About

Five decades ago, secondary education in Vinzons was conducted at the then Camarines Norte High School in Daet, having the privileged few taking advantage of the opportunity. When World War II broke out, classes in the province were paralyzed, that momentarily grounded the students from Vinzons, but went through, when conditions became tolerable.

When the Japanese left in 1945, the conception of having a high school in the town became a steaming issue of the period. Spearheading the idea were the late Cong. Esmeraldo Eco and ex-Governor Regino Guinto, who desired to bring secondary education closer and more reachable to the poor. Since there were no site and building yet to accommodate the possible enrolees, instruction had its infancy stage at the house of Atty. Guinto at Macmaster Street (now Anacleto Guinto) in latter part of 1946.

At first, the school was christened Camarines Norte High School, Vinzons Branch, with supervision and regulation emanating from its mother school in Daet. The first batch of teachers who responded to the survey made were: Atty Rosario Zaño Sunga, Visitacion M. Pajarillo, Armando V. Pajarillo, Antonio Peñalosa, Pedro Ubaña, Anita L. Pajarillo, and Corazon de Jesus. Appointed teacher in-charge was Basilio Marindo.

Initially, there were 119 students (all in the first year) divided into four sections. Classes were held six days a week until the end of the school year. Apprehensive of the enrolment to swell the following year, more teachers were hired. Among them were Armando Ferrer, Amado Gonzales, and Victor Bautista was named teacher-in-charge. In July 1947, classes were transferred to the residence of Dr. Carlos Ascotia (the renowned lung specialist) in the same street.

School Site Purchase. Moved by the bulging school population, the PTA through the late Francisco Balon as president, arrived in a concensus to purchase a school site. Parents pledged P35 each to cover the cost in addition to the big chunk of tuition fee that was siphoned to the sale. Lots at the outskirts of the town were popular choices. First to sell was Mariano Balce his 2.4023-hectare lot for P1900 on March 9, 1948. An adjoining lot of Dr. Godofredo Pajarillo with an area of three hectares was sold one week later on March 16, 1948. On July 3, the lot of Rafael Mago followed suit for P861.00. Then on July, a 2.5-hectare lot owned by Abdon Salvacion was purchased, and finally, on March 14, 1949, a 1.5 hectare lot owned by Manuela Buenavista was sold for )1200.

The Transfer. By the middle of 1948, the transfer of the school to the new site was effected. A "barong-barong" first served to house the different classes. Adjustment period in the beginning was tough, parents, teachers, and students worked together to uproot the coconut trees and bamboo jungle to give way to expansion and development. Months later, through ex-Congressman Eco, a three-room-semi-permanent building was constructed. The innovations sent better impression to the students of the town studying at Camarines Norte High School. Subsequently, they trooped back to Vinzons and got enrolled as fourth year students. Enrolment swelled in an inverse proportion driving the school administration to hire additional teachers.