DCNHS will not be renamed but initiatives honoring Tionko family’s generosity will be established
THE heirs of the Tionko family have dropped the appeal to rename Davao City National High School (DCNHS), but an agreement has been created to honor the family’s generosity to the school.
On February 23, 2023, the Davao City Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) headed by the Committee on Education, Science and Technology, Arts and Culture Chairperson Pilar Braga conducted a committee hearing in order to discuss the appeal of the Tionko heirs in renaming DCNHS to Tomas M. Tionko National High School (TTNHS).
In a phone interview with SunStar Davao, Braga said it was peacefully addressed after the concerned parties – the School Administration, Alumni and other stakeholders and the Tionko family – were able to reach an agreement.
“Both parties agreed to retain the name of the school in exchange for putting up a monument in honor of Vicenta M. Tionko, renaming of the Main Building to Tomas Monteverde Tionko Building and a commemorative day every 30th of October,” Braga said.
In a separate interview, Davao City Councilor Al Ryan Alejandre said during the committee hearing, both parties were given time to discuss the said agreement.
“Nag-come-up sila og written solution and agreement and then ilahang gi-present sa amoa. So, murag case resolved in a way sa committee level palang,” Alejandre said.
Meanwhile, DCNHS School Head Evelyn E. Magno said in a statement posted on the school’s Facebook account that they are grateful to the Tionko family.
“To the Tionko Family, your family’s benevolence 100 years ago is reaping successes locally and abroad, now and then. We cannot thank you enough for that. The late Vicenta M. Tionko has made the right decision to share some of her lands with our school. On our end, we are making the best of her charity by producing graduates that help the city and the society,” she said.
DCNHS Araling Panlipunan Department OIC Jed Bete, who was among the alumni and individuals that opposed the appeal, said they will always be thankful to the Tionko family.
“We sincerely recognized and thankful to the family, napaka-civilize na mga tao at napaka-understanding nila dahil napaka-smooth ng aming meeting kanina (they were very civil and understanding the main reason why we had a very smooth meeting), no doubt why they are like that because their ancestors, their grandparents are very generous and benevolent because they are philanthropist,” Bete said.
Bete said the Tionko family did not ask them to comply with the agreement urgently, instead, it will be at the school’s discretion.
“On our part, we also have to raise funds with the alumni in order to put up the monument, but DCNHS will commemorate the celebration starting this year (October 30), which is the day that Tionko family donated the 2.8 hectares to the government,” he said. KSD