HISTORY OF ISABELA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
(A brief history by Dr. Dominador Z. Cabasal, '48)
The establishment of the Isabela National High School came as a result of the pressing need to fulfill the growing ambition of many youths in Isabela to attain higher education.
When Spain ceded the Philippines to America in the Treaty of Paris for a measly twenty million pesos in 1898, the Americans immediately occupied the country bent on the alleged aim to train the Filipinos for self-government American military governance with the Philippine Commission established a system of Public Education that grew slowly but surely throughout the archipelago.
In the Cagayan Valley, primary schools were put up as early as 1901. Cagayan and Isabela compromised on school division with Mr. W.W. Rodwell as School Superintendent and based in Tuguegarao, Cagayan. He was assisted by two deputies namely Mr. A.L. Barnell, an American assigned in Lallo, Cagayan and Mr. H.B. Fernald, another American teacher assigned in Cauayan, Isabela. Aside from their teaching duties, the deputies helped in the organization and supervision of schools within their areas. Right American teachers of 35 were assigned in Isabela. In 1903, Mr. H.E. Bard succeeded Mr. Rodwell as Division Superintendent.
In September 1902, the provincial high school in Tuguegarao, Cagayan opened. About 65 students were enrolled and were conducted by Mr. H. E. Bell, the principal and an assistant. The school closed temporarily on March 1st of the same year due to the ignorance of the people on the nature of the school and the unpreparedness of the school children to take advantage of high school education. It reopened in July 6, 1903 and enrolment steadily increased from 78 to 245 in just a month’s time. Many students from nearby towns and provinces attended high school in Tuguegarao. About 40, more or less came from Isabela during that year. This trend had induced school authorities that in another year, or as soon as practicable, two junior high schools had to be built in Ilagan, Isabela and in Aparri, Cagayan.
As expected, a provincial high school was finally established in Ilagan, capital town of Isabela in June 1904, but formally opened in August, 1904 with Mr. Seward W. Hulse as School Principal. Four other American teachers were assigned in the school to handle an enrollment of 186. There were no Filipino teachers assigned to the school due to the unavailability of qualified ones. Part of the municipal school building being used in primary classes, were temporarily used by the high school for instructional purposes.
Not long after, the provincial board secured an admirable site facing the Cagayan River and adjoining the town of Ilagan, which is now its present location.
On April 17, 1905, a year after the provincial high school established, Isabela was made a separate school division upon petition of the Provincial Governor and other officials. Mr. Henry M. Wagenblass was appointed Division Superintendent.
Realizing the tremendous efforts the people exerted for the high school education of their children, the Isabela High School was made a complete high school about the school year 1917-18. The first graduation rites were held about the middle of April 1921, with the late Judge Dominador C. Mina as class valedictorian.
The high school continued to hold classes in the municipal school building along wit a number of temporary classrooms that were built in its present lot to accommodate increasing school environment. In 1927, by virtue of the Gabaldon Act, Isabela High School was allotted a permanent 14- classroom building with a spacious Library-assembly hall and an inner quadrangle. This building still exists and being utilized for instructional purposes for the last 76 years.
Part of the campus expansion of school included an additional school lot of more than four hectares southeast of the present location where the athletic bowl is, made possible by the Presidential Proclamation by then President Elpidio Quirino. Another one-hectare lot, northwest of the campus was donated by Mayor Felix Querubin probably after 1946 or so to the school, making an aggregate school campus of 11.9 hectares. It also received substantial logistical report from the provincial government to maintain its programs and educational services until October 1982 when the high school was converted into a national high school, and renamed Isabela National High School.
Today, we see the tremendous strides the high school had made the realm of secondary education. Its vision is to help mold strong, ventable and effective citizenry for national peace and prosperity. Its mission is to prepare the youth to meet the demands of higher education as well as skillful enough to get into the world of work. Part of its curricular offering of general secondary education, is a science-oriented curriculum for the highly gifted youths who would like to pursue courses demanding highly scientific preparation. Its school population has greatly increased from its measly 186 in 1904 to an average of 5,500 yearly to date, in its main campus in Ilagan. As a mother school to a number of high schools all over the province, its school population reached an average of 10,000 more or less.