Interior Ilocos Academy

Founder: Perfecto Bilaoen-Gironella

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
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INTERIOR ILOCOS ACADEMY
Salcedo, Ilocos Sur


HISTORICAL BACKGROUND


Sometime in school year 1960-61, the founder and owners of the defunct Salcedo Academy invited Mr. Perfecto Gironella and other prominent people of the Community in a meeting for the purpose to save this school from closure. The school was in existence for ten years operating under a temporary Permit renewable every year. There was a Notice of closure. That was why there was an attempt to save by infusion of fresh cash capital and material assistance to meet the minimum requirements for the school to operate. However, it was already inevitable for lack of adequate funding, physical facilities and ready human resources. The people invited to such meeting were lukewarm to extend financial assistance. It was felt that their assistance simply be a donation and not a Capital Asset to qualify them as co-owners. The Permit was not renewed and the school was closed.

The span of period from School Year 1961-62 to school year 1964-65, there was no Secondary School in the Municipality of Salcedo, Ilocos Sur. The Nearest schools were situated in Candon and Sta. Lucia, Ilocos Sur. Many were not able to continue their studies. Parents could not afford to send their children to Sta. Lucia or Candon. There was a great clamour for a New School to be established. The Government could not establish yet a Public High School as the priority needs to establish Primary and Elementary Schools in every clustered Barrio. There were two Elementary Schools then existing in the entire Municipality of Salcedo.

Mr. Perfecto B. Gironella was very much sympathetic to the plight of out-of-school youths whose parents could not afford to send them to schools in Candon and Sta. Lucia, Ilocos Sur. There should be somebody who would lead in putting-up New School for the sake of these young people in need of education. A leader was needed who had greater concern in education and could better manage a business of education.

In 1963, Mr. Perfecto B. Gironella went to the Provincial Office of the Bureau of Private Schools in Vigan, Ilocos Sur 79 kilometers away from Salcedo, Ilocos Sur. He filed his Letter of Intent and Application Form to open a Secondary School. With the assurance and encouragement of the Bureau of Private School Provincial Officials headed by Dr. Samonte, Mr. Gironella gradually produced the various requirements. He was so determined to establish a High School and despite of odds encountered he was able to secure a Temporary Permit to operate at the beginning of school year 1965-66 and after several inspections made by Mr. Manalo.

After marriage in April 1964, he sent his wife, a BSBA Graduate, to take-up BSE and matter-on M. A. Units in order to insure effective and efficient Instructional Management of the school applied for. It was right on time as his wife headed the first faculty staff in the first year of operation and Mr. Gironella was the Director and in fact the Director until the present.

The Interior Ilocos Academy was formally organized on the occasion of Mr. Gironella’s birthday on December 18, 1964, which date became the Foundation Day of the school and celebrated yearly wherein various educational programs of activities were to be presented featuring the school, the students, the staff and the community.

The Foundation Day is celebrated as one showcase that the school is doing well for students in particular. It is also a day as an opportunity to conduct a Symposium where parents attend in which School Administration presents Statistical Information about the school and performances.

It could be imagined how hard Mr. Gironella founded the school in providing the Facilities and Funds. He had to mortgage his lands and borrow money from any source. Special mention is given to the late Mr. Carlos Dag-os and also Mr. Valentin Pelayan who lent money. So with Mrs. Prudencia Gironella Duro and Mrs. Pilar Gironella espanto, his sisters for their great material and moral assistance. His gratitude foes also to the townspeople especially the Folks of Barrio Atabay who volunteered to give their labor free in cleaning the school site. The Philippine Education Company gave him credit line in purchasing books and laboratory equipments.

The name of the school was one of the issues as many objected to it. Also Dr. Samonte commented that a better corporate name chosen but Mr. Gironella reasoned it out that the word Interior will not deny the place where the school is situated and students there from cannot deny that they belong to the Interior Municipalities where Cultural Minorities reside.

