History

BRIEF HISTORY OF OTON NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
by Darwin A. Haro, SSMT-II English Department 

We believe that history solidifies and strengthens a people. Those  who write, it try their best to save and recover from the deluge of time grand deeds and acts – those which are most noble – for if nothing is done, great human endeavors will be lost in the dimness of the horizon.

Let the history of our Alma Mater be a voice forever resounding across time, a bridge to link us all and a beacon to call us back.

The Otonians’ desire foe knowledge has been irrepressible. Before the outbreak of World War II, like the rest of the southerners, they flocked to then Iloilo High School for secondary education. The war temporarily disrupted formal schooling as citizens concerned themselves with survival in our war-torn province.

On March 18, 1945, the American forces liberated Panay from the Japanese and the island was governed by the Philippines Civil Affairs Unit (PACAU) under the auspices of the American Forces of Liberation with Tomas Confesor’s government in the forefront.

Life attained a certain degree of normally and one of the many aspects immediately restored was education.

Consequently, on March 22 to June 1945, the Refresher Course was conducted at the Oton Public Market under the supervision of the principal. Mr. Pedro Robles. Those whose studies at the Iloilo High School were disrupted went back to school. Students from Southern Iloilo, from San Joaquin to Arevalo, as well as from Aleosan area no longer went to Iloilo High School. Thus, the Oton Regional High School was born, later to named Oton High School.

The regular school year then opened in June 1945 to end in March 1946 with Mr. Elpidio L. Cabus as the principal. Graduates of this school year are the living witnesses to how OHS came to be.

During this time the (PACAU) Administrator was Mayor Zacarias Montealto. There was a very strong determination to put up the OHS to serve the southern Iloilo towns. The prime movers for the establishment of the secondary school were Mr. Filemon Balbastro, sr., Ex-Mayor Simplicio C. Carreon, Judge Manuel C. Roa and Mr. Melecio Balbastro. This was during Mayor Montealto’s administration. Such a desire was strongly supported by the philanthropic Francisco Planta clan. His equally generous son, Felipe, together with Joaquin Haro worked with the four aforementioned founders of the school.

The Planta family donated the 4.6 hectares of land the first twenty-four-room building was constructed through the first OHS PTA. The building was quadrangular in shape.

During the school year 1945- 1946, the first SWIPSAL (Southern Iloilo Public Schools Athletic League) meet was held in this school.

Upon its establishment, the school drew students from the neighboring towns.

School year 1946-1947 saw the gradual development of the school under Mr. Elpidio L. Cabus,  principal. With the completion of the twenty-four-room quadrangle, a stage was built at the eastern side, facing the entrance at the west side. Materials were bamboo, nipa, sawali and rattan. The source of funds was the PTA contributions as well as money raised from benefit show and other fund-raising projects.      The first PTA president, Ex. Mayor Simplicio C. Carreon, Sr., initiated the ongoing program of development of the school. During school year 1948-49, the Main Building (Gabaldon type), the first permanent structure of the school, was built. The funding came from the pork barrel of then Senator Jose C. Zulueta.

In 1949, Mr. Lazaro Fernandez took over as principal. Mr. Filemon Balbastro, Sr., also became the PTA president. He continued the ongoing program of development. Inasmuch as the parents and the community from where the stud entry came from are education-oriented, the school plant development scheme got the full support and cooperation of the private sector.        

          Later on, in 1958, Mr. Alberto Lorenzo became the principal. Mr. Eliodoro C. Cofreros, an educator from San Antonio, became PTA president after Mr. Balbastro. His good connections and dynamism enabled him to push the program of the school plant development through the PTA funds and pre-fabricated school building program of the government in close coordination with then Congressman Pedro G. Trono of the first district.

          For the repair and maintenance of the school buildings, PTA President Cofreros most often solicited financial assistance from the municipal and provincial officials who had discretionary funds for the purpose.

          Mr. Cofreros also initiated some projects of lasting endurance. He solicited scholarship funds for deserving students of the school. He also initiated the practice of selecting the commencement speaker for the annual commencement exercises from among the outstanding alumni of this school.

          Other PTA presidents who had their turn in overseeing the welfare of the school were Mr. Francisco  Flores and Mr. Vivencio Andres. The traditional graduating class donations to the Alma Mater helped solve the infrastructure problems of the educational institution.

          In 1968, Miss Jesusa B. Sanceda became   principal. She continued on improving the school. After her retirement, Mrs. Corazon Alculbilla took over and, as principal, initiated projects for the beautification of the school.

