HISTORY OF DEPED SDO CAGAYAN

The Education agency wherein the Division of Cagayan as one of its educational units underwent reorganizations from the Spanish period to present in order to better define its purpose vis a vis the changing administrations and charters.

Before the Spanish occupation, education was informal, unstructured, and devoid of methods. Children were provided more vocational training and less academics (3 Rs) by their parents, community elders and in the houses of tribal tutors.

During the early years of Spanish colonization, the tribal tutors were replaced by the Spanish Missionaries. Education was religion oriented. It was for the elite. Access to education by the Filipinos was later liberalized through the enactment of the Educational Decree of 1863 that established the Superior Commission of Primary Instruction under a Chairman. The decree provided for the establishment of at least one primary school for boys and girls in each town under the responsibility of the municipal government; and the establishment of a normal school for male teachers under the supervision of the Jesuits. Primary instruction was free, and the teaching of Spanish was compulsory. Education during that period was inadequate, suppressed, and controlled.

The defeat of Spain by the American forces in the Spanish – American War paved the way for the establishment of a Revolutionary Government under the leadership of Emilio Aguinaldo. The schools maintained by Spain for more than three centuries were closed for the time being but were reopened on August 29, 1898 by the Secretary of Interior. A system of free and compulsory elementary education was established by the Malolos Constitution.

An adequate secularized and free public school system during the first decade of American rule was established upon the recommendation of the Schurman Commission. Free primary instruction that trained the people for the duties of citizenship and vocation was enforced by the Taft Commission per instructions of President McKinley. Chaplains and non-commissioned officers were assigned to teach using English as the medium of instruction.

On January 21, 1901 during the American period, the Commission passed Act No. 74 which established the Department of Public Instruction with a highly centralized public school system under a head called the General Superintendent of Public Instruction. Under the provisions of Act N0. 74, the General Superintendent was authorized to divide the Archipelago into 10 school divisions to be managed by Division Superintendents.

The implementation of this Act created a heavy shortage of teachers, so the Philippine Commission authorized the Secretary of Public Instruction to bring to the Philippines 600 teachers from the U.S.A. who were the Thomasites.

Before Act No. 74 was fairly in force, the Commission passed Act No. 180 on July 24, 1901. Under the provisions of this Act, the number of school divisions was increased to 17.  It was during this time that the Division of Cagayan and Isabela were merged into one school division with W. W. Rodwell as the Division Superintendent. He was succeeded by Supt. H.E. Bard until April 16, 1905 when he left for the United States on leave of absence. He was temporarily succeeded by H.M. Wagenblass, a teacher assigned in Naguilian, Isabela who was appointed as acting Division Superintendent.

The high school system supported by provincial governments, special educational institutions, school of arts and trades, an agricultural school, and commerce and marine institutes were established in 1902 by the Philippine Commission.

On April 17, 1905, Isabela was made a separate school division. On June 1 of the same year, J.J. Coleman was transferred from the Division of Nueva Vizcaya to the Division of Cagayan as the Division Superintendent. The last American Division Superintendent of the Division of Cagayan was JHM Butler.

During the Japanese occupation, its educational policies were embodied in Military Order No. 2 in 1942. The Philippine Executive Commission established the Commission of Education, Health and Public Welfare and schools were reopened in June 1942. On October 14, 1943, the Japanese – sponsored Republic created the Ministry of Education. Under the Japanese regime, the teaching of Tagalog, Philippine History, and Character Education was reserved for Filipinos. Love for work and dignity of labor was emphasized. On February 27, 1945, the Department of Instruction was made part of the Department of Public Instruction.

In 1947, by virtue of Executive Order No. 94, the Department of Instruction was changed to Department of Education. During this period, the regulation and supervision of public and private schools belonged to the Bureau of Public and Private Schools.

In the early 1950s, Miguel B. Gaffud, known to be the first Filipino principal of the then Cebu Normal School (now Cebu Normal University) became the Superintendent of the Division of Cagayan.

In 1959 to early 1960s Mariano B. Manaligod became the Schools Division Superintendent. Being the superintendent, he founded the Cagayan National Agricultural School (now Cagayan State University – Piat Campus).

It is remarkably worth noting that sometime in 1963 to 1974, Cagayan was divided into two divisions – Cagayan I and Cagayan 2, which was led by SDSs Pedro M. Aguada and Sabino T. Acorda respectively. Records show that for Cagayan 2, Condrado I. Bacuyag and Pura T. Liban served as ASDSs.

School Year 1974-1975 was another milestone for Cagayan because the two divisions merged as one, but this time it was headed by SDS Sabino T. Acorda.  Acorda is well-remembered for his revival of the culture of Cagayan, the beautification of the schools and communities, and the “regreening” of the environment.

