The Venerable Metamorphosis of Notre Dame of Tacurong College
Posted on Monday, 20 October 2014
The
Venerable Metamorphosis
of
Notre Dame of Tacurong College
By Apolinario Villalobos
The school that started with a couple of
buildings divided into small rooms has proudly metamorphosed into a proud
educational institution today, and with a determination, more than ever to
excel. The once flood-prone swampy grassland, now pockmarked with modern
structures was donated by Mr. Sabas Buenacosa. The institution’s humble
beginnings saw sides of pathways planted to acacia trees and aratiles for their
shade, and the basketball court patiently built by members of the pioneering
faculty, with its thin concrete layer of cement that withstood years of ball
dribbling before a thicker one was laid.
The makeshift stage fronting the basketball
court was later improved to have a sturdier roof and a stock room. Other
enhancements that followed were the Administration office, the two-storey
wooden structure that housed the library on the ground floor, and small
auditorium on the second floor, an annex building for additional classrooms,
the convent of the Oblates of Notre Dame (OND) sisters, and the Training Department (elementary) - all of them further lent a more academic
look to the amor seco grass-carpeted campus.
The pioneering teachers were always around
to lend a hand for anything that called for the improvement of the school.
Effort was on gratis, as the school was still struggling financially to be able
to survive. At the helm of all this effort were the parish priest, Fr. Elino
Isip and Fr. Robert Sullivan, the school Director. The noisy generator of the
parish convent, provided limited electricity in the evening for college classes
and activities, especially, basketball on weekends. There were other priests
who came before and after them, but the transformation of the school was more
felt and became more visible during their time.
Teachers who taught in high school also did
the same in college when the latter was opened to welcome eager students who
came from as far as Buluan, Lambayong, Esperanza, Maganoy, Isulan, Tantangan,
and New Iloilo. Most of the students from the neighboring towns were
accommodated by Mrs. Pacing Sara in her home with its several extensions. She
was fondly called by Notre Damians as “nanay Pacing”.
Unselfishly dispensing their duties as
teachers were Mr. Ricardo Jamorabon who handled PMT and ROTC aside from
academic subjects, Mr. Alfonso Romero, Mr. Rafael Sespeῆe, Mrs. Gloria
Canzana, Mrs. Ching Romero, Ms. Nenita Bernardo, Mrs. Josefina Lechonsito, Ms.
Azucena Hojilla, Mrs. Emma Jamorabon, Mrs. Leonor Pagunsan (who later became
President of Notre Dame of Marbel University), Mr. Elmer Festin , Mr. Fermin
Roca, and Mr. Plaridel Batucal. Mr.
Marcelino Doῆa did his best as high school principal, then. The small band that
provided marching tunes during parades and field demonstrations was under the
baton of Mr. Cantil and Mr. Tirado.
When the Training Department was opened,
Mrs. Trinidad Concepcion took the seat as its principal till the so many years
that followed. She was assisted by the able teaching force that included, Mrs.
Leticia Romero, Mrs. Lydia Raῆido, Ms. Violeta Subaldo, Mr. Ernesto
Cajandig, and Mr. Tim Castaniaga. Because of them, we now have a mayor,
Lina Montilla, as well as her siblings Roncal and Lino who preceded her at the
helm of the city, successful medical practitioners, Dr. Carlo Romero, Dr. Leo
Villalobos, and many more, aside from businessmen, and farmers who contributed to the development of
Tacurong.
Mr. Leonardo Ninte, as the librarian, did
his best to catalog donated books from the United States, through the effort of
Fr. Robert Sullivan, Fr. Haslam, and Fr. MacGrath. The science laboratory with
antiquated equipment was administered by Ms. Nenita Bernardo who chose to be
part of the just- established school, rather than give in to the invitations
from schools in Iloilo. She saw to it that field trips should not go beyond the
town to avoid taxing the students with expense. Researches, then, were
frequently conducted in swamps and streams, a kilometer or two from the campus,
particularly in New Isabela, to gather specimens. On the other hand, Mr. Ric
Jamorabon tried his best in converting a box-type structure into a militaristic
“armory” – with all its wooden replica of rifles and real, albeit, old
automatic Browning automatic rifles needed for demos on dismantling and
assembly of their parts. Not a few fingers got hurt in the effort during the
required demo as part of the ROTC drill. Mr. Jamorabon also coached the
school’s basketball team.
Mr. Juanito Canzana, aside from pitching in
when the Pilipino teacher in college failed to show up, was the ever-patient
Registrar, putting the school records in order. Supporting him in the
administration office were Mrs. Emma Jamorabon as the Administrative Secretary
who also taught Physical Education to the college students, as well as, the
rudiments of typing which proved very useful later on with the onset of
computerized information technology. Mrs. Fely Subaldo on the other hand, made
use of her patience in cashiering, and Mr. Plaridel Batucan took charge of
accounting.