The school was first given temporary Permit to operate the first and second year curriculum. The following year, school year 1966-67, the school was given a Permit to offer complete secondary course.

The first four years of operation, the school rented as classroom SACOMA Building and the houses of the late Mr. Teodoreto Gironella and Ricardo Magsingit in Poblacion Sur, two hundred meters away from the present school site. Classes were conducted at the present site when the school buildings were built.

Another problem was encountered when during Martial Law, in 19__, the school among many others was notified to be closed. The School Administration and the town people petitioned the Bureau of Private Schools to grant not only the Permit but a recognition instead. The closure had a political bearing as Mr. Gironella was an active politician. With the assistance of Mr. Herminigildo Bautista of DECS Central Office, and after proper re-inspection of the school, Recognition was granted.

The school operates in a Cooperative and Foundation style, A Participatory Management wherein the faculty, the parents and students are involved in Decision Processes. The Parents-Teachers’ Assembly through their Executive Council, the students body through their Central Government Council and the Faculty attend meetings with the Director pertaining to almost everything before Policies/ Decisions are issued.

During the Martial Law Regime, Barangay High School and Private School mushroomed around Salcedo, Ilocos Sur. Dinaratan Barangay High School was established in Barangay Dinaratan, Salcedo, Ilocos Sur, eight (8) km. away Nagtablaan Barangay High School, Sta. Lucia, Ilocos Sur, seven (7) km. away; Sto. Tomas High School, Sto. Tomas, /Candon, Ilocos Sur, eight (8) km. away; Pagangpang, Galimuyod, Ilocos Sur, eight (8) away and the Seventh Day Adventist School in G. del Pilar, Ilocos Sur. Feeders from these circuit areas were absorbed by these schools which affected the school enrollment.

Presently, the Director is apprehensive because of the Free Education. Quality education becomes secondary for residents who belong to the low income bracket and most people in Salcedo are poor. However, the most pressing problem now is the desire of the Local Government to establish a Public National High School at the Heart of the town just 120 meters away from this school enrollment which maybe a prelude to its closure.

Another challenge this school has to encounter is the Salary Standardization. The disparity of Salaries between public and private schools, caused the transfer of Private School Teachers to the public Service despite efforts of gradual increase offered to meet near the minimum. Coupled by economic crisis, the school is striving hard to survive.

Anyhow, if this school will be displaced by a Public High School, at least the Founder/administrators are consoled with pride, that they have significantly contributed much to the Socio-Economic upliftment of many graduates and the Community in general considering that almost all faculty/personnel/staff were alumni of the school. Majority of Public Elementary School Teachers in the Municipality and nearby Municipalities were also graduates from this school. Others are successful in their chosen career. Likewise, though this school, many had availed and gone to Colleges by means of Scholarships offered by the Government and civic Associations. One graduate is now in Moscow, Russia taking a course of Medicine. Though this school, many out-of-school youths who could not go to colleges were sent for technical training free of charge under the NMYC and Government Agencies. This school had become also the venue of Seminars. It became an imperative partner for National Development not only in terms of educational endeavors but economic well-being of the Cultural Minorities and residents of the Municipality.

This school has a total land area of almost two hectares with a playground, a Poultry and Piggery House, small Pond, area for horticulture and Agriforest planted with Narra and Mahogany, Bananas, Mangoes, Strawberries, Avocadoes, and other Fruit Bearing Trees. It has an Administrative Building, a Student Store, Classroom buildings consisting 10 rooms, two toilets and stage.

There were many improvements to land like pavements, riprappings to control erosion and concrete fence. The school has become one of the beauty of the town.

In case the private school cannot survive the crisis and be displaced by Public School to be established nearby, the school lot will be converted into Commercial and Residential Subdivision Lots.

Salcedo, Ilocos Sur November 12, 1990.



Submitted By:


EDITHA D. GIRONELLA
Principal Teacher



Noted:


PERFECTO B. GIRONELLA
Director