A GROUP of teachers is opposing the proposed renaming of the historical Davao City National High School (DCNHS) to Tomas M. Tionko National High School (TTNHS).
“We oppose. DCNHS Araling Panlipunan Department through its Technical Working Group drafts its position paper expressing objection to the request of renaming Davao City NHS,” Jed Bete, DCNHS AP Department OIC, said in an online message sent by SunStar Davao on February 22, 2023.
Bete added that they want to preserve the history of DCNHS.
As of writing, SunStar Davao is yet to get the full details of the opposition paper on the issue.
On November 14, 2022, Tionko heirs sent a letter to the City Mayor’s Office appealing to rename DCNHS in honor of the man who donated the property. SunStar Davao was able to secure a copy of the letter after Cecil James Velasco posted it publicly on his Facebook account. The letter was also verified by Bete.
“A favorable decision on this appeal will undoubtedly enrich our City’s history, as it will etch in our collective memory, for posterity, and for generations to come, Tomas M. Tionko has contributed immensely to our city’s transformation into a burgeoning metropolis of the south,” the Tionko heirs said.
The heirs said DCNHS’ 28,804-square-meter prime land was donated on October 30, 1939, out of “pure generosity and benevolence” by Tomas M. Tionko, and another 6.2 hectares of land was donated in 1950.
Following the appeal, Davao historian, Antonio V. Figueroa in a public post on his Facebook page, This is Davao History, said that they were asked to attend a committee hearing by the Davao City Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) headed by the Committee on Education, Science and Technology, Arts and Culture Chairperson Pilar Braga on February 14, to talk about the appeal of the heirs of Tionko.
He said the heirs of the family have cited parallel cases of renaming the school just like the
Matina Aplaya High School, which is now renamed Daniel R. Aguinaldo National High School (DRANHS), and Catalunan High School, now known as Jesus Soriano National High School (JSNHS).
Figueroa said the renaming of public buildings and places is allowed based on Republic Act 10086, as long as it is to honor the person who contributed to the development of a community, while Republic Act 1059, allows renaming if a “condition in a donation in favor of the government.”
Meanwhile, the Department of Education (DepEd) revised guidelines on the naming and renaming of schools will only be allowed if the SP will push to rename it as well as recommended by the local school board LSB) which was consulted by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP).
Figuroa said, “renaming DCNHS to TTNHS is within the functions of the local government unit if the purpose is to honor donors and to perpetuate the memory of generous people who, with a commitment towards community advancement, extend their resources without monetary returns.” KSD