To further the school’s effort in putting
the institution in the mainstream of artistic competitiveness, Kayumanggi Dance
Troupe was organized. Talents of teachers and students were pooled in coming up
with repertoire of indigenous dances, with “singkil”, as the centerpiece. The
opportunity brought to fore the dancing skill of Ernesto Cajandig and the
Subaldo sisters, as well as, the singing prowess of Agustin Carvajal. Not to be
outdone, Mrs. Ching Romero and Mrs. Leonor Pagunsan put up the high school’s
Choreographers’ Club. Mr. Elmer Festin meanwhile, organized the Debating Club for
the high school and college, as well as, put up “Green Ember”, the high school
organ.
The courses offered in college were
Bachelor of Arts with choices of major and minor subjects in English and
History, Bachelor of Science in Commerce, Bachelor of Science in Education, and
Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. Scheduled “practice teaching” of
BSE and BSEEd students were considered big events, observed even by classmates,
who added jitters to the would-be teachers. Some of these practicumers comprised
a part of the school’s teaching force later on, such as: Gaudencio Garcia, Ding
Lazado, Domingo Salanap, Teresa Neri, and many more.
Graduates who also excelled in their chosen
field, just like the teachers, were Erlina Diaz who became the principal of
Notre Dame of Isulan, Ruel Lucentales who became Assistant Secretary of the
Department of Social Welfare until the time of his demise, Domingo Cargo who
got connected with National Food Authority and currently with the Commission on
Audit, and Renato Hingco who worked with the Department of Budget and
Management in Legaspi City and later as Corporate Secretary of the Bicol
University. A graduate in high school,
Virgilio Guillermo, also showed excellence later by becoming an Assistant
Secretary of Labor during the time of Blas Ople, as Secretary. Later, Veo, as
he was called by friends, became the Regional Director of the National Manpower
and Youth Council (now, TESDA) of Bicol. A special mention goes to Felizardo
Lazado who, despite his heavy teaching load, was able to work on the concept of
Tacurong’s only festival – Talakudong. During the early years of its
celebration, he was an active member of the city’s festival steering committee.
This he did, aside from dispensing additional responsibilities as administrator
of the NDTC museum. When he left for the United States, his responsibilities
for the festival were turned over to City Councilor Bogz Jamorabon, another
proud product of Notre Dame, as the Talakudong Festival’s Committee Chairman.
Another alumnus of this institution who
discreetly shares an effort to put the city in the map of tourism is Rey
Malana, a nature lover, who converted an inherited property in Barangay Baras, into a bird sanctuary – the
only one of its kind in the whole province of Sultan Kudarat. He sacrificed
personal gain in favor of the popular clamor and his love of nature, by
maintaining the original setting of the fertile farm along the swift banks of
Kapingkong River, which would have
become a cornfield. The bamboo grooves and a wide patch of indigenous trees
were left untouched for the benefit of homing Philippine egrets and seasonally
migrating kinds from neighboring countries in Asia.
I could recall a frequent visitor of the
campus – Mr. Fructuoso Buenacosa, “Lolo
Putoy” or “Tiyo Putoy” to the youngsters. He was the town’s “walking
historican”. He never missed a visit to the library, every time he was in the
campus. We loved to ask him how the swampy land along the highway was
transformed into a plaza, or when the town’s Pilot School was established, or
when the first movie theater was opened, etc. His encyclopedic knowledge on the
town’s transformation was later compiled into a small book. He, like the other
benefactors of the school and parish were fondly remembered for their unselfish
acts: Mr. Mending Lapuz who donated the first four posts of the church’s
belfry, the structure being an integral part of the school campus, and Mr.
Nonito Bernardo who was actively involved in the building of the original
parish building where the school’s directors reside, as well as, its current
renovation. No less than the bishop of Cotabato, leads the throng of thankful
parishioners and alumni in giving due recognition to Mr. Bernardo.
Students and teachers will not forget, too,
the ever-energetic lone security “force” of the whole campus, Mr. Juanito
Panes. He rendered duty straight for the whole week, making rounds and could
still etch a smile on his face. His lanky build did not deter him from facing
off with intruders at night, which happened several times. As the generator was
turned off after college classes, all he
had was a flashlight to light his way around the campus and a piece of stick
while checking rooms and corners of the campus.
Those are sweet reminiscences….
And, nothing is sweeter than remembering
also the days when high school students would walk in groups on their way to
school and the college students on their way home in the dark, with streets
lighted only by stray lights from open windows of homes …when parade was a
grand event not only for students but also for the whole town…and, singing the
“Notre Dame Hymn” and the “Notre Dame March” gave students an ecstatic
feeling!
Notre Dame of Tacurong College was a big
family, then… still is… and will surely be, in days to come!
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