Condrado I. Bacuyag, then elected President of the Philippine Association of Schools Superintendents and Most Outstanding Superintendent Awardee, occupied the office of the SDS from 1976 to November of 1984 and was assisted by ASDSs Pedro B. Trinidad and Cellie T. Bunagan.

Pedro B. Trinidad, the father of Cagayan Teachers’ Cooperative, came in next as SDS from November 1984 to October 1986. His two ASDSs, Teresa A. Carag and Helena T. Canillas, worked with him in the promotion of teachers’ welfare and professional growth. When SDS Trinidad was promoted as Assistant Regional Director of Region I, he was succeeded by Dominador Z. Cabasal from 1986 to 1988.

After the promotion of SDS Cabasal as Assistant Regional Director, Fausto A. Estrada was designated as OIC – SDS who also was immediately promoted as Regional Director. He was an advocate of the Continuous Progression Scheme of the Department of Education, Culture, and Sports. With him were Helena T. Canillas and Victoria L. Tablang as his Assistant Schools Division Superintendents.

Helena T. Canillas of Baggao, Cagayan took over as the first lady Superintendent of the Division of Cagayan and served for barely six months during the S.Y. 1989 – 1990. She was assisted by ASDSs Rosario S. Mallonga and Margarita V. Purugganan, who later was designated as the OIC-SDS after the retirement of SDS Canillas.

The Division of Cagayan welcomed SDS Cellie T. Bunagan who focused on the alignment of area of specialization with the existing needs of schools both for elementary and secondary.  Bunagan served the Division from July 1990 to 1992 with ASDSs Rosario S. Mallonga and Margarita V. Purugganan.

In 1996 to April 1997, another servant-leader came in as the new Schools Division Superintendent, Peregrino N. Alan, Sr. His term became noteworthy because it was during his time that three Assistant Schools Division Superintendent items were created. Gerardo Ibasco served as ASDS for CD1, Asuncion P. Trinidad for CD 2, and Jose G. Rosendo for CD3.

In May 12, 1997 to August 1998, Asuncion P. Trinidad became a full-fledged SDS of Cagayan with ASDSs Jose G. Rosendo, Alma Dolores Navarete, and Corazon T. Barrientos.

‘Super Mario’ became a popular name in August 1998 to 2002 in the person of SDS Mario L. Ramirez, a man of vision and action. His ASDSs were Victoria L. Tablang, Lourdes G. Angoluan, and Marietta L. Tumaneng.

SDS Jose G. Rosendo, a sports advocate who believes that through sports, unity is strengthened and brings honor and glory to the Division of Cagayan served from September 4, 2002-Nov. 9, 2004.  Lorna B. Manauis, Alma Dolores Navarete and Victoria L. Tablang were his ASDSs.

From 2005 to 2009, the Division of Cagayan was spearheaded by Marietta L. Tumaneng, who initiated the launching of Special Science Classes, opening of new schools, redistricting of Enrile West and East, Solana North and South, Lasam East and West, Lallo North and South, Allacapan South and North and Peňablanca, Carpet Supervision for teachers, and reshuffling of school heads. In support with her programs were ASDSs Lorna B. Manauis, Ermelinda M. Belarmino, Reynalda C. Bangunan, and Fely C. Lattao. ASDS Ermelinda M. Belarmino served only until 2007 and was succeeded by Reynalda C. Bangunan who served from May 2007 to August 2008.

SDS Lorna B. Manauis, regained Cagayan’s championship in the Cagayan Valley Regional Athletic Association (CAVRAA) during her term. She was also known to be very emphatic on learners’ achievement in the National Elementary Achievement Test (NEAT) and National Secondary Achievement Test (NSAT). She was assisted by ASDSs Pedro O. Rapanut, Gilbert N. Tong, and Milagros FD. Razote.

Another lady Superintendent Fely C. Lattao served from August 21, 2011 to March 2013. She was a staunch implementer of DO 7, s. 1999 known as the “Policies on Selection/ Appointment and Transfer/ Reassignment of DECS Regional Officials” where the transfer/reassignment of supervisors and principals shall be done every after five years. She was assisted by her equally able ASDSs Pedro O. Rapanut, Milagros FD. Razote, and Jesus B. Maggay, who was later designated as OIC-SDS from April 13, 2013 to July 23, 2013. It was during her term that the division office building located near the Boy Scout of the Philippines – Cagayan Chapter Office and the Cagayan National High School was razed by fire on August 10, 2012. Immediately on the following day, the Office of the Division of Cagayan was temporarily transferred to the defunct DPWH Building at Lingu, Solana, Cagayan until November 15, 2017.

Lourdes G. Angoluan, the concurrent OIC Regional Director of DepEd RO2 that time, served as the OIC-SDS of the Division of Cagayan. She served for barely a month from August to September 2013.

