TARLAC NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOLOldest Public High School in Tarlac

The Tarlac National High School is the oldest public high school in the country. It first opened in September 1, 1902 under the supervision of Mr. Frank R. White who was also the Deputy Division Superintendent for the province. All the equipment used for the school was imported from the United States of America.

Tarlac National High School is the "Oldest Secondary School in the Philippines. It was founded/established on September 2, 1902 by the American Thomasites. The first Principal was Mr. Frank White.

Perhaps very few people know that the Tarlac High School, formerly the Tarlac Provincial High School, was the first public High school that was ever established in the Philippines after the American Occupation.

The Province of Tarlac once belonged to the Pangasinan, Tarlac-Zambales schools division superintended by Mr. S.C. Newson. In October, 1900, Mr. Frank R. White was named deputy division superintendent for Tarlac Province and during his incumbency, the Tarlac Provincial high School was opened on September 1, 1902, with Mr. White as the first principal. He served only for two months after which he was appointed division superintendent for the Tarlac Province. He was succeeded by Mr. S.A. Campbell as principal of the high school. Classes were held in rented buildings and four American men and two American women assisted the principal in teaching. The students were classified according to their mental abilities. However, this system of classifying students was abolished in 1905 in favor of another. The subjects taught were grammar, language physiology and music. A history book was used as a reader. All books and writing materials were given free.

White and Campbell did not stop after organizing an embryonic high school. Through their initiative and resourcefulness, they were able to secure a permanent building and to them goes the credit of having Tarlac build the first high school building in the Philippines. The site, a short distance south of the town plaza, contained 7,860 square meters. The building was made of Oregon pine and was 42 feet wide and 76 feet long. The upper storey contained two classrooms and an assembly hall, while the lower portion has four classrooms and the principal’s office. Aside from the equipment which was all imported from the United States, the total cost of Tarlac Provincial High School was P48,000. Superintendent White started the construction of the building and Superintended O.S. Rimold saw it completed. The Honorable James Francis, secretary of public instruction, opened it in January, 1904. Mr. George Egan was the principal. A large flag of the United State, a gift of the Martha Washington Society of New York, was unfurled at the time in honor of the first public high school in the Philippines. The building was used until 1915 when it was condemned as unsafe by the district engineer and was demolished. For a time, Tarlac had no high school building.

In 1905, the enrolment was 40. This increased to 382 in 1918. The intermediate department which was also housed in the same building as the secondary, had 85. In 1918, there were 368 pupils enrolled. The first Year of the Tarlac Provincial High School

was permanently introduced in 1905; the Second Year, in 1906; the Third Year, 1910; and the Fourth Year in1917.

Woodworking and drawing were early introduced into the course and were done in the basement of the old government building facing the provincial high school. In 1906, this building was gutted down by fire and the equipment used in the course was lost. Woodworking and drawing were not again properly treated until three years later when a school shop was constructed on the site of the provincial capitol. It was built of reinforced concrete, 96 feet by 32 feet with two wings 30 by 26 feet. It was well preserved so that in 1918, it was housing 91 boys of the trade course.

Since June 1915, the provincial high school and the intermediate school have used rent-free, the primary school building of Tarlac and until October of 1917, a temporary building for the domestic science department. A new high school site containing 78,405 square meters has been acquired after two years of persistent effort on the part of the then superintendent of schools, Dr. Adam C. Deikum. The site contained three lots of 68,084, 5,419 and 4,902 square meters, respectively. These were acquired between April 20, 1917 and June 27, 1917.

Sufficient ground was in the site to hold all the departments of a high school together with a track, a baseball field and a school garden. Based on the estimates of enrolment increases, the Tarlac Provincial High School should be a building capable of serving five hundred secondary students. To this, P100,000 was needed. (The source of this article failed to mention when the new high school building was constructed.)

