To Achieve is To Believe: Revil-Bajar National High School’ Rainbow After the Rain

by: Luzel Jayubo-Bartolay

“It`s either we do it big and win big or not do it at all,” the echoing proud words of Mr. Raden C.
Barredo, Teacher-in-charge of Revil-Bajar National High School.

Motivation.
Determination.
Inspiration.

Three words that armored Revil-Bajar National High School bagging and taking home Brigada Eswela
National Award not just once, not twice but THRICE engraving them in the Hall of Fame for Small School
Category.

Humble Beginnings: One Step At a Time

Revil-Bajar National High School is located at Barangay Poblacion West, Milagros, Masbate and
was established June 2015. It is the only public secondary school located at the heart of the
municipality. The one-hectare area was donated by the retired Regional Director Jovencio T. Revil and
retired Masbate Province Schools Division Superintendent Hilda Bajar Revil thus the name of the school
as Revil-Bajar National High School.
At present, the school has 13 teachers and 360 students as of school year 2021-2022 which is a dramatic
increase considering its first year of implementation five year ago. Now, the school has 5 buildings with
9 classrooms in total, all donations from different stakeholders.
As for the classes, the school has 11 sections (2 sections per grade level up to Grade 11 and 1 section for
Grade 12). It has 13 teachers, 11 of which are junior high school teachers, 2 senior high school teachers
and 1 Teacher-in-Charge. The first batch of Senior High School as Grade 11 started S.Y. 2020-2021 and is
currently in its second year of implementation with the first ever batch of Strand with Bread and
Pastry and welding as electives.

Bridge Over Troubled Waters

Revil-Bajar NHS journey to fame comes with a reasonable amount of challenges. They have their
fair share of playful waves as they sail the sea of recognition. According to Sir Raden, one of the few
struggles they have to face was the lack of manpower since they are only a small school. Everyone is
utilized especially the learners and the teachers, and they have been an integral part to the
achievements of the school. They also encountered lack of support from other agencies and
stakeholders which challenged them to put more effort in giving appreciation to the stakeholders who
chose to extend a helping hand rather than raised eyebrows. In this perfectly imperfect world, stories
and talks about exhaustion, hardship and how tiresome it is to join such contests created a peculiar
feeling of doubt to Sir Raden boiling a momentary cold feet of whether or not, joining the contest will be
worth all the efforts.

“Joining the Search for Brigada Eskwela Best School Implementers is not an easy task. Not only do we
have to condition ourselves as the school head and the coordinator, but we also have to condition the
teachers, the learners, and the community. We have to put emphasis that we are not doing this for
personal gain but for the learners of the school for them to be able to receive that quality education
every learner deserves by providing a healthy and safe learning environment capable of competing with
the rest of the world.

Perhaps you can say we are too ambitious to be reaching for something that is beyond our reach but it
was this ambition that drove us to where the school is at right now. A school that even just a mention of
the name will be accompanied by these achievements that only a few have been given the privileged to
reach. And because of that that we are beyond grateful to our stakeholders, school community, LGU
Milagros, teachers, our learners and to the Lord God because without them, the school would be
nothing. I owe it to them, and I dedicate the awards to them,” exclaimed Sir Raden as he proudly shared
the preparations and struggles and how they faced them heads on.

On 2018, Revil-Bajar had their first taste of success after winning the National award which according to
Sir Raden was an exhilarating experience since it was not only a win for the school and the Division of
Masbate but the win for the whole municipality of Milagros being the only municipality in the whole
Bicol Region at that time to have two school National Awardees. With this, the school together with the
stakeholders vowed to work hand in hand to reach the Hall of Fame Award.

Remaining true to their promise, they receive the same National Award for Brigada Eskwela, small
school category on 2019 and 2021 respectively pinning them on the Hall of Fame.
Moreover, the whole experience is a clear manifestation that no matter how troubled the water is, as
long as the bridge is established with sturdy foundation cemented with resiliency, it will stand the test of
time.

Harvest Time: Pot of Gold at the End of the Rainbow

Despite the onslaught brought about by COVID-19 pandemic, Revil-Bajar NHS with its tag line
“One School, One Community, One Family,” was able to generate 1.6 million pesos for Brigada Eswela
2021 which brought them to the highest pedestal.

“Revil-Bajar National High School will always be the epitome of an institution that is built for the
community, by the community and with the community. Other schools may win National Awards but
there will only be one REVIL-BAJAR NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL- a school that was literally established and
developed by the stakeholders.,” said Sir Raden while explaining that the support of the stakehoders are
overwhelming and that to say they are tremendous is indeed, an understatement.

Cliché as it may sound but Revil-Bajar NHS has finally reach the pot of gold at the end of the
rainbow. They are now reaping the fruit of their long, arduous expedition in providing quality education
to Masbateño learners. In fact, the recognition has helped the school in preparing for the learning
recovery of the school from the pandemic in such a way that because of Brigada Eskwela , Revil-Bajar
National High School has the means and facilities to cater to the needs of the learners (facilities-wise
and preparedness-wise).

“My greatest takeaway from the experience probably will be the fact that BAYANIHAN IS REAL. That the
success of one single structure depends on the support of the people around it. That just like the
PAGDANGAN FESTIVAL of my beloved Municipality, when we all come together for one common goal no
matter how big it is, no matter how impossible it may seem, you can reach it.
Do it. Win or lose, you will gain something from the experience because no matter what the outcome
will be, it`s our learners that will always be the winners. Create a strong support system, believe in
yourself, and always bear in mind why you are doing what you`re doing and who you`re doing it for, and
keep your faith in the Lord. With these things, you will see that anything is possible,” disclosed Sir
Raden as he shared a piece of advice to all aspiring school which would love to follow their footsteps.

Indeed, Helen Keller was right when she said that alone we can do so little but together we can do so
much. This is proven true by Revil- Bajar NHS , a school which chose to swim the river of uncertainties
and pave its way to recognition and fame bringing with them
Motivation.
Determination.
Inspiration.#