The Division of Cagayan was gifted with another lady superintendent Corazon T. Barrientos who took office as OIC-SDS while being a concurrent OIC-Assistant Regional Director of DepEd R02 from October 2013 to December 2014. The rationalization plan of the Department of Education that paved way to the creation of the Curriculum Implementation Division and the Schools Governance Operations Division was implemented during her time. Her ASDSs were Leila P. Areola, Jesus B. Maggay and Pedro O. Rapanut.

Gilbert N. Tong’s term as SDS of the Division of Cagayan spanned for more than two years, from January 2015 to May 2, 2017. The first batch of senior high school teachers were hired during his term. Marites L. Llanes and Jesus B. Maggay were his ASDSs.

Leila P. Areola took office as OIC-SDS from May 2, 2017 to September 9, 2018. She is remembered as the author of Cagayan’s famous tagline, “Cagayan: Agga Number One” and the initiator of the Salute and Affirmation to the Laudable and Undisputed Devotion of Outstanding Educators of Cagayan (SALUDO) Educators Awards.  With her were ASDSs Benito S. Alipio, Jr. and Marites L. Llanes. It was during her time that the new Division Office Building located at the Regional Government Center at Carig Sur was inaugurated on November 16, 2017.

During SDS Areola’s term, she pioneered the Power of 3 Plus 1 for Excellence, A-School-A-Day for Instructional Supervision, Special & Public Announcements Messenger (SPAM) System, Demonstration and Teacher-Writers’ Festivals, Project School as House of Quality, Project PAIR (Parents Actively Involved in Reading), Sagip StAR Project, Project BEST and ZERO Non-Reader School Reading Education. She was later promoted as the Director IV of the Bureau of Learning Delivery of the Department of Education.

In September 2018, Denizon P. Domingo was welcomed as SDS of the Division of Cagayan. He directed the Division towards “Kapianan, Kakastan” through systems approach and process-based management. Remarkably, innovation was the centerpiece of his administration where innovative and proven- effective practices entitled school heads to reinvent themselves in the navigation of their own School – Based Management (SBM) context. He interfaced with all stakeholders and shareholders through his Project Dulog at Dinig thereby accelerating resolutions and surfacing novel localized policies that were aligned to DepEd’s vision, mission, and core values with CIGAP (Concerns, Issues, Gaps, And Problems) as his instrumentality. It was during his watch that SDO Cagayan was granted ISO Certification on December 19, 2018. His ASDSs were Marites L. Llanes and Benito S. Alipio, Jr. Wilma C. Bumagat was designated on March 19, 2019 as OIC-ASDS after the retirement of ASDS Alipio.

 

After SDS Domingo transferred to the City of Ilagan as Tourism Officer, SDS Florante E. Vergara was transferred from SDO Santiago City to SDO Cagayan from July 2, 2019 to October 1, 2019. His three-month committed stint remarkably magnified solution-finding to the SDO’s primordial concerns for the advancement and development of all the personnel. As a proof, recruitment, selection, placement, reclassification, promotion, giving of appointments and payment of teachers’ salaries were expedited and addressed. He was assisted by Marites L. Llanes and Wilma C. Bumagat.

At present, the Division of Cagayan with a total of 806 schools consisting of 705 elementary schools and 101 secondary schools under the leadership of SDS Orlando E. Manuel is supported by the able leadership of OIC-ASDSs Wilma C. Bumagat and Chelo C. Tangan. Romel L. Libang, SGOD Chief, was designated by the DepEd Regional Office 02 as CD1 Coordinator with 22 districts while OIC-ASDSs Wilma C. Bumagat and Chelo C. Tangan were assigned to CD3 with 12 districts and CD2 with 15 districts, respectively.

The SDO Cagayan’s tagline, “Cagayan Kapianan, Cagayan Kakastan, Agga Number 1” and battle cries, “SDO CAGAYAN WINNING TEAM: Working Together, Greater and Smarter in Achieving Plenty in 2020,” “SDO CAGAYAN WINNING TEAM: Working Together for Bigger, Brighter and Bolder Achievements for Everyone in 2021” and ““SDO CAGAYAN WINNING TEAM: Working Together Smarter for Sustainable Achievements and Greater Breakthrough in 2022” were SDS Manuel’s thrusts to achieve quality education which the learners truly deserve. These manifest the Division’s continuous pursuit of excellence.

SDS Manuel is known for promoting the Barbecue Leadership Model which emphasizes the alignment of programs, projects, and activities captured in the operational plans (OPCRF to DEPP, WFP, AIP and PPMP) across levels of governance. He initiated the following projects: Project DDS (Dulog, Dinig, at Solusyon), a three o’clock habit wherein all the personnel in the Division Office are given the opportunity to relay their problems and concerns to the Office of the Superintendent for solution finding and for naming the Monday Convocation as GOLDEN Circle which stands for Golden Opportunity for Learning, Development and Empowerment Network.

