HISTORY OF THE AURORA NATIONAL SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL
The establishment of the Aurora National Science High School was prompted by a need to offer a curriculum that suits the bright/fast learners who belong to the Special Education (mentally gifted) classes at the Baler Central School which was organized during the incumbency of Mr. Domingo F. Hulipas as the principal of the school. Class 1983 was the first graduate of the special education in Baler,
June to August, 1982 – Preparation of the feasibility study for the establishment of a science – technology oriented secondary school to be funded by the Provincial Government by the Division Planning Unit headed by Asst. Supt. Hulipas with Miss Virginia G. Guerrero (Science Supervisor), Mrs. Raymunda B. Sindac (English Supervisor), Mr. Andres O. Tomas, ESHT, Mrs. Erlinda A. Esteban (SPED Teacher), Miss Teodora G. Zubia (Statistical Aide), Mrs. Virginia R. Castillo (Clerk II) and Miss Emilia M. Sison (Fiscal Clerk).
September 2, 1982 – Mr. Gervacio N. Sales, Schools Superintendent for Aurora, transmitted the feasibility study to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. Mr. Sales gave the go- signal for Mr. Hulipas and Miss Guerrero to prepare the opening of the Aurora Science High School.
February 7, 1983, in the presence of Asst. Supt. Hulipas, Science Supervisor Virginia G. Guerrero, English Supervisor Raymunda B. Sindac, and other staff members of the Division Office the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Aurora passed Resolution no. 08, s. 1983 favorably indorsing the creation of Aurora Science High School to the Director, DECS Region IV, Quezon City and appropriating funds for its initial operation for calendar year 1983. The Sangguniang Panlalawigan was composed of Atty. Luis S. Etcubañez, Provincial Governor; Atty. Isaias M. Noveras, Vice Provincial Governor; Dr. Agapito T. Samano, Dr. Gervacio F. Farin, Jr., Mr. Simplicio Soriano, Mr. Ananias S. Suaverdez, Mr. Arnulfo Querijero, SK Chairman and Mr. Victor Bitong, ABC Pesident.
April 20, 1983, Dr. Saturnino R. Magturo, Director, DECS Region IV, Quezon City approved opening the Aurora Science High School under Temporary Permit No. 051, s. 1983 for the first year using the modified Science Curriculum of DECS Region IV and include certain features of the curriculum of the Quezon City High School.
June 1, 1983, opening of the Aurora Science High School with 40 first year students and Miss Leonila A. Lorente and Mrs, Elsa A. Oliva as the first teachers. The school was managed by Asst. Supt. Hulipas and later during School Year 1986-87 a Teacher in Charge, Miss Priscilla Dionisio, was designated as Teacher in Charge to assist Asst. Superintendent.
January 1, 1984 – The first annual budget of the Aurora Science High School was separated from the budget of the Aurora Provincial High School and operated under its own budget until its nationalization in 1989.
There has been several efforts to nationalize the Aurora Science High School, namely,
- Parliamentary Bill 2934, during the First Regular Session of the Batasang Pambansa, filled by Assemblyman Luis S. Etcubañez
- House Bill No. 72, First Congress, filled by Congressman Benedicto G. Miran of the Lone District of Aurora in the House and sponsored by Senator Edgardo J. Angara in the senate.
From this House Bill came Republic Act No. 6729, An Act establishing Aurora Science High School as the Aurora National Science High School, Baler, approved on June 14, 1989.
The school was housed originally at the Baler Central School compound with its own eight-(8) room academic building. It transferred to its new site during the school year 1992-93, with 4-classrooms.
The two-hectare site was acquired through purchase, from the Carrasco-Gonzales and Silvestre Sindac families at one-hectare each., with a P100,000.00 donation of the Verdant-Agro Forest Development Corporation donated to the school through Mr. Dominador Mandapat, as a priority project of the late Governor Eunice Guerrero-Cucueco. The P100,000.00 was coursed through her. Mr. Agustin Miemban negotiated the purchase on the one-hectare lot from the Carrasco-Gonzales family, Mr. Domingo F. Hulipas from the Silvestre Family.
Donors of the Aurora National Science High School Road from national road in front of Capitol to the West Gate were Mr. & Mrs. Tito Magcalas; from the National Road in front of AMCO to East Gate were Senator & Mrs. Edgardo J. Angara through Mayor Arthur J. Angara; Venacio C. Angara Family through Mrs. Cynthia A. Amat; Mr. & Mrs. Filomeno F. Bitong and Brgy, Capt. Isidro Turgo. These donations were negotiated by Mr. Miemban and Mr. Hulipas.
During the Calendar Years 1993 and 1994 the Aurora National Science High School was a recipient of three (3) packaged projects:
A P3.4M for three (3) SEDP Building consisting of a 6-room 2-storey building; a Learning Resource Center (LRC) funded by EDPITAF-DECS. These buildings are provided with complete facilities and equipments for Science, Technology, etc.
A P5M allotted by Senate Pres. Edgardo J. Angara which was programmed to construct the perimeter fence, the training center and the student’s dormitory. These projects remain incomplete.
A P1M allotted by the Hon. Benedicto G. Miran, Congressman for the Lone District of Aurora for the construction of a Library-Museum. This project remain incomplete.
These buildings were blessed and turned-over to the School by Dr. Achilles B. Del Callar, Director, EDPITAF-DECS; Senate Pres. Edgardo J. Angara, and Cong. Benedicto G. Miran to the school on November 27, 1994.
The Aurora National Science High School had its first graduates in 1983 with 100% passing and with highest NCEE 99+% out of the 7000+ to the upper 250 leading schools in the Philippines. It has consistently obtained a Mean of 93+%.
Today, the school has a head teacher, 13 teachers and 282 students from first year to fourth year. It is also the DECS-designated Divisional Leader School for Aurora and takes care of the training and retaining of teachers for elementary a secondary level. It lacks library books and other references.
Third year student, Athena gave her farewell message to Ma’am Hulipas
Second year students singing their own version of “Hawak Kamay”
