IMUS NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
A Culture of Academic Excellence and Discipline
A vision of having built a barrio high school might have been through the idea of Engineer Luciano Sarne. It happened sometime in 1969 that the teachers of Bukandala Elementary School noticed the vast increase in number of school going age population of Bukandala. It was decided that the high school building be established just within the compound of the elementary school because there was no available fund for the school site. Upon signing and approval of a barrio resolution passed by then Bo. Capt. Florencio Barzaga the PTA President and Engineer Luciano Sarne, the first public secondary school in Imus was established in 1971 with initial four classrooms and a library. Salaries of teachers were locally funded through the miscellaneous and monthly tuition fees collected from the enrollees and a minimal financial support by the National Aid Fund.
Mr. Teofilo Bartolome, principal of elementary school acted as Assistant Principal of the high school with three secondary faculty members. Engineer Sarne, some barrio and school officials conducted the preliminary activities at the school on its first year of existence with an initial enrolment of 39 first year students only. Because of their determination and enthusiasm to had helped and accommodate the poor students not only in Bukandala but also its nearby barrios, some residents branded them as “The Builders of Bukandala Barrio High School”. In 1972, the student’s population raised to 121 first year to third year levels only which is more than triple the number of the previous year.
When Mr. Bartolome was transferred to another school, Mrs. Crsipina D. Suarez succeeded him and managed both the elementary and high school. She acted as Asst. Principal to 434 student population and 12 secondary teachers from SY 1976-1977 up to the time when a full time high school principal was designated to the school in the person of Mrs. Nelda G. Dator on Fevruary 1, 1981.
During that time because of the continuing increase of enrolment, the local officials headed by Barangay Captain Sotero A. dela Cruz and concerned citizens like the former Barangay Captain Ruben Saquilayan sought the assistance of Cavite Gov. Juanito R. Remulla in acquiring a piece of land for the permanent school site pursuant to DECS Memo s. 1980 so that they maybe allowed to continue its operational activities. With the sincere intentions and precedence to help and provide the poorest students with the continuing basic education, the governor and some barangay officials acted as intermediaries to civic spirited people to donate at least 17,000 square meters total land area namely: Rey Marquez and brothers (donated the biggest parcel of the land), Mr. Donato Tapawan and family, Mr. Renato Fauni and his brothers. With the assurance that a school site had been acquired, a Main building which housed 14 academic classrooms was constructed in a U-shaped pattern. Of the four classrooms, the Principal’s office, Guidance and Learning Resource Center were temporarily located. Adjacent to the main building was the Home Economics building and a temporary Practical Arts Room. Shortly after construction of the rooms had been finished high school students led by the principal and 12 secondary teachers moved to the permanent site on November 30, 1982.
The mere fact that it was the only public high school in Imus and because of the fast growing enrolment every year, a request for the change of its name was initiated through the former Congressman Renato P. Dragon. An act changing the name Bukandala National High School to Imus National High School which originated in the House of Representatives and the Senate on December 1, 1993 and February 10, 1994 respectively was finally enacted signed and elapsed into law on May 5, 1994by virtue of Republic Act No. 7706. Concurrently, the enrolment increased to 1,552 with 60 faculty members.
More classrooms and other facilities were constructed including the SDEP two-storey building consisting of 4 classrooms. Science laboratory, faculty room and comfort rooms. In these succeeding years, classrooms funded by the local and provincial government were also constructed.
While the deeds of donation were in forced and to further recognize the principal donor of the land, the school’s official title was connected with as “Doña Paula Guevarra Vda. De Marquez Memorial National High School”, but its traditional name Imus National High School is still being used for used for official operational transactions with DECS and other related agencies. When Mrs. Dator was promoted as Principal III, she was transferred to ETTMNHS, Kawit, Cavite and Mrs. Leonila T. Dino a resident of Imus succeeded her as Principal II on February 1996 (where 6 teachers were also promoted as head teachers) to supervise 75 teachers, a bookkeeper, a janitor and a security guard with 1, 735 student population. A year after, another memorandum was issued by the DECS Secretary Gloria requiring the incumbent principals of nationalized/barangay high schools to procure a land title of the school site for safekeeping and permanent interest of the school itself. The urge to have the land titled was there because it is one way of assuring the teachers and students of the permanency of the school on its location. After several talks, negotiations, agreements and disagreements along with the three owners and after accumulating the amount needed in the processing, Mrs. Dino and head teachers together with the concerned individuals finally had a total of 13,335 square meters of land transferred to the school on June 27, 2001. Still the remaining 1,000 square meter ground is yet to be titled and is likely to be accomplished soon.
For the past 31 years, Imus National High School had successfully served and is serving the community and its environment. The School is still improving on its population and its facilities. In the present school year 2002-2003, the school’s enrolment is 5,590 students with 96 faculty members, supported with 15 other administrative personnel some of them are funded by the Local School Board.
A 4 classroom two-storey building and other classroom two-storey building funded by the Local School Board and DPWH respectively were constructed. Adjacent to the SAKI building is the on-going construction of another 2 classroom two-storey building and bigger space for the school clinic.