(Mayor Edwin Santiago, VM Jimmy Lazatin and NHCP executive director Ludovico Badoy lead the unveiling of the historical marker of Pampanga High School on August 14, 2018. Contributed Photo)
“THERE IS no excellence without culture and there is no culture without history. Napaka- makasaysayan ng Pampanga High School. Pinanday nito ang utak at puso ng mga Kapampangan at Fernandino, na sila na ngayong gumagawa ng kasaysayan.”
This is what Mayor Edwin “EdSa” Santiago expressed as the City of San Fernando, through its City Tourism Office, joined National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) in the unveiling of the historical marker of Pampanga High School (PHS), together with the Federation of PHS/ JASHS Alumni Association Foundation, Inc., on August 14, 2018.
PHS, formerly Jose Abad Santos High School (JASHS), a secondary public school in the province, has been shaping the hearts and minds of young generations for 116 years now, and has produced excellent Kapampangans in different fields, including the late former president Diosdado P. Macapagal.
“Nagagalak ang siyudad San Fernando na dito itinayo ang paaralang ito (PHS), na sentro ng lalawigan ng Pampanga, ibig sabihin, mas maraming Kapampangan ang makakapag-aral dito, mas maraming Kapampangan ang makikinabang sa halaga ng edukasyon,” added Santiago.
Meanwhile, according to NHCP Executive Director Ludovico Badoy, PHS has helped the country in priming for the development of education system in the Philippines.
“Itinatag sa panahon ng Amerikano ang Pampanga High School, kaya ito ay nagsilbing panimulang hakbang ng nagbabagong panahon sa sistema ng edukasyon ng sambayanang Pilipino,” said Badoy.
Badoy added that this will become an extra pace of challenge in the side of CSF, as it will safeguard another historical symbol against different threats and dangers.
While, PHS Principal Fe Rosalinda Caylao expressed that “they are in full support to CSF-LGU and NHCP in strengthening their drive towards the preservation and safeguarding of historical buildings and landmarks in the city.”
Also present during the activity were Vice Mayor Jimmy Lazatin, City Tourism Officer Ching Pangilinan, members of the Federation of PHS/JASHS Alumni Association Foundation, Inc., faculty members and non-teaching personnel of PHS, members of the United Architects of the Philippines, and officers from CSFP Arts and Culture Council.
NHCP currently celebrates History Month 2018, themed “Kasaysayan: Tuklasin, Mahalin, Palaganapin”.
“Maraming salamat sa NHCP at isinama ninyo ang Pampanga High School sa obserbasyon ng ‘Buwan ng Kasaysayan’, isa itong pagkilala sa pangangalaga ng syudad sa bawat yamang mayroon ito,” Santiago ended.
