Centennial-old St James School razed; classes on

By Gina Dizon  

BESAO, Mountain Province – Classes at the centennial- old St James High School resumed June 5 after one of its buildings was razed to the ground around 8 to 9 p.m. of June 2 this year.

           

Reports from SJHS  teacher-in-charge Norman Tamulong said he noticed  something flickering inside the canteen, when he inspected the school around past 8 p.m. of June 2.

           

He reportedly rang the bell to alarm the community and saved whatever records he could as community people poured in to put out the fire.    

           

The burned wooden building housed the administration office, faculty room, student center, one classroom, and a canteen. 

           

Reports revealed that administrative and financial records, student records except those of the ‘80s and up were burned along with the admin and faculty computers.

The quick response of the immediate barangays of Kin-iway and Payeo and the Philippine National Police- Sagada Fire department spared the main building where classrooms, and a nearby building houses the library, science lab and the computer rooms. 

           

Other residents from nearby barangays  Padangaan, Besao East and West,  Soquib, Banguitan, Agawa and Lacmaan  helped  prevent fire from spreading to a  nearby building. 

           

Sister schools- St Mary School of Sagada (SMSSI)  and  All Saints Mission School  (ASMES) of Bontoc – provided student  arm chairs and textbooks  among other  immediate school  papers needed with the  prompt  response of  ASMES headmaster of  ASMES and consultant-former  principal of  St Mary’s  School Dr Dennis Faustino.  

           

The regional office of the Department of Education also committed to assist in providing books to SJHS, it was learned.

The supposed first day of school on June 4 was spent  clearing and cleaning the premises of  SJHS by people from nearby barangays.

           

The Local Government Unit of Besao headed by Mayor Wellington Pooten provided lunch and refreshments.

           

St. James High School will celebrate its centennial in 2013.  

           

Diocesan bishop Rt Rev. Brent Alawas of Northern Philippines and chairman of the board of trustees of SJHS, said “the centennial torch on 25th July 2012 hopes to break ground for this new building which must be finished when the grand centennial celebration kicks off on 2nd March 2013."

           

St. James School was established in 1913 when Episcopal missionary, Deaconess Anne Hargreaves arrived as first resident missionary in Besao.

           

Twenty four children first attended school in a thatched structure which served as the church and also the school located in the very spot, where 99 years after was burned to the ground.

For help in building  SJHS, write or call  FelicidadTalabong, bookkeeper of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Philippines, with  line number 074-6021026, mobile phone no. 09203211992 and email ad at ednpfely@yahoo.com.

           

A Facebook account  for this  purpose shall be set up.  

           

An initial  I million pesos  plus an expected 3 million pesos  from insurance payment   shall be used to build a concrete  school building estimated to cost P6 to P7 million.