JUAN TISMO NHS

Why Juan S. Tismo NHS?

This is a frequently asked question by Babatngonanons and other people visiting the town when they read the sign board of the school.  Here’s a simple account of the history.

Background

It is worthy to stress that there was no delivery of secondary educational services in the poblacion as gleaned on the recorded history of Babatngon up to the year 1966.

Record shows that in 1967, Very Rev. Maximo B. Matiga, the parish priest of St. Vincent Ferrer Parish, Babatngon, Leyte responded the dire need of the people and founded a secondary school---the St. Vincent Ferrer Academy. With the help of some prominent parishioners, they collaborated and organized a corporation as required by our laws.  The incorporators are: “1) Rt. Rev. Zenon Ocampo,VG, 2) Very Rev. Maximo B. Matiga, 3) Ricardo Anzale, 4) Antonio Copuaco, 5) Jesus A. Pido, 6) Juan Cachero, 7) Marcelino De La Cruz, 8) Juan Cadano, 9) Domingo Aguirre, and 10) Basillia E. Quero.  While the Board of Trustees are: 1) Rt. Rev. Zenon S. Ocampo,VG, 2) Very Rev. Maximo B. Matiga, 3) Ricardo Anzale, 4) Antonio Copuaco, and 5) Juan Cachero.”¹  Thus, St. Vincent Ferrer Academy (SVFA) was established and started operation in School Year 1967-1968. 

For almost twenty-two (22) years, i.e.: from 1967 up to 1988, the delivery of secondary education in the poblacion was serviced only by a sectarian school, run and controlled by the parish.

Parents’ clamor to establish a public high school

Time has come that residents in the poblacion felt an irony why Barangay Malibago and Barangay Pagsulhugon had a public high school, while in the poblacion there was none.  Hence, the parents, led by Mrs. Urduja Mariano Espanta (also known as Mana Odet), clamored that “government shall establish a public secondary school because of the growing youths’ population that needed secondary educational services. In addition, many parents revealed that they couldn’t enroll their children to Tacloban City because incidental expenses are too expensive”². 

In as much as, that significant increase of youths’ population cannot be catered anymore by St. Vincent Ferrer Academy because of its limitations, like: teachers and classrooms, Mana Odet further challenged the administration of then Municipal Mayor Esmeraldo B. Lawsin to establish a public high school, which was never done by previous chief executives.

The chemistry of political and educational leaders

Municipal mayor Esmeraldo B. Lawsin, whose father was also an educator (Manuel Lawsin, a retired Schools Division Superintendent of Tacloban City), at first hesitated to accept the challenge because of the municipalities’ constraints, like: teachers, classrooms, and vacant lot for educational purposes.  Ultimately, he responded the parents’ clamor of such services and did a great move. He discussed the matter to the late Congressman Cirilo “Roy” Montejo, who eventually filed a bill in the House of Representatives to create Babatngon National High School.  Furthermore, Mayor Lawsin also discussed the feasibility of a municipal high school with Superintendent Generoso B. Purog, the schools Division Superintendent of Leyte.

The chemistry of hardworking political and educational leaders in that time was a catalyst in establishing a public high school in the poblacion. Supt. Purog understood parents’ predicament, for which reason he approved the operation of a municipal high school, but as an adjunct to Pagsulhugon Barangay High School, while waiting for approval of the bill filed by Cong. Montejo. Thus, Babatngon Municipal High School (BMHS) started its operation in School Year 1989-1990 with an enrollment of 2^nd year, 3^rd year, and 4^th year students only---no 1^st year students. The school was handled by four (4) pioneering teachers, three (3) of whom were former teachers of St. Vincent Ferrer Academy, namely: 1) Zenaida A. Espanta, 2) Mrs. Julita E. Elizon, 3) Mr. Apolinario N. Macasojot, and one (1) Mrs. Milagros L. Llano.

At the instant Supt. Purog gave approval for such operation, Mayor Lawsin immediately informed the parents and his leaders (particularly Mrs. Urduja M. Espanta and Mrs. Virginia A. Santos). Mana Odet and Mana Benying disseminated said information around the poblacion regarding the opening of a public municipal high school. They also help enrolled the students, prepared the classrooms, and organized classes. Central school personnel, particularly Mrs. Letecia B. Belches, also help enrolled students in the school campus. 

With the understanding and cooperation of then Babatngon District Supervisor Mr. Rogelio Avila, and Central School Principal Mr. Ben C. Cañete, the municipal high school was temporarily sheltered at Babatngon Central School on four (4) borrowed classrooms.  Additional classroom was a makeshift made of nipa tatches from an abandoned piggery house of the Department of Agriculture, situated at the back of the municipal building.

