On May 15, 2013, President Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. signed Republic Act No. 10533, the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013 (“K to 12 Program”). Section 2 of the law declares that “every graduate of basic education shall be an empowered individual who has learned, through a program that is rooted on sound educational principles and geared towards excellence, the foundations for learning throughout life, the competence to engage in work and be productive, the ability to coexist in fruitful harmony with local and global communities, the capability to engage in autonomous, creative, and critical thinking, and the capacity and willingness to transform others and one’s self.”
Beyond adversities, Department of Education adapted the new curriculum to elevate the educational status of the country. Though lack in preparation, the department allotted huge amount for the launching. It is through the concerted effort of all the geniuses in the academe who made it all possible.
In the City of Balanga, we are blessed for our very own, Armando C. Capili, Ed. D., the former principal of Bataan National High School, now Assistant Schools Division Superintendent to be chosen as be one of the members of National Speakers’ Bureau. DepEd Undersecretary Dina S. Ocampo chose crusaders who will disseminate information about the K to 12 program and we are lucky that the city has the pleasure to have one.
The year before the implementation, Dr. Capili snatched the scene even in Barangay Week to let the people realize the essentials of Senior High School. Untirelessly, he spoke in radio, in television and even in public forums to let people believe on what the new curriculum has to offer. In his vision, he always restate that there will come a time our country will be “borderless” where jobs from all over the globe will be coming in and out of the country, and without the Senior High School Program, our labor force will not improve; and consequently we will be left behind in the international competition, that only jobs which are DANGEROUS, DIFFICULT, and DIRTY will be left for the Filipino workers. This has made people realized its value.
One of the great leaders who shared the same vision with Dr. Capili was the late Hon. Enrique “Tet” Garcia. On his will wheel chair, he still managed to convene his plans with his lawyer Joey Angeles and Dr. Capili. Bataan National High School is well known to its excellence in the academe. Bataan made the institution a bench mark of excellence where many among famous and prestigious Filipinos not only in the country but in the world has established legacy. This maybe one of the reasons why the sick law maker never stop helping DepEd. Before he died, he brought the mission nearer to reality. Hon. Albert S. Garcia continued all the ideas of the late congressman. The governor has braced Dr. Capili from the planning until the launching of the Senior High School in BNHS. Being the leader who give importance to youth and to education, he supported every step of SHS towards the hurling. As a proof, he allotted a huge amount of budget to education in the province.
DepEd Balanga City has also faced the challenge of Senior High School in the city. Through the dynamic effort of the Schools Division Superintendent, Dr. Carolina S. Violeta and SGD Chief, Dr. Flordeliza Del Rosario, the implementation of the senior high school program became smooth. Beyond the hardships are hardworking GPTA, DTI, BPSU, and TESDA who took their part of the mission to generate the senior high school.
DEFIED AND ACED
“We have to understand the smell of the fish!” the words we usually hear from our former principal, now Assistant Schools Division Superintendent, Dr. Armando C. Capili. We were never at ease. We lack many things. We can’t move fast. Everything was stiff. We were given only hope. Nobody can say when. Keeping all in place was not so simple.
I can still remember when students have nothing to do than sit on the floor because there was no chair to sit on; when uniforms for females cannot be insisted since they were only Indian sitting; when during rainy season they cannot even sit because they had stepped their dirty feet on the floor; when we have to borrow classrooms, and even teachers to our ever supportive sister school the BNHS-Junior High; when Fridays are early retreat days for students because we teachers need to undergo a 19-day training that will equip us to our own field. Those were the days… really unforgettable. God really will let us be prepared for a bigger pan.
Despite all, God is good! With His undeniable grace and the perseverance of DepEd City of Balanga, with the unending support of our Schools Division Superintendent, Madam Carol S. Violeta, the generous support of the Local Government Unit, the Non-Government Association, The Parent Teacher Association officers, and others who had extended their generosity and benevolence, everything went well. Not well enough, but better. Better than what was expected.
Physical facilities are obviously changed. Students who were sitting on the floor before are now enjoying the chairs provided by the government. The 3 two-story building of the government, with the 2-storey building donated by the late Hon. Jose Enrique “Tet” Garcia, was now added with two-storey building of 10 classrooms which was made as the Senior High Learning Hub, flourished by the city government, through the leadership of the industrious city mayor, Hon. Francis Anthony S. Garcia. It was also added with the generous donation of PAGCOR of 4 –storey building with 20 classrooms. We can say, little by little, SHS is becoming stable when it comes to facilities. The Maintenance and other Operating Expenses (MOOE) were allocated well and were used wisely to the needs of the school. The renovation of the administration offices, audio-visual room, canteen, science laboratories, and the new stage is a proof to that.
At present, Bataan National High School-Senior High has a total of 1, 502 grade 11 and 1071 grade 12, which is higher compared to 1,113 grade 11 and 1032 grade 12 students last academic year. With the voluminous number of clientele, we are proud to say that just recently, we are labeled by the Regional Monitoring team as HIGHLY EFFECTIVE in terms of immersion implementation.
