Gabaldon in the past and present

by AMBER YPHAN TAMBABA

The Gabaldon School Buildings, or simply the Gabaldons, are heritage school buildings in the Philippines that were constructed during the American colonial era. They’re known for their bahay kubo and bahay na batoinspired architecture.

President Rodrigo Duterte has approved a law requiring the preservation of Gabaldon school structures across the Philippines.

On January 18, 2019, Duterte signed Republic Act 11194, which aims to conserve the architectural, historical, and social significance of Gabaldon school buildings, which were built in the Philippines between 1907 and 1946.

The school buildings were constructed by American architect William Parsons and were funded by Isauro Gabaldon’s Act No. 1801.

Under the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009, all Gabaldon school buildings will be recognized as built heritage and, as a result, will be included as cultural properties.

According to the law, the Department of Education, in collaboration with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, and the National Museum, must develop a program for identifying and conserving all Gabaldon school buildings across the country.

Local government bodies with Gabaldon school buildings under their control must also take steps to maintain and conserve these structures, as well as assist the Department of Education in its conservation efforts.

One of the oldest schools in the Novaliches district is the public school of Placido Del Mundo Elementary School, along Quirino Highway, in Barangay Talipapa.

Placido Del Mundo has the Gabaldon Building, the oldest building, built on 1924 and was renovated from 1953 to 1957, which cost PHP 73,000.00 with the help of Eulogio Rodriguez Sr. Founded in 1922 as Talipapa Primary School, the school changed its name to Tandang Sora Elementary School, after the revolutionary hero Melchora Aquino (1812–1919), who was born nearby. And in 1965, the school was finally renamed after Don Placido C. Del Mundo, a local patron who had worked tirelessly to establish and grow the school since 1922.

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