Athletics held a prominent place in the school life of Tarlac ever since Mr. White, school principal, started his pupils of the municipal school to play among themselves and against American soldiers. In 1906, the high school base baseball team played against teams outside the province for the first time when Mr. Barton took it to Manila. In the second year of the Central Luzon Athletic Association, organized in 1907 to include Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija, Tarlac won the championship in baseball and in track and field. And in 1914, when Agno Valley Athletic Association was formed of Tarlac and Pangasinan, Tarlac won the baseball competition.

Among the Americans who served as principals of the Tarlac Provincial High School from 1900 to 1918 were Frank R. White, S.A. Campbell, O.S. Reimold, George Egan, Frank T. Reising, Edmund J. Gibbons, Charles E. Lucas, Carroll A. Peabody, George W. Betz, August L. Prodoehl and Mathew D. Ashe.

Those who served in acting capacity during the temporary absence or short illness of the regular incumbent were George L. Parks, David C. Leveland, Ernest A. Briles, Reece A. Odver and (Mrs.) Agnes M. Dorkum.

The first annual commencement exercises of the Tarlac Provincial High School was held at the Tarlac Central School campus on Wednesday, March 27, 1918. The program was simple and short as follows: Overture by an orchestra; Salutatory, Mr. Nasario

Sadorra; Male Quatette, Seniors; Valedictory, Mr. Luciano Salak; Selection from Faust Orchestra; Address, Hon. Ernesto Gardiner, governor of Tarlac; Song, Graduating Class; Presentation of the Graduating Class, Mr. Matthew D. Ashe, principal; Distribution of Athletic Prizes; Award of Diplomas and address to the Graduates, Dr. Adam C. Derkum, division superintendent of schools of Tarlac; Finale Orchestra.

The faculty of the Tarlac Provincial High School during the school year was composed of the following: Mr. Matthew D. Ashe, principal; Mrs. Agnes M. Derkum, Fourth Year; Miss Catherine D. Morgan, Third Year; Mr. Roy L. McFrederick, Second Year; Mr. Ricardo Ortega, First Year A; Miss Pilzar Barreta, First Year B; and Mr. Julio Laoang, First Year C.

Of Class 1918, there were only 30 members and only 3 of whom were women. Most of them came from Tarlac and Pangasinan. Their class officers were: Jose Rosario, president, Teofilo del Rosario, vice president; Luciano Salak, secretary; and Lina Aguilar, treasurer. The class adviser was Mrs. Agnes M. Derkum. The class motto was, Commence and Complete; Class color: Blue and White.

In his class history (the class prophecy was written by Rufina Reyes), Luciano Salak, the class valedictorian, mentioned that in June 1914, there were about eighty students from different intermediate schools who assembled in the Tarlac High School to form the Class of 1918. The following school year, less than one half enrolled in sophomore class, and in June 1917, there were only 18 of them who returned for enrolment. These, however, were augmented by 12 new students to compose the first senior class of the Tarlac High School.

In the order as they appeared in their annual, the members of Class 1918 and the first batch of graduates of the Tarlac High School were: Rufina Reyes, Tarlac, Tarlac; Lina Aguilar, Tarlac, Tarlac; Feliciana P. Aromin, Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija; Jose D. Rosario, San Carlos, Pangasinan; Francisco R. Silaran, Balungao, Pangasinan; Sebastian Lagade, Gerona, Tarlac;

Magno B. Clemente, Camiling, Tarlac; Leon C. Fabros, Victoria, Tarlac; Teofilo de Rosario, Paniqui, Tarlac; Luciano Salak, Tarlac, Tarlac; Bernardino Domingo, Victoria, Tarlac; Gaudencio N. Toledo’ San Clemente, Tarlac; Manuel A. Ramirez, Tayug, Pangasinan; matias Tolentino, Tarlac, Tarlac; Escolastico D. Calulut, Dagupan, Pangasinan; Fructuso C. Andrada, San Quintin, Pangasinan; Mariano B. Gelasio, Victoria, Tarlac; Conelio E. Reyes, Victoria, Tarlac; Narciso Cristobal, Tarlac, Tarlac; Feliciano Bachini, Camiling, Tarlac; Angel Urquico, Tarlac, Tarlac; Amado R. Estrada, Camiling, Tarlac; Nasario M. Saderra, Moncada, Tarlac; Nicolas F. Yadao, La Paz, Tarlac; and Teofilo T. Maglanoc, Tarlac, Tarlac.

