Las Piñas Gabaldon Hall

Context of Gabaldon Schools in the Philippines

Schools must be provided to facilitate the education of the Filipinos. There were existing 534 schools constructed by the Spaniards and the Americans added 1,000 more school buildings & it had steadily grew in the first 10 years. They have adopted three kinds of school buildings, the barrio school, the municipal school, and the group of high school buildings.

Starting 1900s, they built sturdier schoolhouses that later known as American Colonial Schools. American architect William E. Parsons was commissioned to develop prototype designs for the schoolhouses. There were twenty prototypes made that varies from one classroom to more than ten classrooms. Prototypes were designed also for elementary schools and high schools.

In 1907, Assemblyman Isauro Gabaldon allotted a budget of one million pesos (sixty thousand dollars) for the construction of theses prototypes all over the Philippines. These schools were later known as "Gabaldon Schools".

Site

With the growth of population in Las Piñas, the demand for education is also rising. Starting out from a single gabaldon school, it led to the construction of several buildings and facilities within the complex. It includes multi-storey classroom building, H.E. building, motorpool, guard houses, service area, additional offices; as well as a track oval and a multi-purpose hall.

Architectural characteristics

Reminiscent of the early years of the American occupation, Las Piñas Elementary School’s Gabaldon Hall is one of the survivors of the city’s rapid development. The design was named after a former Nueva Ecija congressman, Isauro Gabaldon, who introduced a law in 1907 that appropriated funds for the construction of school buildings nationwide.

The Las Piñas Gabaldon Hall reflects a Neo Classical Revival Style. It can be verified with its U-shape floor configuration, series of concrete columns in the middle section, and utilization of standardized G.I roofing. It belongs to one of the construction systems employed in Gabaldon Schools - the reinforced concrete built-in wall system. It has a medium aesthetic value; and medium state of originality.

It also features high ceilings, and windows made of capiz shells. The roof reflects Dutch gable roof design - similar to other types of gabaldon. The windows are in sliding-type style, and the transom supplements ample lighting into the interior. At present, the sliding-type mechanism of the windows and series of transoms were not functional. The windows were made fixed and enclosed with wrought iron grill works while the transoms (including wood framing and capiz shells) were painted along with the walls of the hall.

Existing building conditions

The Las Piñas Gabaldon Hall integrated full air-conditioning system to cater according to its new use as an office building. Also, the gap between the concrete foundations and the natural ground line were utilized into plant boxes. The aluminum lettering of "DIVISION OF CITY SCHOOLS LAS PINAS CITY" were added at the front facade. Also, green polycarbonate curved roofing were installed within the two entrances of the hall to provide shading.

The exposed pipe systems are still present and functioning. The G.I roofing and gutters were also changed. Eaves, as well as the walls, received general painting works for aesthetic and functional improvement. The original extension walls were made out of wood and changed into concrete at some time.

Other replacements include fixed jalousies on the sides of the hall, new ceilings, fixed cement partitions (collapsible wooden partitions before), and clay and wood tiles.

Division of City Schools Las Piñas City

The Division of City Schools, Las Piñas City was established as one of the thirteen divisions of DECS – National Capital Region. It was formally opened on July 2, 1997 with the grant of cityhood to the former town of Las Piñas. Pursuant to Section 44 of the Las Piñas Charter, otherwise known as Republic Act No. 8251, the City Schools Division was officially created and was officially separated from the Division of Parañaque – Las Piñas (PARLAS) during a formal turnover ceremony held on June 27, 1997.

Maintaining the over-all administration and supervision of elementary and secondary or basic education at the division level is the promotional or supervisory staff headed by Ms. Virginia L. Peñafuerte as its City Schools Division Superintendent who is ably supported by Dr. Lourdes M. Victoriano as its Assistant Schools Division Superintendent.

Mission

"We at the Division of Las Piñas shall unceasingly strive to provide quality, dynamic and relevant education among learners through responsive and technologically-based curriculum, highly motivated and competent teachers in a child-friendly environment."

"We at the Division of City Schools – Las Piñas shall relentlessly strive to provide equal and equitable access to quality and relevant education with the belief that education can empower man to shape his own destiny."

Vision

"The Division of Las Piñas is a model division committed in developing a culture of excellence in the delivery of quality education. It is a highly performing system responsive to the needs of the learners and society in producing globally competitive, productive and morally upright learners."

"The Division of City Schools – Las Piñas is a model in the delivery of quality education; a system of education that responds to the cultural, educational, environmental, financial, commercial, industrial, technical, and technological demands of the progressively thriving City of Las Piñas in the 21st century."