Fulfilling Our Potentials

         Without education, how can men have its high-powered machines? Without it, how can they say that the Earth is revolving around the sun together with the other planets?

Education is very important in our lives and that is why man aims to have the high education he wants to search out. There are several purposes of education. The soul purpose of education is to educate man and give opportunity to succeed in life. As for me, basically, man needed education for career purposes. From the early age, our parents always told us that if we finished our education, we will not plow in the farm nor fish in a small river. Simply, one who attained better education will have a greater possibility to succeed in life. And this is ultimately true, because if you want to be a doctor or a lawyer, or an engineer one must have an education.

Education is extremely important because it prepares people for the real world and it also helps them to settle on what kind of profession they would like to go into. When they get into their profession they will yearn for good earnings. When they earn more money they will be able to pay for a better education for their own children. 

Though, unfortunately we have places in this world, where not everyone has a chance to be given this formal type of education. The opportunities that are offered are very much limited. Occasionally there are inadequate resources to provide schooling. In addition because parents need their children to help them work in factories, have out of the ordinary jobs, or just do farm work.

The benefit of education is endless. As for the nation, this is to say that is education is a must to a country/nation aspires to achieve growth and development and more importantly sustain it. When looking at the continuing effects of an education, our economy needs these educated people to know how to keep the economy competent and not get into a bind in the prospect.  Education aims to allow the individuals to put their potentials to most favorable use of self-evident. Without it, the training of the human minds is deficient.

Education is the knowledge of putting one's potentials to the utmost use. We have to view thoughtfully of education as a very precious tool in life. It cannot be measured by cash, fame and other things for we consider this as a key to achievements that disregards the stature in life and financial capabilities as long as there is the yearning to attain the aim we envision in life.

An Educated man is definitely a wise thinker and a correct decision-maker. For an educated man will know what would be the consequences of his doings. Man achieve this by bringing him knowledge from the outside world, teaching him to reason, and acquainting him with earlier period of his history, so that he may be a better adjudicator of the present.

Lacking of education, man, is shut up or was inside a windowless room that he couldn’t see the outside world. But with education a man will find himself in a comfortable room with all windows open to interact to the external world. In other words, people with insufficient education will have the lesser opportunity to do whatever they wanted to be.

A good example of succession was Bill Gates, since he is very educated, how advanced do you think the computers without him? What if Bill Gates didn’t acquire his knowledge do you think computers will exist? See! The more educated a man is, the more knowledge one may obtain on theirs.

The mere purpose of education is not to acquire good marks, good ranks or good jobs. This is not what education is about. You have to comprehend everything, ask questions then only you will begin to know concerning education. If you merely memorize facts/informations you may become man of knowledge but you won’t become intelligent.

Education is the hidden wealth for anybody that cannot be robbed and it is the definitely a thing that our parents may inherit to us. It is a money which can never be stolen from you. Education is something which directs your thinking into right direction.

Education is not merely at school, education is learning and you start to do that the day you are born. You don’t even have to be capable in reading or writing and you can still teach other people through experience to get a good education so they might one day use it and have a good life.

HISTORY

 Francisco G. Nepomuceno Memorial High School is one of the biggest public secondary schools in terms of student population. It was founded in October 1992 as Angeles City High School - Pandan - an annex of ACHS - Pampang. In 2001, former Secretary Raul Roco declared it as a newly established school bearing its present name - Francisco G. Nepomuceno Memorial High School. FGNMHS is located at Citicenter, Pandan. It has acquired its land through Contract of Usufruct which is 20, 000 square meters (2 hectares).

       Presently, FGNMHS is serving more than 5,500 students coming from more than 14 barangays of Angeles City and 4 nearby municipalities namely Mabalacat, Magalang, San Fernando and Porac.

   Francisco G. Nepomuceno Memorial High School, formerly known as Angeles City High School, Pandan was originally an extension of Angeles City High School, Pampang, one of the secondary schools in Angeles City which started its operation in 1968 by virtue of Resolution No. 130 sponsored by the late Antonio Abad Santos.

       When Mt. Pinatubo erupted in June 1991, the school land area and physical facilities were considerably damaged. The cascading lahar from the mountain’s slopes eroded a big portion of the school land area. As a result, the angeles City Council, through the able leadership of then Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan, deemed it necessary to transfer the high school at Citicenter, Pandan, Angeles City where majority of the school’s clientele evacuated.

       Thus, in 1992, seventeen teachers from Angeles City High School, Pampang were transferred to Citicenter, Pandan, Angeles City. A two-storey building was constructed to serve as classrooms. Mr. Marcelo C. Sadie, Principal of ACHS, Pampang designated Mrs. Elvira L. Marquez, Teacher III as the Officer - in – Charge of ACHS, Pandan with Dr. Wilfredo S. Ocampo as the SSC Coordinator.

When the situation in Angeles City had improved, a number of concerned residents patitioned the school authorities to return ACHS, Pampang to its old site at Arayat Boulevard, Pampang. Upon the go signal of the City Engineering Office, City Council and DECS, Angeles City, Angeles City High School returned to its original site in Barangay Pampang.

