DCNHS . . . Through the Years
Dagupeños’ thirst for knowledge was temporarily quenched when sometime in 1943, Pangasinan High School was put up in Dagupan in place of the Pangasinan Provincial High School in Lingayen whose buildings were bombed during the Japanese invasion of the capital town. Dr. Emilio N. Severino, former head of the Pangasinan Trade School in Lingayen became the principal of the Pangasinan High School in Dagupan.
During World War II
Since it was the height of World War II that time and the Philippines was then reeling under the yoke of foreign domination, classes were briefly interrupted and the Allied Forces under Gen Douglas McArthur began the campaign to liberate the Philippines from the clutches of the Japanese Imperial Forces. However, on February 5, 1945, the Pangasinan Girls’ High School in Dagupan and the Boys’ High School housed in Calasiao, re-opened its doors and resumed its classes. Months later, it was renamed as Dagupan Junior High School. Eight months after on October 22, 1945, its graduation exercises were held with Josefina de Venecia as the Class Valedictorian. The school was still then under the principalship of Dr. Severino. Subsequently in 1946, it graduated two groups of students – the regular and the special.
Advent of Dagupan City High School
When Dr. Severino, the school principal, was promoted as Chief of the Curriculum Division of the Bureau of Public Schools, Mr. Nemesio R. Ceralde became the next principal. It was during his term, when Dagupan became a city in 1948, and the Dagupan Junior High School was renamed Dagupan City High School.
Transfer to Tapuac
Five years after, in 1950, the school was transferred to its present site in Tapuac. Rows of Quonset huts were constructed from recycled materials taken from the U.S. Army surplus solicited by the late Mayor Angel B. Fernandez and the principal of the school, Mr. Nemesio Ceralde at the U.S. Army depot in San Fernando, La Union. These rooms were far better than the nipa-thatched rooms at its former site being currently occupied today by West Central Elementary School II. Faculty members who were prominent during those times were: Ms. Brigida Maramba, Ms. Caridad Cabildo, Ms. Felicitas Oviedo, Ms. Madrona Estrada, Ms. Consuelo Quesada, Maria Cirineo, Mrs. Emilia Rivadelo, Fe Manza, Luz Velasquez, and Mr. Mauro Bautista.
When Mr. Ceralde was designated as principal of the University of the Philippines Preparatory High School, the stewardship of the Dagupan City High School was passed on to Mr. Eduardo Q. Edralin. Prominent faculty members during Mr. Edralin’s term were: Ms. Rosario Tabuno, Mr. Faustino Oviedo, Ms. Carolina Perez, Mr. Jose Ramirez, Ms. Consuelo Lomibao, Ms. Virginia Viray, Ms. Enriquieta Vinas, Mr. Arturo Afante, Ms. Visitacion Joves, and Ms. Lydia Torio.
On September 7, 1957, a two-storey school building with 20 standard-sized rooms costing PhP 100,000.00 was inaugurated. Acquisition of this building was made possible through the support of the late Senators Alejo Mabanag and Cipriano Primicias Sr., who unselfishly shared their countrywide development funds. The release of the said fund was through the concerted efforts and representations of Hon. Teofilo Guadiz, Sr., then City Mayor of Dagupan and Mr. Eduardo Edralin, the incumbent principal who subsequently became the City Schools Division Superintendent of Dagupan City. His appointment to the said position paved the way for a veteran teacher, Ms. Isabel A. Alisangco to be the next principal. She served the school for six years. The prominent members of the faculty during her time were: Ms. Honorata Ll. Guadiz, Mr. Anacleto Banaag, Mr. Avelino Lising, Ms. Corazon Jovellanos, Mr. Silvero Gutierrez, Mr. Marcelino Calimlim, Mr. Conrado Vitug, Mr. Teodorico Paramio, Ms. Carmelita Sta. Maria, Ms. Lina Galvan, Ms. Elsa Galvan, and Ms. Socorro Galvan. Upon Ms. Alisangco’s retirement, Mrs. Luz V. Afante whose term was characterized as fresh and progressive for Dagupan City High School metamorphosed into a more relevant and progressive public secondary school succeeded her.
First Major Setback
The first major set back hit the City high School on September of 1969. A fire of unknown origin gutted the main school building and damaged several structures forcing the school authorities to transfer most of the school activities to West Central School I compound. Pre-fabricated buildings were hastily put up to accommodate students whose numbers have increased threefold. At the same time, reconstruction at the Tapuac site was being rushed. It required Herculean effort of dedicated city and school officials to put Dagupan City High School back on its feet.
