The Gabaldon Legacy

Gabaldon-type school buildings , also known as Gabaldon schools, refer to

schoolhouses built in thePhilippines between 1907 and 1946 that follow standard
plans designed by Architect William Parsons.They are named after Assemblyman
Isauro Gabaldon who authored Act 1801. The act, also known as theGabaldon Act of
1907, appropriated PhP 1 million between 1907 to 1915 for the "construction
of schoolhouses of strong materials in barrios with guaranteed daily attendance of
not less than sixtypupils". (Araneta, 2006)Gabaldon-type school buildings were
built all over the country during the American Colonial Period,extending after the
period prescribed by the act. Their main distinct features are: 1) single or two
storeystructure; 2) elevated ground floor, with flooring made of tongue and groove
(T&G) wood planks; 3) largeawning windows with capiz-shelled panels and wooden
frames; 4) corrugated iron roof sheathing; 5)symmetrical plan and front elevation;
6) central porch and wide stairs (for single storey building) and withidentical side
staircases (for two-storey building); 7) classrooms connected by a corridor; 8) rooms
have twoswing-out doors; and, 9) H or U shape plan. (National Historical
Commission of the Philippines, 2011)With the ratification of the National Heritage
Act of 2009 or RA 10077, Gabaldon schools, being structuresdating at least fifty (50)
years old, are considered Important Cultural Properties (unless declaredotherwise
by the National Historical Institute, now National Historical Commission of the
Philippines). AnImportant Cultural Property, as defined in RA 10077, refer to a
cultural property having exceptionalcultural, artistic, and historical significance to
the Philippines, and which shall be given, among others,priority government funding
for its protection, conservation and/or restoration.
Gabaldon Schools as bastions of Philippine education
Gabaldon schools are of historic, architectural and socio-political significance to the
Philippines.Public schools were to the American colonial regime what Baroque
churches were to the Spanish period. Intheir time, both were the most imposing
structures in all our provinces, cities and towns. As Spain usedreligion to colonize
and Hispanize, the United States of America established the public education
system for"pacification" and Americanization. (Araneta, 200
6)
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It is in the Gabaldon schools where the foundation of the Philippine public school
system, which gave everyFilipino child the chance to acquire a formal education,
was laid down.Gabaldons schools, though designed by American Architect William
Parsons (a consulting architect of theBureau of Public Works from 1905-1914, more
known for his works on the Manila Hotel, Philippine GeneralHospital, and The
Mansion House in Baguio City), form an important part of Philippine architecture.The
standard design for the Gabaldon schools, particularly, the one-story buildings, has
an H or U plan, withclassrooms along one side of an open gallery, lifted off the
ground. Gabled
nipa
roofs (originally, but havesince been replaced with G.I. roofing) and the large swingout windows with capiz panels recalls the
bahay kubo
. (Villalon, 2010)The overall design and orientation allow for maximum ventilation
and acoustical requirements ideal forlearning spaces in a tropical environment. At
the same time, its architectural aesthetic and structuralelements like the
calado,
exposed beams, awning windows, fascia have designs that range from
geometricminimalist to intricate adding to the whole character of the Gabaldon
building as a bastion for learning.The Gabaldon schoolhouse is not only a living
canvas of the evolution of the Philippine educational systembut a study on the
creativity and the craftmanship of Filipinos that, to this day, still runs through
our veins.
Conservation of Gabaldon Schools
Gabaldon schools, may be among the more underrated Philippine heritage
structures, but they are themost unremitting, the most constant and incessant in
meeting the demands of their original use andpurpose, not only in their functionality
but with their aesthetic faculties as well.The Department of Education (DepEd)
Memo 164 Series of 2009 Constituting a Task Force on theConservation of Heritage

School Buildings, in recognizing the significance of the Gabaldon schools,mandates

the strengthening of its School Building Restoration Program with the creation of a
task force toidentify and restore the heritage school houses of the regions.The
Section 32 of the National Heritage Act of 2009 also iterates the role of DepEd,
working closely with theNational Commission on Culture and Arts, the National
Historical Commission of the Philippines and otherappropriate institutions in the
conservation and restoration of its built heritage such as the significantGabaldon
School buildings.In fact, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines is
rearing for the full implementation of theconservation of heritage school building
and is in the process of completing and disseminating theGabaldon Restoration
Guidelines.Education on the importance of Gabaldon schools is particularly urgent,
as reports of demolition and/orplans of demolition of Gabaldon schools across the
Philippines are increasing by the year.
Documenting the Gabaldon Schools of Bohol
Bohol has an estimable number of Gabaldon schools. These schoolhouses stand in
prominence withinusually well-appointed campuses, mostly located within or near
the
poblacion
or town centers, forming animportant part of the municipalitys civic pride.