          It was during Mrs. Alcubilla’s term that the nationalization process stated. At this time, too, former Assemblyman Salvador B. Britanico, himself an alumnus of the school, became the DECS Deputy Minister. As Member of Parliament, he worked for the nationalization of all secondary schools nationwide. Thus by virtue of Batas Pambansa Blg. 250, dated November 12, 1982, and implemented in July 1983. Oton High School became Oton Natinal High School. At this time, Miss Josefina D. Deocampo was the principal as Mrs. Alcubilla left during the initial stages of the nationalization process. It was also at this time that the boom of DECS infrastructure development program was at its highest peak.

          As a national school, the annual subsidy allocated by the national government as capital outlay for the school development program boosted the improvement and upgrading of the school's facilities. Miss Josefina Deocampo facilitated the building of many classroom and laboratory rooms.

          In addition to the subsidy from the national government, another good source of funds is the Country wide Development Fund (CDF) shared by the members of Congress to various institutions all over the nation.

          At this time Atty. Napoleon Pagtanac was PTA president, later to be succeeded by Atty. Antonio Carreon. Both pushed for the continued progress of the high school.

          In 1991, Mr. Efrain C. Salcedo became the first alumnus to serve as principal of ONHS. Mr. Ramon Tabornal was also elected as another able president of the PTA. Mr. Salcedo initiated a lot of  projects for student development and character-building. As current principal, he has been relentless in his drive to free the school from drug abuse-related problems as well as problems caused by sheer lack of discipline. He is a disciplinarian in his own right. Peace and order marks his term.

          PTA President Mr. Ramon Tabornal, with the support of the PTA officers, initiated the concrete fencing at the back of the school. He was also responsible for the finalization of the donation of a portion of the Yusay property to become part of the school ground.

          When Mr. Efrain Salcedo retired in 2001, Dr. Lourdes Custodio Morones took over the helm of Oton National High School.  In her term, she has initiated numerous developmental projects. In infrastructure, she was able to build 30 classrooms and several hundreds of chairs.  She was able to finish the fencing of the entire campus in less than three years, built a huge conference room and erected and completed the ONHS dream gym.  Dr. Morones made a total make over of the entire ONHS area.  Moreover, she also paved the way of bringing the school very reachable to the public by organizing activities which involved the parents, community and even the LGU and private sectors.  She revolutionized the academic instruction, academic achievement and even the non-academic pursuits.  Oton NHS for ten long years have been etched in the national map of the Department of Education. Miss Shirley Jusayan was named one of the most Outstanding Teachers of the Philippines of the Metrobank Foundation in 2001, Mr. Darwin A. Haro was named one of the Most Outstanding School Paper Advisers in the Philippines in 2009, Ms. Genesa Buenafe was named one of the Most Outstanding Campus Journalists of the Philippines 2010 and Dr. Lourdes C. Morones for the third time was named One of the Most Outstanding Principals in the Philippines and One of the Most Outstanding Augustinian of the Century in the Field of Education.  Many students brought national Awards in the National Level Competition in areas such Journalism, Research and Sports.

Responding to the demands of time, ONHS offered new curriculum programs; Special program for the Arts in 2005, Special program in Sports in 2007, Night Class opportunity in 2003 and Special program for Journalism in 2009.

Promotion of teachers were also given priority. In fact, Ms. Aida P. Gemarino was promoted to Education Supervisor I in Filipino, Division of Iloilo, Mr. Ruben Libutaque, Education Supervisor I in TLE and Mr. Renato Ballesteros, Education Supervisor II in Filipino, DepED Region VI.

Before Dr. Morones retired, in partnership with Mayor Vincent Flores, she was able to establish the ONHS Cambitu Extention and installed Mrs. Mary Ann Gayotayan as the Officer-in-Charge.

In her administration, three PTA Presidents helped Dr. Morones to push ONHS higher namely, Mr. Ramon Tabornal, Mr. Luis Carreon and Mr. Paul Buenafe. Three ONHS Faculty and Staff Presidents assisted her along the way namely: Mrs. Paciencia Santander, Mr. Hernani Lozada and Mr. Darwin Haro.

Dr. Lourdes C. Morones retired gracefully and have left remarkable legacy.

At present another great woman has been tasked to lead ONHS.  Dr. Nelida Baitan was installed last July 19, 2010.  Along with the PTA officers headed by Mr. Bienvinido Anatan, Teachers and Employees Association president Mr. Marcos Valencia, the Department Heads, Teachers and Students Dr. Baitan is beginning to etch her own marks in the history of our beloved ONHS.

It is with great trust, hope and confidence that the best shall come.

This is our story.

May you will still be with us when the time comes that the pages shall be refilled and be shared.

Thank you and Mabuhay!