Anything under the Sun
Iloilo–always a center of education, 2
During the war, the Japanese allowed the opening of schools especially in Iloilo City and many Ilonggos availed of this opportunity which was credited after the war. The medium of instruction was Tagalog for the first time.
In the mountains, the Panay guerilla also opened two military schools for officership–Berlin Officers Troop School at Barrio Oquendo, Balete, Aklan and Rome Officers Troop School at Barrio Tigbaboy, Tibiao, Antique. The valedictorian of the former was Cpl. Esmeralda Eco (congressman of Camarines after the war) and 2nd Lt. Vicente Acsay (bar topnotcher after the war).
After the war, because of lack of transportation, Gov. Patricio Confesor of Iloilo created branches of the Iloilo High School in every legislative dictrict. This plan was adopted by many provinces in the country. Many of these branches became later as independent town high schools and colleges.
There was also a proliferation of private schools–Iloilo City Colleges (now University of Iloilo), Panay Colleges, Graciano Lopez Jaena Colleges (now De Paul College of Iloilo), St. Paul Hospital School of Nursing, Cabalum College (now Western Cabalum College), Visayas Central Colleges and Philippine Women’s University in Iloilo under Dean Carmen Jimenez.
Recently, still some schools were created like St. Paul University Iloilo, Ateneo de Iloilo plus many pre-school institution and computer colleges, the largest of which is the Visayas Computer Colleges.
Sometime in the early 50’s, the Community School movement was born in Santa Barbara, Iloilo under Supt. Jose V. Aguilar. It spread like wild fire in the country and was even adopted by Malaysia and Indonesia. However, in the 60’s it declined because of new educational philosophies and thrusts adopted by the national government.
During this period, too Major Rodolfo Ganzon of Iloilo City made Iloilo City High School as the first free public secondary school in the country.
In the early fifties, even the Hukbalahap rebels established “Stalin University” in the mountains of Leon, Iloilo; in San Remigio, Antique; and in Libacao, Aklan, for their followers.
There was also the UPIC (University of the Philippines in Iloilo City) established in 1948 which is now the University of the Philippines in the Visayas (UPV) with the biggest school campus in the entire country.
Recently, Philippine Science High School (West Visayas Campus) was established in 1993 now under foremost Filipino scientist Josette T. Biyo.
In the 60’s and 70’s, more schools were created like Iloilo Doctors’ College (the first College of Medicine in Panay), Western Institute of Technology (the first engineering school in West Visayas), government agricultural colleges in Lambunao, Leon and Dingle, fishery schools in San Jaoquin, Concepcion and Iloilo State College of Fisheries in Barotac Nuevo (the largest in the country), and polytechnic colleges in Miagao, Passi, Dumangas and Buenavista (Guimaras).
During martial law, barangay high schools were created in the country and Iloilo province had the greatest number of these schools – 70, with San Joaquin having 18 topped the list. This was due to the efforts of Iloilo Provincial Board member Esperidion Jagunap.
In sum, Iloilo is still an educational center in the South, having the largest school division under Superintendent Raymundo Lapating despite separation of Iloilo City in 1948, and recently of Guimaras and Passi City and for having the greatest number of state colleges and universities.*