Being an experienced and empowering leader, SDS Manuel paved the way for his subordinates whom he considers as partners to initiate projects such as Project CLEAR (Clarifying the Established Guidelines for Accurate Assessment Results) focused on upskilling and reskilling of teaching and non-teaching personnel, Project HEARTS (Harmonized, Efficient and Accurate Reporting Tool and System), Project PERA (Preparation of Efficient, Reliable and Accurate Report), Project AIR (Applicant’s Information and Registration), Project ADAs On-the-Go, Project GURO (General Utilization of Reliable and Optimal Data) facilitated the review of PAPS, reports, cash advances, recruitment, assessment and budgetary requirements, Project WISDOM (Well-governed Integrated Schools with Developmental and Outstanding Management) geared toward the establishment of Integrated Schools and Project SMARTER (Systematic Mechanism in Achieving Relevant Transactions for Efficient and Realistic Procurement) enhanced the technical expertise of the Bids and Awards Committee members for the smooth conduct of procurement process.

Other projects initiated were in response to the COVID – 19 public health emergency such as Project PALM (Podcast, Alternative Learning Modality), an innovation recognized and featured by DepEd Philippines, ABS – CBN and SEAMEO that provides audio learning resources supportive of the achievement of the MELCs across grade levels and learning areas through Anchor App, Project 3R includes Project REAL-CoRE – Reproduction of Essential and All-important Learning Competency-Modules for Responsive Education, Project ReACH – Reaching All Community Schools and Homes, Project RADIO – Reaching All Distant Learners through Inclusive learning Opportunities) and Project WEBS (Website for Educational Institutions in the Basic Education System). The abovementioned projects are in addition to existing projects initiated by previous leaders that were sustained and enhanced during his administration.

Other noteworthy accomplishments of SDS Manuel were the Schools Division Office of Cagayan emerged as DepEd Region 02’s Best Performing Schools Division Office in the 2021 STARS Awards; Level II Maturity recognition from the CSC in Four Areas: Recruitment, Selection and Placement, Performance Management, Learning and Development and Rewards and Recognition of the PRIME HRM;  the construction of the SDO Cagayan Annex Building and the adoption of SDO Cagayan Hymn, composed and arranged by Brix Marell C. Israel of Lallo National High School which were both inaugurated during the celebration of the 120^th Founding Anniversary of SDO Cagayan on July 24, 2021 held at the 3^rd Floor, SDO Cagayan Annex Building.

It was also during his stint that July 24, 1901 as the foundation day of SDO Cagayan was discovered through the in-depth research of OIC ASDS Chelo C. Tangan, thus the written History of SDO Cagayan unveiled also during the 120^th SDO Cagayan’s Founding Anniversary was enhanced with the help of an organized team of writers.

Note: This brief history of the Schools Division Office of Cagayan is open for any correction that would make it reliable and authentic.

 

References

Annual Report, 1914. Bureau of Education, Philippines. Retrieved from https://quod.lib.umich.edu/p/philamer/ACS9512.1914.001?rgn=main;view=fulltext

Atkinson, Fred W. The present educational movement in the Philippine Islands. The United States and Its Territories 1870 – 1925: The Age of Imperialism https://quod.lib.umich.edu/p/philamer/ahk8492.0001.001?rgn=main;view=fulltext

Cabasal, Dominador Z. History of DepEd Isabela. DepEd Isabela. Retrieved from https://deped-isabela.com.ph/transparency/about-sdo-isabela/history/

Historical Perspective of the Philippine Educational System. Department of Education. Retrieved from https://www.deped.gov.ph/about-deped/history/

History of Education in the Philippines. Education in the Philippines. https://www.k12academics.com/Education%20Worldwide/Education%20in%20the%20Philippines/history-education-philippines

CAVRAA Souvenir Books

RESEARCHER-WRITERS
VINA VICTORIA F. ABADILLA	JAMES MIKE O. CADAY
MARIA T. ACORDA	ARISON PAUL R. FLORENTINO
MARK KEVIN M. AGCAOILI	MARY GRACE M. GAMMAD
ROBERTA V. ANTOLIN	ARMELYN M. RAMOS
MARIO S. ASCUETA	MARIBEL S. ARELLANO
LEO R. BANATAO	SUSANA P. TABBU
ROSIE F. CAPILI	JOHN PAUL C. TONG
CHELO C. TANGAN OIC Assistant Schools Division Superintendent Focal Person
ORLANDO E. MANUEL, PhD, CESO V Schools Division Superintendent Consultant