Tarlac National High School Celebrates 110th Year TodayMANILA, Philippines - Tarlac National High School (TNHS) celebrates its 110th anniversary today as the seat of the oldest public school system established by the Thomasites in the Philippines in 1902. 

This first high school nurtured the minds of many great Filipino leaders, from prominent statesmen to business pioneers, to academic chancellors and international diplomats.

It was the learning ground where heroes walked, foremost among them the distinguished politician, spokesman, diplomat, journalist and author, and Foreign Secretary Carlos P. Romulo, signatory for the Philippines to the United Nations Charter when it was founded in 1946 and first Philippine President of the United Nations 4th Session General Assembly in 1949. Romulo was also aide-de-camp to General Douglas MacArthur. 

The TNHS roster of distinguished alumni includes UP president Onofre D. Corpus; and the late government officials, such as UP president Jorge Bocobo, Senator Jose Roy, Congressman Constancio Castañeda, Philippine National Bank president, Panfilo Domingo, founder of the old Osias Colleges in Tarlac Camilo Osias.

World-renowned architect and sculptor Lor Calma is also an alumnus. Calma continues to bring honor to his alma mater — and his country — with award-winning designs and works of art here and abroad.

Leading the school’s foundation day celebrations today is the Tarlac National High School General Alumni Association, Inc. (TNHS-GAAI), headed by president Ofelia “Offie” Mananquil-Bakker (Class 1959), who will deliver the keynote address. Bakker is a former member of the MTRCB Board, and an avid environmentalist who spearheads tree-planting activities in the Philippines. She also assisted in projects benefitting Filipino overseas workers while she was an expat based in Europe and Asia with her husband, businessman Jack Bakker. Their signature project, FEED (Fostering Education & Environment Development Inc.) holds a scholarship program with the UP Los Baños for deserving Filipino scholars pursuing agriculture, forestry, environment and science degrees.

The other alumni board officers are Servillano S. Santillan (Class 1959), vice president; Delia G. Grivas (1969), trustee-head of secretariat; Lydia Bugnot de Guzman (1959), trustee-auditor; Ilaya Magno-Gonzales (1959), trustee-treasurer;Noel Quirante (1991), trustee-treasurer; other trustees, Jesus B. David(1958);  Perseveranda O. Domingo ((1949); Agapito C. Abaya (1955); Alfredo D. Reyes (1958); Arturo Cunanan (1973); Napoleon P. Ferrer ((1977); Germarcel F. Guiao (1963); Rodrigo O. Yabut (1974); and Arturo Tabaquero (1973).

Advisers are Dr. Wilfredo Dungca (1958), Horace G. Yalung(1949), Rufino B. Antonio (1959) and TNHS principal Yolanda Gonzales. Judge Antonio Pangan (1974)is ex-officio member, while Engineer Nicanor C. Villasenor (1949), Chairman Emeritus.

Brief History 101In the 1903 provincial report of Tarlac Governor Alfonso Ramos to the Philippine

Commission, there was sheer pride in stating that "at the initiative of this provincial board there has been established in this capital a secondary or high school, the pupils of which, after terminating the course of study prescribed, will be prepared to enter any college or higher institution of academic or professional study." For S. A. Campbell, who was to assume the superintendent’s position later that year, there was concurrence: "Probably the most important event of the year was the establishment of the provincial high school, which opened the beginning of the school year (September 1, 1902). The

enthusiasm, interest, and application of the students while in attendance at the normal, together with the marked progress of the majority, seemed to warrant the success of such an institution. That this new feature was received with favor is evidenced in the fact that the provincial board immediately took steps toward the construction of a high school building."

