Brief History of CSF

The Candelaria School of Fisheries is the only recognized Technical Vocational School in the province of Zambales. It envisions to produce quality secondary graduates especially in the field of fisheries/vocational courses that will contribute to the manpower resources of the locality and upliftment of the socio-economic condition of different managerial communities through provision of qualifying vocational and educational strategies.

Currently, its technical- vocational courses include Aquaculture NCII, Fish Capture NCII, Fish/Food Processing NCII, Garments Technology, SMAW NCII, Computer System Servicing NCII, Cookery NCII and Cosmetology-Beauty Care. 

The Candelaria School of Fisheries opened its door to First Year students under the tutelage of Mrs. Evangelina B. Barrera with the assistance of Mr. Alberto V. Libunao, Clerk I. The faculty members were composed of five (5) teachers who have previous teaching experiences in their own field of specialization.

            Classroom instructions were conducted at private residences that were leased for a period of two years with option for renewal for another year at the start of the second year of operation. The problem of accommodation again confronted the school administration. Another private buildings were leased to house the increasing number of enrollees.

            During the stage of initial establishment, the administration of the school in terms of management changed three times. Mr. Fulgencio Namoca relieved Mrs. Barrera effective March 1972. He assumed this position until May 1971 when Mr. Atanacio Palma reported to the school to take over the administration and supervision, which in effect gave independence to the school head to pursue the basic fishery school projects with more leverage.

            Immediately, when Mr. Palma assumed the principalship, he set the administrative machinery in high motion. The Superintendent of Ramon Magsaysay Memorial School of Arts and Trades (RMMSAT) relinquished to the Principal the most important responsibilities of administration and supervision, which in effect gave independence to the school head to pursue basic fishery school projects with more leverage.

            Until December 4, 1972, the Candelaria School of Fisheries was under the administrative, supervisory responsibility of the Superintendent of RMMSAT. Mr. Atanacio Palma was designated Principal-in-charged of this institution effective December 5, 1972. As such, Mr. Palma assumed full responsibility to the director of the Bureau of Vocational Education since then.

            The Candelaria School of Fisheries has now passed the critical stage of development. It is no longer confronted with accommodation problems. At the start of the school year 1973-1974, the school transferred to its permanent site wherin on (1) Macros-type Prefabricated Building was partially completed and temporary five-room school building was built.

            A month after classes transferred to the new site, students pursued a massive land improvement. The school campus was fenced with barbed wired to keep away astray animals and much more to deter any intrusion of outside forces to the school properties. In addition, the fish culture teachers activated the projects of the school by renovating the school fish pond.

            Inside the classroom, the principal injected into the curriculum vital improvements to get the optimum results in fishery technical education. All new methods and techniques in fishery instruction that came his attention were incorporated in the curriculum for obvious reasons.

            Within the period of five years, Mr. Palma had accomplished infrastructure projects, the most notable among them are Fish Culture, Fish Preservation, Technical and the administration buildings.

            The success of the Candelaria School of Fisheries as an educational fishery institution serves as a movement of a magnificent obsession. Form a rented nipa hut that served as school house and a trickle of students, it now stand in sprawling more or less six hectares area, conveniently located along the shoreline of China Sea which is conducive to fisheries intellectual development of countryside.

            The meteoric increase of student population necessities its expansion and graduated physical development. With the leadership of the very energetic and dedicated Principal, Mr. Palma together with Mr. Basilio Ebdane, Auditing Aide, and other staff, the school had moved forward with the approval of the Ministry of Education and Culture to offer the three-year diploma in Fishery Technology (DFT) in 1976. This course has been selected by high school graduates in almost every part of the province in Zambales. Students in the Technical Department have been greatly benefited with the offering of Fishery Technology with the three fields of specialization, namely: Marine Fishery, Inland Fisheries and Fish Processing.

            From May 23, 1985 to April 21, 1985 Dr. Miguel T. Sison was assigned as the head of the school. He was the principal from Maqy 23, 1972 to December 1975 and was promoted as Vocational School Administrator II from January 1, 1981 to March 15, 1985.

            From March 26, 1985 to July 1990, Mr. Santiago C. Ramirez took the administration of the school after being promoted as Vocational School Administrator II.  Upon his retirement on July 24, 1995, Mr. Edwin P. Tamayo, Junior College Instructor was designated as Officer-in-charge of the school.

            On May 23, 1991, Mr. Arturo M. Edora, Education Supervisor I of Zambales was designated Officer-in-charge. Mr. Edora’s term expired on October 1993, when Mr. Marcelo C. Guzman, Vocational School Administrator II of Malolos Marine Fishery School and Laboratory transferred to this institution upon the directive of Director Bernardo M. Reyes, DECS III to administer and supervise the operation of the Candelaria School of Fisheries. He assumed his official duties as head of the school on November=r 23, 1993 up to April 4, 2003.

            With the passage of Republic Act 7796, the school transferred from DECS to TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority) on June 1, 1997.) TESDA provided the financial resources of the school to keep its normal operation while the curriculum in the secondary was under the supervision of the DECS.

            Again, on February 12, 2001, the post-secondary department of the Candelaria School of Fisheries was absorbed by the Ramon Magsaysay Technological University in compliance with RA 8498. The secondary department was reverted back to the Department of Education effective January 1, 2002. From hereon, the appropriation, supervision and control of the school went back to DepEd. From April 5, 2003 Mr. Arturo Soriano Head Teacher III acted as officer-in-charge until he was replaced by Mr. Bibiano M. Meer Principal from Camiling School for Home Industries, on August 1, 2003.

            Mr. Meer’s retirement on December 26, 2011 was a chance to Mrs. Zenaida N. Ecalnir, Head Teacher III/Related Subjects Department Head to take in-charge the supervision to keep the school’s normal operation for it’s close to end the school year. Her administration was ended to April 1, 2012.

            The administration of the school was continued by a former Head Teacher III who was acted then as Officer-in-charge of this institution in April 2003, Dr. Arturo G. Soriano, a secondary School Principal IV from Camiling School for Home Industries on April 2, 2012 up to the present. With his administration, some improvements have been manifested.

            Dr. Romeo B. Fastidio, Principal IV became its school head on November 2018 and one of his main advocacy during his time was the school’s application for accreditation of International Standard Operation (ISO) which was put on hold for level 4 because of the pandemic  until  Ms. Julita M. Valdez, Principal IV assumed the position on July 2020.

            On March 1, 2022, Dr. Emma L. Bayona became the current school principal and promoted new school initiated projects to continue giving quality services to students as progressive limited face to face classes is implemented. 

            Currently, the school has almost 600 students from junior and high school departments with 65 teaching and non-teaching staffs continuing its endeavor of giving quality education and skills training among students carrying the vision of Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan amidst times of pandemic.

            The Candelaria School of Fisheries have grown and still growing. Its establishment in this part of the province serves as a catalyst that has transformed a decadent society into a descent place and house of man. It shall continue to serve the educational and training needs of the people and to create in them greater value in which they will be proud of today and in the future.

            There is a long way to go. Much more have to be accomplished but the future looks bright for Candelaria School of Fisheries.