HISTORY OF ABORLAN NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

Sometime in 1981, when the then Department of Education, Culture and

Sports (DELCS) issued an order to open barangay high schools, officials and
members of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of Aborlan Central School, with
Mrs. Pillar Peneyra as the principal, conceived the idea for a public high school at the
center of Aborlan.
There being no high school in the town proper, most elementary graduates
from the different elementary schools in Aborlan would either go to Plaridel
Barangay High School or Palawan National Agricultural College or PNAC (now
Western Philippines University or WPU) which offered Science High School and
Two-Two Plan High School curriculum. Accordingly, PNAC was the vehemently
opposed to the idea of putting up a barangay high school in Poblacion.
Parents and other informants would recall the accident of a jeep-load of
students on their way back home from Plaridel Barangay High School which claimed
the life of one female student and injured many. Such incident has doubly triggered
the parents and other concerned citizens for the immediate construction of a high
school at the heart of Aborlan despite strong hindrances. First, then they approached
DELCS officials. But after realizing the process which would just prolong their agony,
they immediately transacted with Palawan Teachers College or PTC (now Palawan
State University, Puerto Princesa City) with Dr. Walfrido R. Ponce de Leon as
President. PTC was willing to provide teachers for Aborlan High School provided that
the PTA would produce school site and classrooms.
As a result, in the early part of 1982, through the efforts of Mrs. Thelma Caspe,
Rev. Alejandro Caspe executed a deed of donation of a portion of land, lot 183-A with
an area of 20, 000 square meters, located in Poblacion, Aborlan, Palawan (later, the
area became a part of Barangay Gogognan) in prompt response to the advice from
PTC. Said land area was used to be a burial site of the Tagbanua tribe. Hence, in
respect to the culture, Mr. Ampaloc Tegas, the tribal elder, was requested to lead a
ritual to appease the spirits of those buried in the area for their approval and
blessings in constructing a high school.
Construction was then commenced in the first quarter of 1982. PTA officials
and members donated most of the materials and gave their free labor, too. Alongside
said construction, necessary documents were also prepared by Mrs. Thelma L. Caspe,
the PTA Secretary while follow ups with the different government offices were done
by the PTA President, Mr. Jose R. Ortega, Sr. The provincial government through the
then Governor Salvador Socrates, donated Twenty thousand pesos (20,000). Also,
through the assistance of Mr. George Florida, the Provincial Engineering office
provided construction equipment.
In June of the same year, though the official approval from DECS, Manila was
in September, the school named Palawan Teachers College, Puerto Princesa City.
Mrs. Evangeline C. Derequito served as principal and Mr. Nelson Peneyra, the first
PTA president, who later became Provincial Board Member and Mayor of Aborlan.
 The following school year, 1983-1984, the school named was changed to
Palawan State-Community College Research and Development (PSC-CCRD-Aborlan)
with Mrs. Eemelinda Bacosa Romero-Baguio as school principal. Then from 1984 to
1990, the school was renamed Palawan State College-Extramural Studies Center
(PSC-ESC-Aborlan) with Mrs. Leonila Pacaldo as the last school Principal.
In 1989, a moratorium was issued ordering all state colleges convertible to
universities to close or turn over their extension schools to DECS. Therefore, in 1990,
PSC-ESC Aborlan was formally turned over to DECS through a ceremony done right
at the school by PCS-ESC and DECS officials. However, the turn-over was not
supported with documents, so the school, the teachers and other stakeholders were
left hanging or floating.
Despite inhibitions, for school year 1990-1991, the school continued its
operation even without assurance for teacher’s pay. The teachers, however, survived
with the help of the PTA contribution. Later, the then Aborlan Mayor, Hon. Rafael
Ortega, Sr. called the teachers and the LGU department heads and other officials for
an urgent meeting. At the meeting said, “Hindi ba tayo nahihiya na hinahayaan
nating magutom ang mga gurong ito na patuloy na nagtuturo sa ating mga kabataan
kahit walang suweldo? Gusto kong gawin ninyo ang lahat ng legal na paraan sa loob
ng isang buwan para sila mabayaran!” As such, after one month, said teachers were
paid.
Before the end of the school year, DECS has annexed Aborlan School to
Plaridel National High School for the authentication of school and student
documents. With the pressing call for said pertinent documents, afresh, Mrs. Thelma
Caspe prepared a proposal converting Aborlan High School to Aborlan National High
School with fiscal autonomy. The proposal was adopted by other high schools in
Aborlan like Sombrero Island, Apurawan and Culandanum National High Schools.
Finally, on May 5, 1994, by virtue of Republic Act 7714, Aborlan High School
(formely PSC-ESC Aborlan) was officially converted into Aborlan National High
School.
Today, Aborlan National High School from its humble beginnings 36 years
ago, with its current resources and achievements- 1,580 junior and senior high
schoold students, 62 teaching and non-teaching personnel, and Php 100 million
worth facilities is now aiming for excellence!