"An important step in the development of public instruction in the Philippines," wrote the Secretary of Public Instruction in 1902, "was the establishment and organization of the provincial schools of secondary instruction. The law authorizing such schools was enacted March 7, 1902. Prior to this date the Bureau of Education had been chiefly concerned with the organization of primary schools. As a consequence, many of the more advanced pupils in the schools, who had been taught English, began to entertain serious doubts respecting the possibility of continuing their studies in English in schools of a higher grade, and some of them thought it advisable to resume their studies of Spanish in order that they might be prepared to enter the Spanish schools of secondary instruction."

What was not stated by Supt. Campbell in his said report, probably out of modesty, was the fact that "the Province of Tarlac was the first to erect of its own effort a building for a provincial high school," as General Superintendent David Barrows was to recapitulate a milestone of 1902 in 1904. "The present structure faces the plaza, and, while the area of land at present owned is small, a larger amount can be obtained adjoining the present site," as the recapitulation added, " (t)he building is of wood and of American type." One author, Rev. Vincent R. Catapang, was to write in 1925 "the first secondary school was that of Pangasinan." Certainly, what he failed to realize was that by September 1 of 1902, Tarlac was then part of the Division of Pangasinan. Thus, in earmarking this distinct honor for the province of Tarlac, the contribution of Supt. Sidney C. Newsom should not be undermined. As the superintendent of the Division of Lingayen, Pangasinan (to which Tarlac then was a part), the Bureau of Education was by then acknowledging his primordial role in the beginnings of secondary education. At the ending month of the school year, on March 23-27, 1903, Mr. Newsom was to deliver a paper to the collegial body of superintendents on the prospects of "The Provincial Secondary School – Organization, Aims, Course of Study, etc." With the Tarlac High School certainly in mind, since it was then under his domain, he was to point out that "the provincial high school has been, I think, largely an experiment during the session just closed." From that seven months initial session; he was to elaborate on the expectances of this new phase of public education.

Such references on the beginnings of public secondary education in the province compel the veracity of the THS marker concerning the Tarlac High School. As local historiography had it, there was indeed a provincial plaza, the Plaza del Toro, which used to be situated in the main campus of the present Tarlac State University. The site of the first high school as referred to by Dr. Barrows was on the eastern portion of the plaza, now the Smith Hall or the College of Arts and Sciences building of TSU. But the marker had its flaw. The first high school principal of Tarlac, and the whole Philippines for that matter, was also actually Mr. Frank R. White. Mr. Edmund J. Gibbons, the acknowledged first principal by the marker, was by that time (September 1, 1902) assigned in San Fernando, La Union. He came to Tarlac much later. 100

Drawing from a historical sketch provided in the first souvenir program of a graduating class of the high school (Souvenir of Class 1918, Tarlac High School), a local researcher, Nemesio C. Cardinoza wrote for a Tarlac newspaper that "(i)n October 1900 (it should be 1901), Mr. Frank R. White was named deputy division for Tarlac Province and during his incumbency, the Tarlac Provincial High School was opened on September 1, 1902, with Mr. White as the first principal." It had an original enrolment of "35 students which was increased to 93 before the end of that year." Cardinoza was to add that "(Mr. White) served only for two months after which he was appointed division superintendent for Tarlac Province."

One of the first students of Tarlac High School was Hon. Jorge C. Bocobo, whose initial experience was the attendance of a normal institute held in the summer of 1902. His daughter-biographer was to cite that "the second phase of Father’s studies in the provincial capital was attending the provincial high school. His teachers were Americans and one in particular, Dr. Frank R. White, took special interest in my father because he was always at the top or very near the top of his class and because of this, Dr. White saw great promise in him. He predicted that my father would someday be an "eminent man of his country" so he should be sent to school in Manila."

