By: ANALIZA Parian - Tabacon LIBAGO
Villaflor Elementary School (VIES) is located at Barangay Villaflor, approximately 4 kilometers from the town of Gigaquit, province of Surigao del Norte. It has a total land area of 11,600 sq. meters which was acquired through the donation of the three education minded person.
Formal education began at around 1930’s with a lone teacher named Juan Bayor, teaching grades I-III where classes were held in big house owned by a certain Julio Canda, a native of barangay Villaflor. Unfortunately classes were interrupted due to Second World War (1941-1945).
After the war, a classroom made of nipa was built on a lot donated by President Nicolas (Loloc) Enano. There were only two teachers who were teaching combination classes. Mr. Delfin Enano handled grades I and II and Mrs. Judith (Nene) Cotecson Chua for grade III and IV. Thus, the school was named Villaflor Primary School.
In the early part of 1950 a two-room Gabaldon model school building was built on a lot donated by Mrs. Carmen Vda. De Egay. At the opening of school year 1950-1951 regular classes for primary grades started even if the said building was still under construction. Still, there were two teachers assigned and handling multi-grade classes namely; Mrs. Lucena (Sinang) Egay, for grades I and II and Mr. Juan Señoren, for grades III and IV who at the same time the school head. The enrolment was more than thirty pupils per grade.
Other teachers who were assigned from 1950-1951 were Mrs. Leticia (Letty) Lim Cuabo, Mrs. Restituta Sistona, Mrs. Rizalina (Saling) Pepino, Mr. Leonardo (Dandoy) Beroy, and Mr. Carlos Paña.
In 1964, the said building was devastated by a strong typhoon named Louise which caused the emergence of a new two-room army-type school building in 1972 which was built on a lot donated by Teniente del Barrio Pio Bayang.
From 1960-1980, the following teachers assigned were Mrs. Ma. Elena B.Veyra, Mrs. Teresita P. Leyros, Mrs. Anita M. Eledia, Mrs. Regina N. Beniga, Mrs. Lucia B. Quidlat and Mrs. Paterna T. Baradillo. Mrs Anita M. Eledia served as the school-in-charge from 1969-1980.
Four additional classrooms were gradually built from 1988 to 1995. In fact, it was in 1995 when the grade six classroom was constructed under the leadership of Brgy. Captain Pastor Guibao through the initiative of Congressman Robert Z. Barbers. Moreover, it was in this same year when the first batch of six-year elementary curriculum graduated wherein there were only 14 graduates.
The following teachers who were assigned from 1986 to 1997 were Mrs. Paterna Baradillo, Mrs. Angelita C. Pingal, Mrs. Sotero Balagbis, Mrs. Ediltrudes Balagbis, Mrs. Geletolia Dalagan, Mrs. Eusenia O. Portillano and Mrs. Valeria A. Jaranta who served as the school-in-charge.
Teachers who were assigned from 1998-1999 were the following; Miss Tilda C. Paray, Mr. Lope C. Papelleras, Mr. Jose L. Bonite, Jr., Mr. Daniel Sistona, Mrs. Delia T. Fernandez, Mrs. Florencia B. Peruda (School Board Teacher), Mrs. Leonila Gulle, and Mrs. Jesusa L. Pagulong. From 2000 to 2006, teachers were Mrs. Analiza T. Libago, Mr. Samuel S. Libago, Mrs. Virgilia Ercillo, Miss Ma. Goretti E. Paglinawan, Mrs. Dahlia C. Coleto (school Board Teacher), Mrs. Cerenia B. Cadlum (school board teacher), Mr. Rafael L. Escabal, Mrs. Vilma G. Fernandez, Mr. Pedro H. Lofranco and Miss Arlene L. Guibao (school board teacher).
In 1998, Mr. Jose L. Bonite, Jr., was appointed as school in-charge. He was then replaced by Mr. Lope C. Papelleras who was assigned as Head Teacher I in 1999. Bonite was reassigned as School In-charge in 2000 as replacement of Papelleras who was at time assigned in Mahanub Elementary School. He was upgraded to Head Teacher I in year 2001 and served until 2004. However, in S.Y. 2003-2004 he was assigned as cluster head of two complete elementary schools namely; Villaflor Elementary School and Villafranca Elementary School. Since his main office was in Villafranca Elementary School, he designated Mr. Samuel Silvosa Libago as assistant of school head. When clustering of school was abolished in September, 2004 Mr. Libago was assigned as School In-charge under the supervision of the District In-charge Mrs. Carmencita G. Naldoza.
As of school year 2006-2007, teachers assigned are as follow; Mr. Rafael Larong Escabal (Grade I Adviser), Mrs. Vilma G. Fernandez Grade II Adviser), Mr. Pedro H. Lofranco (Grade III Adviser ), Miss Arlene L. Guibao ( Grade IV- school board teacher ), Mrs. Analiza T. Libago ( Grade V & VI Adviser), and Mr. Samuel S. Lobago (School In- charge).
In school year 2004-2005 the population of the pupils enrolled have reached 185. For school year 2005-2006 the enrolled decreased to 143 and increased again in school year 2006-2007 with a total enrolled of 151 pupils.
Mr. Samuel S. Libago and Mrs. Analiza Tabacon – Libago at St. Augustine Church.