Dagupan City National High School’s Birth
On December of 1975, a brand new two-storey school building rose on the site of the old one. Major credit went to then City Mayor Cipriano Manaois who literally moved heaven and earth to secure funds for its construction. More structures began to take shape and the school was well on its way to regain its glory. The Martial Law brought about significant development in the school’s thrust towards modernization. With the issuance of P.D. 1050, the Dagupan City High School was converted into a national high school- a move that assured the infusion of more national funds for the acquisition of modern facilities and equipments needed for the school’s expansion. Faculty members who were prominent during those times were Mrs. Perla T. Cornel, Ms. Rosie Concepcion, Ms. Maria Fernandez, Ms. Luz Gemeniano, Ms. Alice Paras, Ms. Elisa Torio, Mr. Fidel Fernandez, Ms. Rosario Tomas, Mr. Alberto Macob, Ms. Cornelia Jimenez, Ms. Celerina Tancuan, and Ms. Rosario Viray.
A pre-requisite for the school’s nationalization was the complete turnover of all the properties with buildings and equipments and all the improvement thereof. These were met through the courageous, persistent and untiring efforts of City Schools Superintendent Heriberta Caguioa and Principal Luz V. Afante with the moral support of Secretary Jacobo Clave, Director Boquerin and the Council of Elders led by former Mayors Teofilo Guadiz, Sr. and Liberato Ll. Reyna. Through the magnanimity of City Mayor Cipriano M. Manaois and the Honorable Members of the Sangguniang Panglunsod with Honorable Alfredo D. Sta. Maria as its sponsor, City Resolution No. 845-77 dated September 2, 1977 donated in favor of the national government a land area of 33,400 sq. m., buildings, improvements, and facilities therein existing and Resolution No. 846-77 dated September 2, 1977 sponsored by Hon. Conrado L. Guadiz for the purchase of a land area of 6,552 sq. m., from the heirs of A. Duque et. al., and was donated to the national government as part of the Dagupan City National High School. Indeed, the school has at last reached its cruising speed and its aim of becoming the premier secondary school in Region I was within sight.
When Mrs. Afante retired, Ms. Paciencia Sagun who was the City School’s Assistant Division Superintendent that time was assigned as the school’s officer-in-charge for the school year 1982-1983. She served as OIC-Principal until the appointment of Mrs. Perla T. Cornel who was then the Assistant Principal of the School.
1990 Killer quake Jolted DCNHS
It was during the term of Mrs. Cornel as principal of Dagupan City National High School when the July 16, 1990 earthquake hit the city and caused widespread destruction and devastation. For forty-seven (47) seconds, thousands of panic-stricken teachers and students scampered out of swaying school buildings in a mad dash for safety. The intensity 7.8 tremors caused major damage to nearly all structures in the school premises.
Painstaking Road to Recovery
Since education as most of us know, is a basic need of man, its flow must be kept unhampered. So, while aftershocks were still occurring at regular intervals, frantic efforts of reconstruction began. The school campus was cleared of debris and slightly damaged classrooms were prepared to accommodate returning students. To ease the serious lack of classrooms, army field tents were put up and were used as temporary classrooms and construction of makeshift schoolhouses were rushed. As funds became available, condemned structures were torn down for new and permanent facilities. Slowly and painfully, the road to full recovery began. Through proper representations of the school principal Mrs. Perla T. Cornel, more classrooms were built, two (2) canteens were constructed, two (2) home economics buildings were put up and pathways were cemented.
DCNHS Recovers, Becomes DLS
In school year 1991-1992, Mrs. Cornel, the school principal, won the Gintong Ilawan Award as the Most Outstanding Secondary School Principal in Region I. Indeed, Dagupan City National High School has fully recovered. The wounds left by that killer quake have already healed and the scars disappeared. Most of the school’s one hundred fifty classrooms were provided with comfort rooms. A computer building was constructed and, the school’s alumni residing here and abroad donated several sets of computers. A library building was put up and was equipped with state-of–the–art facilities. The teachers and students provided the Mathematics-Science Learning Resource Center with instructional materials ready for use. These things contributed to the improvement of the academic performance of students. In the different contests where DCNHS students joined, they emerged as winners. Members of the faculty also excelled. Most of them were chosen as national and regional trainers in their respective fields of specialization. Hence, the Regional Office selected DCNHS as the Division Leader School (DLS). Dr. Nora F. Benavides, Ms. Eroteida Abalos, Ms. Lorna T. Caguioa, Ms. Remedios C.Villena, Mrs. Wilfreda S. Patawaran, Mrs. Zenaida L. Sinlao, Dr. Pacita B. Datario, Mrs. Erly G. Datario, Mrs. Carmelita S. Domantay, Virginia D. Legaspi and Ms. Remedios T. Reyna were the faculty members who were prominent in those times.
When Mrs. Cornel was promoted to Assistant City Schools Division Superintendent, Mr. Leon L. Palaganas Jr., the City Schools General Education Supervisor, was assigned as the Officer–In-Charge (OIC) Principal of the school from April to October 1998 until Mrs. Honorata G. Siapno was appointed as the next principal of Dagupan City National High School.