Mr. S.C.A. Campbell was to replace Mr. White as the principal of the high school. Under him were "three assistants, Miss Ansbro , Mrs. Martin, and Mr. Tejada. The 2 American teachers of the municipal school each took two classes every afternoon."In 1903, Supt. Campbell was to report also that "(a)lmost coincident with the establishment of the provincial high school the provincial board took steps toward erecting a building for this institution." A THS Historical Sketch was to add that " after organizing an embryonic High School, Mr. White’s and Mr. Campbell’s initiative and resourcefulness were ill-content until a permanent building was secured and to them is due the credit of having Tarlac erect the first high School building in the Philippine Islands after the American Occupation."

In consonance with that of Governor Ramos, Campbell mentioned that an "appropriation of $5,000 gold has been made for this purpose, but it is expected that the building for this institution will exceed that amount, as it is purposed to fit out a woodworking department."

The Souvenir of Class 1918, Tarlac High School provided a vivid description of the first permanent building of the Tarlac High School:The building was principally of Oregon pine, and was 76 feet long and 42 feet wide. The upper storey contained two classrooms and an assembly; the lower, four classrooms and the Principal’s Office. Exclusive of the equipment, all of which was imported from the United States, the total cost of the Tarlac Provincial High School was P 48,000. Mr. White commenced the building, Governor Ramos directed its construction, Superintendent O.S. Reimold saw it completed, and Honorable James Francis Smith, Secretary of Public Instruction, opened it in January, 1904. Mr. George M. Egan was principal. A large flag of the United States, the gift of the Martha Washington Society of New York, was unfurled at the time in honor of the first Public High School in the Philippine Islands.

In 1905, a monument in honor of Dr. Jose Rizal was erected, and this was made possible through the initiative of Don Marciano Barrera of Concepcion, then the

provincial secretary. There were those who were to cite that this was the first statue ever built for the national hero in the whole of the Philippines. In 1906, a school of carpentry (Boys’ Trade) was added to the provincial school. Its first supervisor was Mr. Byron F. Barton, who used to be the supervising teacher for the town of Concepcion. "Woodworking and Drawing were early introduced into the course and were done in the basement of the old Government building which faced the Provincial High School", cites the THS Historical Sketch of 1918. Unfortunately, a fire destroyed the Government building in 1906 and that "all the equipment used in the Course was lost. Woodworking and Drawing were not properly treated again until three years later when a School was again erected on the site of the Provincial building."

In 1909, Governor Jose Espinosa started the erection of a 3-room temporary building to house a provincial trade school that catered to the needs for vocational training. The school started with the admission of Grades V and VI under the supervision of Mr. Laurentz Swartz (actually Lawrence H. Schwartz ). In 1918, the said edifice was mentioned that "it was built of reinforced concrete, (illegible) by 32 feet with two wings 30 by 26 feet. It is well preserved and today housing 91 boys of the Trade Course." This was to become the Engineering campus of the Tarlac State University decades later

Among the Americans who served as principals of Tarlac High School (now the Tarlac National High School) from 1902 to 1918 were:

Frank R. White S.A. Campbell O.S.Reimold George M. Egan Frank T. Reising Edmund J. Gibbons Charles E. Lucas Carroll A. Peabody George W. Betz August L. Prodoehl Matthew D. Ashe

There were also some who served in acting capacity; these include George L. Parks, David C. Loveland, Ernest A. Briles, Reece A. Oliver, and Mrs. Agnes M. Derkum.

It was only in 1918, as the first Souvenir attests, that the first high school in the Philippines was to have its initial batch of full-fledged graduates.

School Rules and Policies• Attend all classes regularly and punctually.• Come in school in proper prescribed uniform.• Wear your ID inside the campus.• Attend flag ceremony everyday.• Come to school always neat and clean.• Observe strictly signs written on boards.• Report to class or leave the room as soon as the bell rings.• Safeguard school properties.