       However, since there were residents who permanently settled in Barangay Pandan and the nearby barangays, ACHS, Pandan was recognized as an extension of ACHS, Pampang.

       With Mrs. Elvira L. Marquez at the helm, ACHS, Pandan recorded a marked increase in enrolment. Graduates from nearby public elementary schools flocked to ACHS, Pandan as their parents bore the brunt of the country’s economic crisis. As the school population reached 3,000, Mrs. Marquez worked on the construction of additional buildings and the hiring of additional teachers. She also initiated the full operationalization of the school library by soliciting donations of books and educational magazines from various civic organizations. Mrs. Marquez also appointed subject coordinators in 1995 to facilitate the teaching-learning situation amidst a burgeoning school population and increasing number of teachers. Some subject coordinators were eventually promoted like Mr. Guillermo Bognot, ES – II, PEHM, Dr. Wilfredo Ocampo, ES – I Science, Mr. Domingo Gonzales, ES – I, Mathematics, Mr. Felix Pineda, Department Head, Filipino (ACHS Pampang), Mr. Joel Regala, Master Teacher I (Social Studies), Miss Regina Mignon Bognot, Master Teacher I (Values Education) and Mrs. Josefina Garcia, Master Teacher I (THE). Mrs. Marquez also paved the way for ACHS, Pandan to have its own school paper. Thus, ACHS Vanguard released its maiden issue in December 1998.

The Special Science Class brought fame to ACHS, Pandan by winning prestigious academic contests like PAUTAKAN and Battle of the Brains. In June 1998, the special Science Classes were transferred to CLEMENDES through the initiative of Dr. Wilfredo S. Ocampo, ES – I, Science.

STEP TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE

       In the year 2000, PTA Officer (1999 – 2001) and the Division of Angeles City seriously worked on the separation of ACHS, Pandan from ACHS, Pampang. To facilitate the separation of ACHS, Pandan from its mother school, the Management Team composed of Dr. Antonieta Tiotuico, Chairman, Dr. Nicolas Capulong, In-Charge of Academic Affairs, Mrs. Lyn Lansangan, In-Charge of Administration and Mr. Honorio Sarmiento, In-Charge of Physical Facilities was formed. Through the efforts of the Management Team, sawali buildings were constructed, the front fence was painted, a Male faculty room was established and the Reading Center was refurbished to fit regional standards.

Seeing the need for establishment of another secondary school in Angeles City, Mayor Carmelo Lazatin bought the two hectare lot through local government funds. Then, powered by his commitment to strengthen public secondary education in Angeles City, Mayor Lazatin donated the land title to the Department of Education.

Congressman Francis “Blue Boy” Nepomuceno initially worked on the documents for separation, but due to the prevailing political chaos at that time, positive congressional action was derailed. The Department of Education Regional Office followed up the processing of the documents to fast track the establishment of Francisco G. Nepomuceno Memorial High School.

FROM EXTENSION TO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL

       On July 3, 2001, Department of Education Secretary Raul S. Roco formally approved the request to established Angeles City High School, Pandan and its renaming to Francisco G. Nepomuceno Memorial High School, after one of the most prominent political figures in Angeles City. The approval was based on the school’s compliance with requirements per DECS order No. 5, s. 1989 like feasibility study; Sanggunian Resolution; approved budget; approved pentilla; title of school site or deed of donation in favor of DECS; certification that the school is not within 2 km. radius of any secondary school; certification of continued local government support; and certification of availability of adequate classrooms and other facilities, textbooks and other reference materials, equipment for Science, Mathematics, T.H.E and PEHM and the funds for the initial operation of the school. The financial requirements of the school were integrated in the budget of the region pending the inclusion of the school in the General Appropriations Act.

       Thus, on May 30 2002, the Francisco G. Nepomuceno Memorial High School (FGNMHS) faculty welcomed a new principal in the person of Miss Ma. Celina L. Vega. Miss Vega enjoined the faculty to be one with her in making FGNMHS an effective school which inspires students to learn, to attend classes and to speak with dignity. During Miss Vega’s first year as Principal, FGNMHS followed the Restructured Basic Education Curriculum (RBEC), produced its first winner in the Regional Schools Press Conference and successfully hosted its first Management Committee meeting.

Armed with a clear vision for the school, Ms. Ma. Celina L. Vega steered FGNMHS to new heights. She inspired the PTA to allocate funds for the improvement of school facilities. Through her admirable efforts, the front fence was repainted and the front lawn landscaped. Sheds were also constructed for student’s convenience during their vacant periods. The principal’s office was likewise restructured in order to provide a pleasing ambiance to the visitors.

       Through the cooperation of the faculty and subject coordinators and the inspiring leadership of Ms. Vega, Francisco G. Nepomuceno Memorial High School was adjudged Model School by the Division of Angeles for SY 2003 – 2004.