HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Schools Division Office of Mt Province
Though schools were first established in Mountain Province in Mountain Province as early as 1881-1886, the Division of Mountain Province officially started on July 1, 1967 by virtue of Republic Act Number 4695, otherwise known as the Mountain Province Division Law. This law divided the old Mountain Province into Ifugao, Kalinga-Apayao, Benguet and Bontoc, now the new Mountain Province. With this, Mountain Province together with Ifugao, Apayao and Kalinga-Apayao existed as the BIAK (Bontok, Ifugao,Apayao, Kalinga) Division till 1972. In 1972 though, Mountain Province, Baguio and Abra became part of Region 1, known as the Ilocos Region and Kalinga-Apayao and Ifugao of Region 2, or the Cagayan Region.
The signing of then President Corazon Aquino of Executive Order 220, “Creating a Cordillera Administrative Region, Appropriating Funds Therefore and for Other Purposes” enabled Mountain Province, formerly called Bontoc; Abra; Baguio City; Kalinga-Apayao; and Ifugao to be separate provincial divisions under one region - the Cordillera Administrative Region. Though Mountain Province existed under a division before, it was not until September 23, 1987 that it officially started as a separate provincial division under the Department of Education - Cordillera Administrative Region (DepEd-CAR) when Administrative Order No. 36 provided for the establishment of Regional Offices in CAR.
Key Officials:
BENILDA M. DAYTACA, CESO V
Schools Division Superintendent
benilda.daytaca@deped.gov.ph
VIRGINIA A. BATAN
Assistant Schools Division Superintendent
virginia.batan@deped.gov.ph
KHAD LAYAG
Chief Education Supervisor
Curriculum Implementation Division
khad.layag@deped.gov.ph
ROSENDO CACAP
Chief Education Supervisor
School Governance and Operations Division
rosendo.cacap@deped.gov.ph
Email Address: mt.province@deped.gov.ph
Website: http://www.depedmtprov.ph/
Address: Bontoc, Mt. Province
Early Education in Mountain Province
Dap-ay/Ato and Ebgan
The dap-ay / ato existed as the most influential institution in the early days before the colonial times until the mid-1900’s. It was the center of education, religion, socio-culture, politics especially for the men who frequent the place. The boys are trained in the dap-ay to become responsible elders, husband and citizens in the coming days. Oral history and culture are passed from one generation to the next thru social interactions in the dap-ay / ato.
Meanwhile, the girls are informally educated in the ebgan, a place where girls of almost the same age as they gather and stay for the night. In this ebgan, which is usually the house of a widow or a spinster, they learn to become responsible and treasured women of the future. It is usually in this place where courting takes place. The younger single men accompanied by the older men, visit the ladies in the ebgan.
Though there was no reading and writing that was taught, these future women and men were trained with the skills, knowledge and attitude needed to live successfully in the community that they are in.
Spanish Period
Though the first Catholic Church? was established in 1667 and abandoned in 1668 in Kayan, Tadian, it was only in 1881-86 that the Catholic missionaries through Fray Redondo that primary schools were first established in Mankayan, Besao (Besao District), Banaao (Tadian 2), Namitpit, Sacasacan (Sadanga), Talubin (Bontoc), Ananao, Lingey and Cervantes. ?In 1886, Fr. Angel Perez continued to build more schools for boys and girls in Bagnen(Bauko 1), Lubon(Tadian 1), Bauko (Bauko 1 District), Guinzadan (Bauko 1), Paltoc, Sibsibu and San Emilio. Wooden schools were also built in Tucucan(Bontoc), Guinaang (Bontoc) and Talubin (Bontoc) by Fray Juan Iglesias in 1893.
Also in 1893, Fr. Evaristo Gonzales, who initiated the construction of a horsetrail from Sagada to Taccong and the road from Sagada to Besao, established schools for boys in Ankileng (Sagada) and Tetep-an (Sagada) and a school for girls in Central Sagada (Sagada District).
The change of colonizers ended further church and school expansions by the Spaniards in the Cordillera.
American Period
Public school system was the principal agent for the American colonization of the Cordilleras with English as its medium of instruction.? Education greatly helped in pacifying the people of the Cordilleras, thus, restoring tranquility. “…if the policy of reduccion “Hispanized” the lowland population at the end of the Spanish era, the colonial education system “Americanized” the Cordillera population at the end of the American period.” (The New Mountain Province, p. 74-75)
It was not until the 1930’s that better known products of public system of education became apparent. One of them is Dr. Hilary Pittapit Clapp, born in Bontoc but educated in Bontoc, Easter School, Canada, and Manila High School. He became the Resident Physician in the Bontoc Hospital and the first Igorot Provincial Governor of the province. Other pioneer Igorot students, especially those that started schooling at Easter School, as mentioned by Chaokas (2009,132) were Clement Irving, who became a representative of Mountain Province to the Philippine Legislature; Saturnino Moldero, representative of Mountain Province in Philippine Legislature; Anacleto Galo, Provincial secretary of Mountain Province; Narciso Carino, Sergeant, Philippine Scouts; James Amok, cited for bravery during WWII; Edward Muket, Corporal, Philippine Scouts; Stanley Kalingan, Superintendent of Bontoc Hospital; Francis Padsing, practicante, Philippine Constabulary; and Benjamin Peleo, messenger with the Bontoc Government School.
The first ever public school established in 1902 by the Americans in the heart of Mountain Province was Bontoc Central School. Private schools, however, were also established by the Episcopalian Church. These schools include Saint Mary’s School in 1904, All Saints Mission Elementary School in 1906 and St. James High School in 1913.
Sources:
1. Chaokas, Florence K.. Mountain Province: Its Past and Present. Rianella Printing Press. Baguio City, Philippines, 2010
2. Provincial Research Committee. The New Mountain Province. Provincial Government of Mountain Province. Zoom Printing Press. 2010
3. DECS-CAR. Regional Annual Report. 1988
4. Mountain Province Division pertinent documents