• Use school facilities like faucets, toilets, electric fans, computers, etc. properly.• Avoid loitering around the school premises and shouting along the corridors especially during the campus.• Maintain cleanliness and orderliness inside the campus.• Maintain order during class/school programs.• Observe decent haircut (for male) no highlighting of hair.• Avoid the use of earing (for male) and unnecessary accessories.• Be polite and courteous to school officials, teachers, parents and visitors at all times.• Be kind and friendly to everyone.• Report misdoings of students to the adviser of Guidance Counselor.• Maintain discipline in passing in and out of the classroom, fall in line and observe silence.• Go home immediately as soon as classes are dismissed.• Avoid picking of flowers or ornamental plants.• Observe strictly school campaigns against vandalism, smoking, drinking alcohol, drug pushing and using, stealing, possession of explosive materials/deadly weapons, pornographic materials and immorality, destroying school reputation thru public scandal. Disobedience, will lead to suspension, dropping out from the school.• Present excuse letter signed by the parent/guardian or bring parent/guardian to teacher concerned in case of absence/s.• Prohibit peddlers (vendors, beggars, solicitors) from entering the campus.• Complete requirements before enrolling for transferee/s bring certification of good moral character, barangay and birth certificates and form 138.

Tarlac National High School – AnnexThe history of the Tarlac National High School ANNEX started on 1960. At that

time it is called Camp Aquino High School which is owned by the military forces. July 1973-1974 when the AFHSEM turned over the school to the Provincial Government, the school was called Tarlac High School San Miguel an annex of the Tarlac High School Main. The first principal at that time was Mr. Faustino Carlos. Then the nationalization of the school was approved by the year 1986. Ms. Julieta P. Santillan was assigned as the Officer-in-charge of the school by Dr. Benigno N. Malit (the then principal). Then the school was named Tarlac National High School ANNEX until this school year 2008.             Dr. Benigno N. Malit reached his retiring aged so Dr. Epifania B. Dungca assumed the seat of the principal. And because of unavoidable circumstances Ms. Julieta P. Santillan resigned and Mrs. Wilma B. Dato as the Master Teacher II was appointed by the superintendent as the Officer in-charge of Tarlac National High School ANNEX. That whenever she’s out of the school she confidently assigned Mrs. Milagros Matias to be the TIC to the present time.

Tarlac National High School – Annex GoalsVision:

Tarlac National High School envisionsto become an Institution of excellencein Basic Education through the proper application of School.Based management and with the supportof its stake holders through consultation, coordination, collaboration and networking.

Mission:Provides learners with a conducive learning environment

to the development of basic numeracy, communication and computer literacy, lifelong livelihood skills, correct values probing and scientific attitude in order to become God-loving, morally upright, socially responsible and globally competitive.

Tarlac High School MarchTHS Alma dear

List to our song of cheerEchoing from the campus loud and clear

Giving us courage strong that knows no fearFilling our hearts with joy the goal is near

THS is the song for us to sing along From June to March till Victory is won

Cheering us in our fight for fame renowned Let us raise our voice and sing the THS Song

Onward let’s stick to the fight Do the tasks with all our might

And keep the torch burning bright Tell the world we’re right.

Sing as we roll alongKeeping our spirit strong

Waving our banner high before the throngOh, what a pride it is to her belong

Let us sing aloud theTarlac High School song.

Tarlac High School Alma Mater Farewell SongFarewell THS Alma dear

Farewell to theeThe hour of parting now has come

To leave thy portals freeAs onward through the path of life

With courage tread our wayAnd with determination striveTo win the battle of each day

To thee, oh Alma Mater,We pledge our allegiance

To ever cherish thy dear nameIn our hearts and minds

Farewell, O school of lofty dreamsThy beacon light forever gleams

To guide us to our futureAlma Mater, fare-thee-well

Once more our song of gratefulnessTo thee we raise

Thy counsels wise and guidance wellDeserve our endless praise

And though the years may swiftly fleetWe shall hold the memory of by-gone days with joy replete

Sweet recollections full of gleeBeloved Alma Mater

May thou be blest foreverAnd success may crown thee ever more

Each passing of the yearMay heavenly light upon thee shine

Fair hope of our FatherlandOur loyalty to thee ever dwell

Oh Alma Mater Fare-thee-well.