About

Long before Talugtug became the 28^th Municipality of Nueva Ecija, the nucleus of Saverona Elementary School was already in existence as the Saverona Barrio School of Muñoz District, Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. In 1916, Saverona was officially registered a barrio of Muñoz.

One of the principal concerns of any new barrio is to have an identity of their own- to put up a school where their children could go and learn the rudiments of education. The early leaders of Saverona also believed on this concept. Rufino Judan, (1989) one of the early leaders of the barrio narrated in details this development. “When the barrio was already established and there were many children of school age in the settlement, we immediately went to District Supervisor Ambrocio Medina in Muñoz to request for the opening of a school in our barrio. He instructed us to look for a lot to be donated and to construct a school building even only a temporary one.”

“In 1919, Alberto Bautista was elected barrio lieutenant and he donated 15, 675 square meters of their land for the school site. The “tambuli” was blown and all the residents in the new barrio were convened. We signed an agreement signifying our willingness to donate some amount and to render free labor and materials for the construction of a school building. It was also stated in the agreement that the children of those who will not cooperate will not be allowed to enroll in the school. The first school building was a one-room structure made of locally cut logs, bamboos, cogon, and buri leaves. It was just enough for the enrollment of Grade I and II pupils. The first teacher was Macario Estioko.

“During the first year of classes, the agreement signed by us parents was strictly enforced. The parents who did not help in making of the school and whose children were rejected enrollment soon realized the importance of the school. They went to the district supervisor and appealed for the right of their children to attend classes in public schools. Mr. Medina called the barrio lieutenant and the PTA Presidents and they made an agreement with the complainants to make up for their uncooperativeness while they officials were counseled to accept all pupils seeking enrollment. There aster their children were accepted and they made up by rendering extra work in the fencing of the school with their own materials.” The old man Judan paused his long narration with a smile on his face and rested.