina Bernardo. They had eight kids Carrie, Josefina, Ponciano Jr., Noli, Juliet, Marichu, Sonny and Cherry.

He finished his primary and secondary education in Cabanatuan City, and entered the University of the Philippines as a civil engineering student.

He graduated in 1927, and joined the Bureau of Public Works - Department of Public Works and Highways. In 1929, he was named as an assistant provincial engineer of Tayabas, the home province of Manuel L. Quezon, who would become President in 1935. Bernardo also held various provincial posts as a government engineer in Baguio City and Antique. In 1940, President Manuel L. Quezon appointed him as vice-mayor and city engineer of the newly established Quezon City.

On December 24, 1946, Bernardo was appointed mayor of Quezon City by President Sergio Osmeña. He was sworn into office on January 1, 1947. During his tenure, in 1948, that Quezon City became the capital of the Philippines in lieu of Manila.

Under Bernardo's leadership, a city police force - Philippine National Police was constituted and a new city hall was constructed in Cubao. Funds were also allocated for the construction of a park later named 'Bernardo Park', a market in Galas, and a public high school.

On April 28, 1949, Bernardo, along with former First Lady Aurora Quezon and several others, were killed in an ambush in Bongabon, Nueva Ecija. They were en route to President Quezon's hometown of Baler to dedicate a hospital in memory of the late President.

An elementary school and a high school in Quezon City have been named in memory of Ponciano A. Bernardo - Ponciano Bernardo High School in Cubao, Quezon City, as well as Bernardo Park.

A School was Born

Ponciano Bernardo High School started in July 1967 as an annex of Ramon Magsaysay (Cubao) High School. It was named after the late Ponciano Bernardo Sr., the first Mayor of Quezon City after World War II. Its first operation was with only four (4) sections in the first year with only seven (7) teachers. P. Bernardo Elementary School served as the venue in conducting classes from 5:00 – 8:30 P.M., after the last classes were dismissed.

In September 1968, a year after its first operation, the school became independent. There was a great increase in enrolment making the four – year levels complete which necessitated the need for a school site. The city council relocated the students in a pre – fabricated building, used to be an army barracks. The construction of five Marcos – type building followed soon.

PBHS established an annex school in 1969 – 1970 at Camp Crame to accommodate dependents of army men inside the Camp. In 1976, the annex obtained its independence named as Camp Crame High School.