School site donated by Juan and Sampaguita Tismo

As required by DECS, the municipal government should prepare about four (4.0) hectares of school site as soon as the implementation of a National High School should be given a go-signal, Cong. Roy Montejo said in his communication to Mayor Lawsin.

This was one of the biggest constraints to open a secondary school in the poblacion as anticipated by Mayor Lawsin, who knows that the municipal government itself has no vacant lot for this purpose.  However, Mana Odet happened to know about the unused property of Juan Tismo at Barangay District III.  She was accompanied by Mana Benying Santos and they went into the house of Juan Tismo at Sto. Niño St., Tacloban City in order to help negotiate for its donation to the municipal government, in which Juan Tismo agreed.     

To formalize the transaction, on March 15, 1989 during their 26^th regular session, members of the Sangguniang Bayan of Babatngon passed Resolution No. 11-03-89³ as moved by Kagawad Benedicto Saballa duly seconded by Kagawad Ernesto G. Fabi, Jr.   It requested the Tismo family of Tacloban City thru   Mr. Juan Tismo that the local government of Babatngon, Leyte be afforded the chance to be a recipient of Tismo’s philanthropy by way of donating lots.

On March 31, 1989, in consideration of Juan and Sampaguita’s affection for the people of Babatngon and as act of generosity and belief in the true importance of secondary education and present priorities of men, executed Deed of Donation. They “donated a parcel of agricultural land containing an area of 4.7610 hectares to the Municipal Government of Babatngon, Leyte, thru the members of the Sangguniang Bayan represented by the Municipal Mayor, Esmeraldo B. Lawsin. As a condition thereof, the school shall be named JUAN TISMO & FAMILY NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL OF BABATNGON to which the donee shall be obliged to comply with and agreed upon as part of the donation.”⁴  

The lot was partitioned for Hospital and School purposes

Meanwhile, the bills filed by Cong. Montejo gained approval in the two chambers and in Malacañang.  As a matter of proof, R.A. 6872, otherwise known as “An act establishing a ten-bed capacity municipal hospital of Babatngon, Province of Leyte, to be known as the Babatngon Municipal Hospital, and appropriating funds therefore,”⁵ was approved on March 8, 1990.  But then again, hospital site was a problem of the municipal government because it has no vacant lots suited for hospital purposes.

In order to resolve the matter, again members of the Sangguniang Bayan passed Resolution No. 14-04-89⁶ on March 31, 1989 during their 27^th regular session, as moved by Kagawad Vivencia Caneja duly seconded by Kagawad Benedicto Saballa.  It authorized Mayor Esmeraldo B. Lawsin in behalf of the Sangguniang Bayan, to donate parcel of land measuring 2.7610 hectares to the Department of Health for the establishment of Babatngon Municipal Hospital, which has already an enabling law.  While the remaining 2.0 hectares to the DECS for the establishment of Babatngon National High School, whose bill was still waiting for approval.

R.A. 7148-Establishing Babatngon NHS

On August 22, 1991, Republic Act No. 7148 was approved into law by President Corazon C. Aquino, a pertinent portion of which reads as follows:

“An act establishing a high school in the Municipality of Babatngon, in the Province of Leyte, to be known as The Babatngon National High School, and appropriating funds therefore.”⁷

By virtue of said law, it empowers the youth in the poblacion and had put flesh into the constitutional provision of democratizing access to education. At this juncture, the peoples’ effort led by the municipal officials, parents, and supporters had succeeded.  It further mean that the Department of Education, Culture, and Sports can put on more teachers, equipments, classrooms and other amenities vis-à-vis the growing number of enrollees.

In School Year 1992-1993, Babatngon National High School has moved on to its actual school site donated by Juan and Sampaguita Tismo, from its temporary shelter at Babatngon Central School.  Again, on that site, it was sheltered on temporary five (5) makeshift classrooms made of nipa tatches, constructed by the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) with the help of Mayor Lawsin.  During this year, the school’s teaching force increased to seven (7).  The three (3) additional teachers, viz: 1) Mrs. Eleanor C. Dimaangay, 2) Mr. Edilberto U. Sumapig, 3) Mrs. Lydia C. Ladrillo.

In December 16, 1994, just after the students went home from their Christmas party, a very strong wind carried by typhoon “Yoning” hit the makeshift classrooms and flattened it to the ground.   Consequently, the Department of Education, Culture, and Sports has constructed concrete classrooms year after year.

