Pangdan

Community

History

The name of Brgy. Pangdan was coined after a plant commonly called “pandan” or pandan leaves (Pandanus amaryllifolius) which is widely used in cooking as a flavoring. The plant is rare in the wild, but is widely cultivated. It is an upright, green plant with fan-shaped sprays of long, narrow, blade-like leaves and woody aerial roots.

Starting from small barrio in 1942 during the Japanese time when the people are just using “lampara” to light their homes and streets having no electricity the place has now evolved into a big barangay. In 2012, the population of Brgy. Pandan is estimated to be more or less 3,984.

Geological and Political Location

Barangay Pangdan is situated along the coastline at the eastern portion of Catbalogan City. The place is about 8 kilometers from Catbalogan City proper and about 3 kilometers from the Maharlika National Highway. It is both accessible by the sea through motorboats in approximately by 30 minutes from Ubanon, Catbalogan City and by land (i.e. hiking and motorbike) also in about 30 minutes hiking to the highway and 10-minute jeepney/motorbike ride to Catbalogan City proper.

Politically it belongs to the 2nd Congressional District of the Province of Samar. The Barangay is organized into three (3) Sitios, each purok has their own leaders. The place is generally peaceful maintained by active Barangay Tanods. The place is now energized with electricity from SAMELCO.

Socio-Cultural

Roman Catholicism is the dominant religion of the Brgy. Pangdan while others are members of Born-Again Christians, Protestants, Seventh Day Adventists, and Iglesia Ni Cristo. Celebration of the annual Fiesta (June 12 and 13), Sto. Niňo (January 14), Christmas and New Year are among the festivities and revelries observed by the residents and visitors alike.

Economy

In terms of livelihood, Brgy. Pangdan is still classified to be rural in spite of its nearness to the capital town. Fishing is the main livelihood of the people while upland farming is only considered as secondary source of income. Frequently children are seen roaming the community selling fish by plates just to help their parents augment the family income earn extra money.

Local micro-entrepreneurs and businessmen also exist and are engaged in managing Sari-sari, fish drying, copra making and passenger motorboat operators to support the daily needs of their families. Some are also employed as teachers, office workers, security guards, domestic helpers, tricycle drivers, etcetera in Catbalogan City.

Nowadays, some of the people are already enjoying modern amenities such as cellular phones, televisions, karaoke video sing-along, electric fans, air-conditioning system and the like. Most of the houses are made of nipa and wooden materials but some well-to do families their houses were already made of concrete materials. Most of the pathways are already concreted but some roadways are uncemented.

Educational System

Barangay Pangdan has complete elementary and secondary education while Sitio Madalunot has only complete elementary. Parents from Sitio Calbasag and Sitio Mombon enroll their pupils and students either in Sitio Madalunot or Barangay Pangdan.

Pangdan National High School

Location

Pangdan National High School (PNHS) is located 8 km away from Catbalogan City. The school can be reached through a thirty-minute motorboat ride from Ubanon, Catbalogan City. From National Road (Maharlika Highway) the place can also be reached through single motorcycle ride or 30-minute hiking especially during monsoon months when the sea is rough.

The school is situated on a hilly portion of Brgy. Pangdan overseeing the idyllic Magueda Bay surrounded by verdant farmlands and grasslands. The front portion of the school building is cooled by the sea breeze and by the canopy of mango trees. These trees serve as natural umbrellas where teachers and students prefers to stay beneath during noon time that shelters them from the heat of the sun during sunny noon time. Aside from replenishing oxygen these trees also act as natural wind breaks during a windy day and when there is typhoon.

Historical Background

PNHS is the newest school of the seven (7) secondary schools Catbalogan City Division. Currently, the school has a total school population of two hundred ninety six (296) offering K to 12 Basic Education Curriculum ably managed by a Teacher-In-Charge and effectively handled by fourteen (14) supportive teachers.

The school has a total area of 1 hectare (10,000 square meters) with no concrete perimeter with only mango trees and few coconut palms dotting the place. Within the school plant are five (5) academic classrooms, four comfort rooms for male and female students and one shared toilet for the school staff; a hand-washing facilities; academic parks; and, school playground used for various purposes (i.e. recitation of the flag raising ceremony, stage, sports arena and learning park).

PNHS was formerly known as Pangdan Integrated School (PIS) at the elementary campus and started from single classroom offering First Year in 2008. The classroom has increased to two and later three classrooms. For three years PIS was managed by elementary school principal in the person of Dr. Adelfa I. Mendoza.

Through her efforts she was able to convince the donor-owners of the nearby private property of Atty. Manuelilda Rosario A. Torrevillas to execute a Deed of Donation in favor of the government covered by TCT No. 13874. A total of One Hundred Eighty Thousand (180,000) square meters, more or less was donated. Upon agreement this donation paved to renaming the school from PIS to PNHS. PNHS was granted a permit to operate effective SY 2009-2010.

The First Batch of secondary students graduated in S.Y. 2011-12 under the leadership of Mrs. Marissa L. Tan.

In December 27, 2012, Mr. Aylmer M. Arellon an Education Program Supervisor-Designate from the Division of Catbalogan City was reassigned to assume the position as Teacher-In-Charge when Mrs. Tan was transferred to another school. Mr. Arellon was the school head when the Second Batch of secondary students graduated in S.Y. 2012-13.

Mr. Arellon was later appointed to Principal I on December 16, 2014.

PNHS is offering Senior High School General Academic and Electrical Maintenance and Installation as its Technical Vocational and Livelihood Strands.

The pioneering SHS teachers are: Elena Norcio Beduya, GA and Dionesio Navarro Adona Jr., TVL.