History of Nueva Ecija High School
NEHS is now 104 years old. It commemorated in 2005 its centennial anniversary.
One of the earliest schools put up by the American Insular Government in the Philippine Islands was a provincial school that first opened in 1902 in San Isidro, then the capital town of Nueva Ecija. It was an intermediate school composed of grades V, VI and VII. The first batch was grade V who would graduate as grade VII in 1905
Preparatory to the grade VII's entry into high school, the Philippine Commission passed Act 909 in 1903, allocating a certain sum for the construction of a high school building and student dormitories in San Isidro, with a proviso that landed residents of the town would have to donate the lot for the purpose. Crispulo Sideco and Eufemio Policarpio answered the call for donation. The latter donor was the father of Paz Policarpio-Mendez, NEHS Class '20 valedictorian, U.P.-BSEd '24 summa cum laude, and wife of diplomat Mauro Mendez who authored with her volumes 1 and 2 of the Philippine High School Readers.
The construction of the school building was finished in 1905. The high school was named the Wright Institute, in honor of Governor General Luke E. Wright. On October 7, 1905, it was inaugurated by the then N.E. Governor Epifanio delos Santos and San Isidro Municipal President Florencio Miranda.
Wright Institute was subsequently renamed Nueva Ecija High School. The first principal was T.W. Thompson, one of the Thomasites or American teachers sent to the Philippines aboard the ship Thomas to educate the Filipinos the American way. The school stayed in San Isidro until 1927 when its last batch graduated there.
In 1927, NEHS transferred to Cabanatuan (which town was made as early as 1913 the new provincial capital) under the supervision of the School Division of San Fernando, Pampanga. Another American, Harold B. Davis served as principal. There were 198 initial graduates in 1928. One of the outstanding members of Class '28 is Consuelo Villamor-Asis, recipient of U.P. Alumni Association's Distinguished Teacher Award in 1974 and Professional Award for Science/Biology in 1992. NEHSAA also gave her in 1984 the Professional Award in Science Education. She was instrumental in the organization of the NEHS Alumni Association and the coming into publication of the NEHSAA Quarterly.
The following served as principals after WW II: Domingo Santiago, Pedro J. Pagdanganan, Alfonso A. Reyes, Salvador V. Nieves, Gregorio C. Bugarin, Juliana C. Viloria, Amado P. Paz (OIC), Lourdes V. Villanueva, Genaro P. Isidro, Elvinia Nieves-Camacho and Primitiva Hierco-Datillo.
Balik-Tipon: Rallying Point for Novo Ecijanos- Hon. Gov. Aurelio Umali
Greetings to the NEHSAA which carried on the full responsibility of rallying support in various activities, be they academic, scholastic or in matters of infrastructures.
The success of the NEHSAA's Balik-Tipon, the general homecoming and reunion of the NEHS alumni, should serve as the rallying point for all peace-loving and progress-oriented Novo Ecijanos.
Putting together on a single occasion the alumni of this grand school could also be turned into a forum for a possible determination of productive endeavors that would benefit our constituents.
Here, we could meet with well-meaning individuals who might want to contribute to more progressive and alternative livelihood projects waiting to be developed for such a long, long time. Or, we could tap their potentials, their wisdom and logistical support, in putting up a solid front in our national goal of winning the war on poverty.
During my term, and as among the main thrusts of my administration, expect a lot of movements in the arena of educational development by my way of infrastructure, scholarship and scholastic endeavors.
Long live the NEHSAA on the occasion of its general homecoming reunion on November 30, 2008. May the flame of camaraderie it espouses serve as a rallying cause for Novo Ecijanos to aspire for greater glory and constructive pursuits.
Let the NEHS spirit prevail - Jose M. Paglinawan, Jr. '68, NEHSAA President
It uplifts and warms my heart that, today, all the jubilarian classes and the other Nueva Ecija High School alumni are once again gathered to pay homage to our school, meet classmates and recall the eventful past. This is also an occasion for us to celebrate and intensify our solidarity as members of the NEHS roster of graduates. Read more>>>