Tabaco National High School

History

It was 1945, right after the liberation period when competition courses where then in order. Because of the ravages of war, the Albay High School under the principalship of Mr. Benigno Reyes was temporarily transferred to Tabaco at the Qua Chee Gan Building, but graduation exercises that year were held in Albay.

When classes opened next year, there was a move to return the Albay High School to Legazpi, but prominent citizens of the province opposed the move. Spearheaded by Congressman Casimiro Binamira, the former Governor Saturnino Benito, the late Atty. Simplicio B. Peña, and local and provincial leaders worked for the retention of the high school in Tabaco.

They succeeded and Mr. Pastor Escalante was appointed principal of that Albay High School in Tabaco. However, due to the problem of the buildings, school necessities and other things, classes were shifted from Qua Chee Gan to Golinco and later to Poblete Buildings with students furnishing the school necessities such as chairs and tables. That school year was remarkable, for the first High School day was celebrated with Marichu Crisol reigning as Miss Tabaco High School.

However, happy things for the Tabaqueños ceased as they stood in protest against another move of returning Tabaco Albay High School to its former site. Again the people of Tabaco were backed up by the prominent professionals. The first record rallies in the locality were held at the town plaza. The people stood as one and succeeded in swaying the government to a worthy cause.

But the enthusiastic people of Tabaco were not contented with the establishment of A.H.S. in Tabaco. So, they worked much harder and more cohesively. With the first PTA President Dr. Mariano Cruel, the members of the PTA created Emergency Committee headed by Fr. Rustieo Burce with equally industrious members such as Mr. Narciso Baclao, Mrs. Narcisa A. Alparce and Mrs. Piedad R. Almonte to raise funds for a permanent school site.