Palawan National School

Palawan National School
Pambansang Mataas na Paaralan ng Palawan
Address
H-Mendoza Street, Puerto Princesa
Puerto Princesa
Philippines
Information
Type Public
Established 1907
Principal Rosebella G. Balmonte
Enrollment 5,600 (school year 2009-2010)
Campus PNS Main Campus, PNS Annex
Affiliation Department of Science and Technology, Department of Education

The Palawan National School, or PNS (formerly Palawan National High School) is the flagship campus and the largest public high school in Puerto Princesa. It is currently located in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan with currently more than 5,000 students. The school is currently headed by Rosebella G. Balmonte.

History

Formerly known as the Palawan High School, which was established in 1907, in the island municipality of Cuyo. Province of Palawan. This started as a Junior High School for the first two years of secondary education. The first building was composed of six room which was made of light materials such as "pawid" and "sawali" (pawid was made of coconut leaves woven to make a roof and sawali is from small specie of bamboo). First, there was only eight students in the first and second year. For the reason of lack of qualified teachers and small number of students, third year was only opened during the school year 1922–1923.

Palawan National School logo

Year 1924, the first graduation ceremony was held and a certain Dominador Arcinas was proclaimed Valedictorian and Pablo Nangit as the Salutatorian. They are considered as the best in their class of 1924. This was also the first batch to graduate in the said school.

In the year 1936, Governor Heginio Mendoza made a directive on the transfer of the Palawan High School from the island municipality of Cuyo to the central place of the province, which was the Municipality of Puerto Princesa. The PHS temporarily used the old buildings of the Puerto Princesa Elementary School. Then after 2 years, included in the curriculum were subjects regarding Retail Merchandising, Horticulture, Woodworking, Sheet Metal Work, Poultry, Swine and Automotive.

Second World War broke out, the school was temporarily closed. It was reopened during the time of the liberation, which was the early part of 1945. During this time Palawan High School was temporarily housed in the recreation hall of Iwahig Penal Colony. On the later part, it was returned to the town of Puerto Princesa.

After a year, 1947, it was again transferred but to its permanent place – a 9 hectares land located at now known as Higenio Mendoza, Sr. Street. It was in this place where the first PHS building was constructed – the Gabaldon type as its main building. Also there were Quonset huts from the American Forces which was transferred during the time of former Governor of Palawan Alfredo M. Abueg, Sr.. As the years passed, due to the increase in the school population, new prefabricated buildings were constructed and replaced the old Quonset Huts from the US Forces.

In the year 1957, the General Curriculum used by the school was changed to General 2–2 plan. Under this curriculum students were permitted to choose their subjects. Students can take an academic course in preparation for the college course or they can take course intended only for vocational courses such as Retail Merchandising, Agriculture, Woodworking and Home Technology, when they reach their third year high school.

Year 1965, from a provincial high school, it was converted to a full “National High School” under the principalship of Mr. Eugenio J. Dela Cuesta and named it as Palawan National High School.

There had been changes during the time of Principal Eugenio J. Dela Cuesta, like the construction of new buildings. Science Complex, the roofed concrete stage, the Gaudencio Abordo Multi-purpose Center and the Athletic Complex. The latter is composed of 2 grandstand, concrete bleacher, control tower, swimming pool, a tennis court, volleyball and basketball court, and other facilities. In 1969, the Palawan National High School hosted the Southern Tagalog Athletic Association (STRAA) Meet.

Due to economic crises, many of the students served as working students to sustain their studies. For this reason, Palawan National High School opened evening classes to accommodate those students who are working during day time and studying at night, this was in the year 1975. There were only 132 students when evening classes were opened but later on there were an increase in their number.

1989, this was the most unforgettable year for the Palawan National High School when the Law otherwise known as Republic Act 6765 sponsored by the late Speaker of the House of Representatives Speaker Ramon V. Mitra and the former representative of second district of Palawan, Congressman David A. Ponce De Leon. Under this law, schools on other parts of the Province of Palawan were integrated into one big school. These schools were Palawan National School, Puerto Princesa City School for Philippine Crafstmen, San Jose Barangay High School, Inagawan Barangay High School, Puerto Princesa Rural High School, Plaridel Barangay High School in the municipality of Aborlan, Palawan, Narra Barangay High School in the municipality of Narra, Palawan, Pulot Barangay High School in Brooke’s Point, Palawan, Bataraza High School, Bataraza, Palawan, Balabac Barangay High School,in the island municipality of Balabac, Palawan. According to the law all schools included shall be called Palawan Integrated National Schools or PINS.

Still today PNS is catering to the education of all Palaweños, with the mission of continuous development of those who can contribute and can help not only the Province of Palawan likewise the country as a whole.[1]

Mission and Vission

Mission

A PNS that delivers quality education (formal, non-formal, informal) adoptable to the present environment manned by competent and committed teachers and personnel with the cooperation and understanding of parents and local and national officials and non-governmental organizations.[2]

Vision

The PALAWAN NATIONAL SCHOOL envisions every high school learner to be God–loving through experiencing wholesome atmosphere that develops them to be intellectually, morally, and physically prepared to the fast changing environments suited to maintain the needed ecological balance.[3]

Educational Programs

Special Programs

School Publications

References

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