Ordinance NO. 209-Babatngon NHS is renamed Juan S. Tismo NHS

Sometime in July 2005, the members of the school community, i.e.; teachers, parents, and students signed a petition addressed to the Chair of the Local School Board, Hon. Mayor Ernesto G. Fabi, Jr.  The petition carries with it prayer to comply the terms and conditions stipulated in the Deed of Donation executed on March 31, 1989 by and between Juan and Sampaguita Tismo and the Municipal Government of Babatngon.

 

The Local School Board made recommendations to the Sangguniang Bayan, which acts appropriately as presided by Vice Mayor Rafael I. Delis. The Sangguniang Bayan enacted Ordinance No. 209, a pertinent portion of which reads as follows:

“Pursuant to Section 13, Paragraph (c), Chapter 2, Title One of Book 1 of Republic Act 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, Babatngon National High School is hereby declared and official renamed Juan S. Tismo National High School.”⁸

On 7^th day of September 2005 during their 56^th regular session of the Sangguniang Bayan of Babatngon, Honorable Roy Allan B. Erandio presented Resolution No. 2058-05⁹, which adopts Ordinance No. 209 that renames Babatngon National High School to Juan S. Tismo National High School in the Municipality of Babatngon.  Erandio’s move was duly seconded by Honorable Winston B. Menzon, Honorable Rogelio G. Fabi, and Honorable Ceferino R. Lacaba, Jr.

R.A. 9438–Babatngon NHS change to Juan S. Tismo NHS

Finally, on April 27, 2007, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo approved into law Republic Act No. 9438, after it has passed in the Senate on February 19, 2007 and in the House of Representatives on October 13, 2006.  A pertinent portion of which reads as follows:

“Sec. 1. Renaming a National High School – The name of the Babatngon National High School in the Municipality of Babatngon, Province of Leyte is hereby changed to Juan S. Tismo National High School.”¹⁰

Juan S. Tismo NHS today

Since its inception in School Year 1989-1990 up to this time of writing, the school grows vis-à-vis the number of students with the teachers.  Most importantly, teachers’ teaching capabilities to deliver said services to the youths had significantly improved.

Presently its teaching force includes: 1)Edilberto U. Sumapig, 2)Reynaldo E. Aguilon, 3)Apolinario N. Macasojot, 4)Edgar L. Alvarez, 5)Deodato B. Cadano, 6)Zenaida A. Espanta, 7)Eleonor C. Dimaangay, 8)Ma. Theresa T. Tiozon, 9)Reiselda F. Gular, 10)Ma. Nelly L. Peñaranda, 11)Sonia J. Sumapig, 12)Maricar C. Laguna, 13)Marilyn D. Ranit, 14)Rowena L. Badilla, 15)Jorhiza L. Anade, 16)Letecia R. Cabrillas, and 17)Dr. Gregoria H. Kalingag, and one, Mr. Alfredo Muncada Jr., a volunteer teacher funded by the Local School Board.  Furthermore, the school has one English teacher from the U.S. Peace Corps---Selena Evelyn Barlow of Fishersville, Virginia, U.S.A.   

Juan S. Tismo NHS is now headed by its present school principal, Mrs. Margarita N. Reloza (September 8, 2007 to present).  Previous schools heads includes Mrs. Zenaida A. Espanta (1989 to May 2000); Michael Regis (June 2000 to December 2000, now at Tanauan National High School); Socorro B. Ausa (January 2001 to June 15, 2006, now at San Joaquin National High School); and Dr. Gregoria H. Kalingag (June 16, 2006 to September 27, 2007, now at San Agustin National High School).

Today, the school is one of the service providers of quality public secondary education in the municipality.(edilberto sumapig, January 19, 2010)

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References:

1.      SVFA Articles of Incorporation (courtesy of Letecia A. Martin)

2.      Interview notes with Mrs. Urduja Mariano Espanta

3.      SB Resolution No. 11-03-89

4.      Deed of Donation by Juan & Sampaguita Tismo & the LGU

5.      http://www.chanrobles.com/republicacts/republicactno.6872.html accessed on January 15, 2010. 

6.      SB Resolution No. 14-04-89

7.      http://www.chanrobles.com/republicacts/republicactno.7148.html accessed on January 10, 2010.

8.      Municipal Ordinance No. 209

9.      SB Resolution No. 2058-05

10.  http://www.chanrobles.com/republicacts/republicactno9438.html accessed on January 10, 2010.