HISTORY OF ESTIPONA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

Through the Years

It was in the year 1968, then Pura Municipal Mayor Nestor S. Gamit, together with
the barangay officials hammered out details in the establishment of a barangay high school.
It was on July 15, 1968 when it was formally opened to serve the public.

Mr. Pedro Landines assumed the role as the first school administrator until 1969.
Initially, first and second year levels were opened with thrity-nine and fourty-four enrollees,
respectively. The assigned teachers were former Ms. Emily Melegrito and Ms. Pura V.
Cortes. Afterwards, Ms. Lucena C. Punzalan took over the position from Ladines until 1983.
It was within her term of office when arrangements were made to recognize Victoria High
School as the mother institution.

The following year 1969, the third year level was offered, then in 1971, the fourth
year. Gradual developments in the enrolment graphs were quite noticeable. From 1971 to
1979, there had been one section for each level. From 1984 to 1990, another section was
added to make it two. In the succeeding year, more section was added for each level.
Consequently, the school had a taste of glory when it held its first commencement exercises
in 1971.

Due to its increasing population, the school had to hire part-time teachers from the
elementary to meet the educational demands. Among them were Mr. Quirino Calura, Mr.
Alfredo Delmendo, Mr. Reynaldo Bal-ot, Mr. Balmonte, Mr. and Mrs. Severino Tagata.

Then came a DECS memorandum that when there are seven teachers in school, a
position for head teacher will be created. Such order was enforced prompting Ms. Pura V.
Cortes being the pioneer, as the head teacher in 1983. In 1991, seven extension positions
were created and field up for the growing demands of the school.

Unfortunately, the killer quake in July 16, 1990 wrecked the two-storey Marcos Type
Building prompting the teaching staff to hold classes inside the catholic church and make
shift “bahay-silungan” constructed for the earthquake ravaged victims for the remaining
months of the school year.

Since the nationalization of barangay High School was signed into law by virtue of
Executive Order no. 189, by former Pres. Corazon C. Aquino in 1989, there was a need for
the school to have a lot of its own to quality as the recipient of the SEDP Type School
Building Package.

The acquisition of its current location was made possible through the collaborative
efforts of the GPTAC officials and the Municipal Mayor Pioquinto B. Cortez Jr. The lot was
purchased from Ms. Anselma Bugarin, a retired public school teacher. It is in the site where
the reconstruction of the severely damaged school building took place from the emergency
fund allocated by congress for earthquake striken areas. The L-shape rehabilitation buildings
now stand strategically side by side along with the SEDP C-type building.

In addition, this 10,000 square meters school campus is situated at the northern part
of Barangay Estipona. It is accessible to any vehicles along the municipal road going to the
town proper. The school is located 3 kilometers way from Barangay Salapungan in Gerona
and 2.5 kilometers from the Pura town proper.

Recently, the Estipona National High School has opened its annex at the Pura
Central Elementary School in time for the 2005-2006 school opening on June 6, 2005. There
are eighty-six elementary graduates coming from the neighboring Barangays of Pura have
been and enrolled there under the tutelage of their two teacher adviser who sought for
their transfer at the Estipona High School Annex (EHSA). This is in response to the Deped
program of providing free secondary education accessible to all Elementary graduates

With the retirement of Ms. Pura V. Cortes as the school principal on October 31,
2004, the school has been under the leadership of Mrs. Melanie D. Corpuz the officer – in –
charge of the school until July 13, 2005. When Corpuz was transferred, the school was
managed by the newly designated Principal II , Mrs.Lourdes C. Mendoza and Mr. Marcelo T.
Esteban, newly promoted Head Teacher II. With just six months since they assumed their
posts as the new administrators, several project have been put up. Quite noticeable are the
concrete tables and chairs, comfort rooms for the boys and girls, teachers cooperative
canteen and the construction of the school museum. these projects have benifited the 31
faculty members, 1 utility aide , 2 school guard and the 1216 students who have enrolled in
that school year including those from the annex. But Esteban did not stay long in the school,
for after one yaer he was transferred and Mr. Bobby C. Caoagdan took his place up to 2009.
In 2011, Mrs. Carmen P. Mendoza replaced Mrs. Lourdes C. Mendoza due to reshuffling of
principal. After the retirement of Mrs Carmen P. Mendoza last june 30, 2012, the former
Principal Mrs. Lourdes C. Mendoza, was assigned as the officer –in- charge of the school
regarding financial matters while Mrs. Charito C. Ramilo, Master Teacher I became the
school’s care taker for physical aspects. On July 1, 2013, the former Head Teacher of the
school Dr. Melanie D. Corpuz, was assigned as the school principal. The next school head
who was assigned because of the reshuffling of principals was Mrs. Cielo G. Cullison from
Mababanaba High School. After the five years of fruitful labor in ENHS, Mrs. Cullison retired
and she was replaced by the present school head in the person of Mr. Domingo R.
Baldovino.

After 51 years of its foundation, ENHS can openly brag of its achievements and
graduates. Countless professionals have been produced and employed here and abroad.
One successful Alumna of batch ‘95 was Marijune Mallari, a certified public accountant
(CPA) who was a Metro bank scholar while in college. Last year, Manuel M. Pascua Jr.
another graduate of ENHS passed the BAR examination.
 Aside from the numerous professionals the school has already produced, the ENHS
also takes pride in being the recipient of countless and citations given by the Dep-Ed in the
cluster, Division, Regional and even national competitions. Among them where the Model
School Award, Best School Grounds, Best Administrative Office, Best EMJS and Best Science
Garden during the School Year 1993-1994; Best National Drug Education Program (NDEP)
implementor in 1995, Best School inside a Garden (SIGA). Implementor and the best
extensive Reading Center in 1999, and division consistent winner for Best in Bulaklakan at
Gulayan (BAG) Since 2000. But the highest award bestowed by the Dep-Ed Tarlac was the
Most Effective Public Secondary School and the Most Secondary Principal awarded to Ms.
Pura V. Cortes, the former principal on December 1999.

Among the scores of faculty members, Mr. Armando G. Salviejo Sr. a one-time
classroom teacher was promoted as Head Teacher III of the school. Shortly thereafter he
was assigned to different schools and then promoted as principal of Buenavista High School
and then Guevara High School . After him, Mrs. Vilma B. Aguas and Mr. Wilfred S. Murla
were also promoted and now assigned to Calipayan High School and Calibungan High School
respectively . two outstanding teachers have also been awarded from the school during the
Education Week Celebration in 1997. Mr. Wilfred S. Murla for Agriculture and Mrs. Perlie N.
Obiena for MAPEH, Mrs. Charito C. Ramilo was also awarded as an Outstanding Science Club
adviser during the Division Science Fair in 2000.

On February 17, 1996, the ENHS was visited by then DECS Sec. Ricardo T. Gloria, Atty.
Reno Capinpin, Asst. Sec. and Stephen Capuyan, regional Director together with them was
the Schools Division Superintendent Gerardo Erquiza. They were the highest DECS officials
who first set foot on the school. This high-ranking DECS officials were impressed by the
cleanliness, beauty, and lush greenery of the school. As a result of their weekend visit,
Cortes was sent to Davao for one week, together with Mr. Wilfred S. Murla. All expenses
were paid by the DECS Central Office.

The school has also been chosen by the division supervisor to be the Flagship school
in Agriculture , Filipino, and PEHM, a favorite venue for cluster and division meetings and
conferences.

Knowing that glory abounds in sacrifices and hardwork, the ENHS continues to grow
and provide quality education not only to the youth of Estipona but also the youth of its
neighboring Barangays.