The solemnity of the simple but elegant graduation showcased the many achievements of the Senior High. The 85% Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (MAAP) Examination Passer
( not including the IMEC passer); the more than 80% of the University of the Philippines College Admission Test (UPCAT) passer, not to mention those 237 students, who are now NCII and NCIII holder; we can say God is really great!
The academic and non-academic awards of the school from division to national are all testimonies of the undying support of the teacher-in-charge in every task assigned to them. The Philippine Robotics Olympiad was hooked on the 3rd place by our very own STEM students. Science and Filipino also bagged award from the Region with Science Quiz Bee and Tagisan ng Talento sa Filipino. The Premier, the senior high schools official school publication had brought home the 4th place from the Regional Schools Press Conference on the Collaborative Desktop Publishing category. Not bad for a newbie.
I believe we teachers are a great part of the success. We, the 94 hardworking teachers who never give up to acquire professional growth just to fit the need. We teachers, who are giving the students the best education possible despite the weaknesses of the school. We never look for what is not present but we dare to look for immediate solutions to assist the flaws.
WHAT WE CAN OFFER…
BNHS-Senior High is now offering four tracks with different strands. In ACADEMIC TRACK, the PRE-MARITIME is the primary strand offered. BNHS-SHS has signed a memorandum of agreement in partnership with Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (MAAP), March 3, 2017. We also offer the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM); the Accountancy, Business and Management (ABM); the Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS); and the General Academic Strand or (GAS). We also recommend ARTS AND DESIGN divided by the Vocals, Dance, Visual Arts, Theatre, Instruments, and Animation Media Literacy. At the same time, we also cater SPORTS TRACK joined with Arts and Design on their core but is separated on their specialization due to limited number of enrollees. The TECHNICAL- VOCATIONAL TRACK has the greatest enrollees where we deal different strands: For Information, Communication and Technology, we have Contact Center Servicing (CCS); and Computer Servicing System (CSS); For Home Economics, we have both Dress Making and Tailoring; For Agri-Fisheriy Arts, we have Animal and Crop Production; and for Industirial Arts, we have Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW); Electrical Installation; and Domestic Refrigeration and Air-conditioning(DOMRAC).
Note that our enrollees are not only from our very own BNHS Junior High school. We believe we are also catch basin of the different nearby towns and provinces, in fact, some of our students came from Aurora, Pangasinan and even Ilocos Sur. We have faith it is through the legacy BNHS has planted.
BEING SENSIBLE
BNHS is not only known for academic excellence. Last academic year, seven (7) Grade 11 and four (4) grade 12 who belong from our Indigenous brethren are catered by the Senior High School. BNHS would like to inform all that Indigenous people (IPs), who are the reflections of the richness and diversity of Philippine culture are now enjoying free education. At present, they are regarded as senior high school scholars. They are provided with different needs our school can offer. Their parents and tribe leaders just like the other students have constant communication with the principal to know the needs and maintain the drive of students in learning. We regard them as partners concerning the education of the students.
FLIGHT OF THE FLEAT
“A journey begins with a single step”. Who can ever say that with only a year of planning and preparation, BNHS-Senior High will be a realization? The vision is now a reality.
Bataan National High School has made herself well known of quality education, and lifelong learning institution. With the launching of Senior High School, it will soon open a new chapter of story and history but people will never forget what is inculcated in the mind of the teachers of BNHS, “A true leader leaves a mark when he left”. At the moment Dr. Capili, enjoys the office of the ASDS in DepEd Balanga City office. But as he goes, he ported the Senior High School all-encompassing. As of him, he sees BNHS in 2018 a well-established Senior High school, where youth relishes success in excellence not only in the academe but also in services.
At present BNHS-SHS has her own principal, Mrs. Norma B. Rico. The thought about “understanding the smell of the sheep” which we often hear is never heard anymore. Mrs. Rico together with the new set of office staff has established new leadership and organized the new face of the SHS. She is now maintaining the good emblem in SHS. Support from the local government, private sectors, and parents has made things little by a little a realization of the vision. We can now say, Department of Education, with the compassionate brace of industrious work force, Bataan National High School-Senior High School is an inclusive haven for the youth.
“The real measure of patriotism is our level of commitment and participation in preparing our people to have the competencies, knowledge, skills and values which are the requisites of international integration- the assurance that future generation of our people will live productively with honor, dignity and pride in a global community of nations”.
– ACC
The quote was made and realized by our ASDS, Dr. Capili. It may be so idealistic, but for a genuine leader who who was labeled the father of Senior High School in the City of Balanga, it is indeed an ample reflection that nothing is impossible if we will make our vision our passion.
By: Jane T. Gregorio, MAEd | Teacher II | BNHS – Senior HighSchool | Balanga City, Bataan