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Upon initial investigation on the American-era school buildings around the province,
unique details havebeen observed in the Gabaldon schools built in Bohol. In fact,
there is reason to infer that, despite beingbuilt from a similar prototype, no two
Gabaldon schools all over the country are built exactly alike. Eachlocality
customized according to the specific requirements of their locale, as well as
injecting details andornamentation that define local cultures and
traditions.Additionally, major alterations on the Gabaldon school buildings in the
province have been observed. Someschool buildings that may have been Gabaldontypes have been demolished without ruckus or concernfrom the community, with
reports of demolition as recent as the last five years (i.e. a structure inTagbilaran
City East Elementary School).This architectural research and documentation,
anchoring upon the importance of cultural heritagepreservation, aims to:1.
Identify, explore, map and document the Gabaldon schools of Bohol2.
Educate and raise awareness on the socio-cultural, historical and architectural
significance of Gabaldon schools3.
Promote the conservation of Gabaldon schools4.
Promote the adoption of the most effective architectural features and construction
techniques of the Gabaldon-type schools in designing and constructing new learning
spacesArchitectural documentation is the first most important step in the heritage
conservation process andserves to elevate and actualize the architectural and
socio-cultural significance of a heritage structure.Following a systematic approach,
architectural documentation encompasses the inspection andintrospection of the
evolution of the physical context of the structure, and extends into the examination
of its meaning and significance in the socio-cultural fabric it served then and is
serving now.Activities will include:1.
Identification and tagging of Gabaldon schools in Bohol2.
Conduct of key informant interviews and gather historical/ written data on the
Gabaldon schools3.
Evaluating of the forms, systems, components and construction details of the
Gabaldon schoolbuildings4.
Documenting of the architecture and structural particulars of the Gabaldon
schools5.
Re-establish the anatomy the Gabaldon schoolhouses through sketches and
diagrams andphotographsThe documentation also includes investigations of
building use, social functions, cultural context andpractical issues of conservation

and rehabilitation.It is empirical, henceforth, that this study, after the above
activities, will include the formulation of recommendations on preserving the
Gabaldon schools
as well as present architectural solutions thatwill sustain the school buildings to
adapt to current use and emerging climatic and technologicalneeds without
compromising their architectural integrity.

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The documentation of Bohol Gabaldon schools will be divided into five (5) subgroups:1.
Tagbilaran City, Dauis and Panglao2.
Northwestern Bohol towns from Maribojoc to Inabanga3.
Southwestern Bohol towns from Baclayon to Garcia-Hernandez4.
Interior Bohol towns5.
The rest of BoholIt is hoped that with these initial steps of documenting the
Gabaldon schoolhouses of Bohol, the meaningand value of said structures not only
as learning spaces, its rich social and historical significance toBoholanos, but also as
important architectural landmarks that are testament to the Filipino and Bolanoncraftsmanship.Re-establishing the importance of designed and built learning
environments, in general, and the Gabaldonschools, in particular will also reinforce
the discourse on the value of education for all.
The ProponentsAsia Center for Sustainable Futures, Inc.
(ACSF) is a non-stock, non-profit alternative research andadvocacy center,
established in 2010 with the vision of advancing the interest of the people
throughparticipation and creative collaboration in research and advocacy towards
sustainable futures. ACSF isbased in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.
Arch. Edeliza V. Macalandag, UAP
is an architect advocating for social, cultural and ecologicalconsciousness in the
designed environment professions. A writer and development
communicationspractitioner, she is the Communications and Advocacy Officer
of ACSF. In June 2011, she became an adjunctlecturer in the Department of
Architecture and Industrial Design, College of Engineering Architecture at theBohol
Island State University Main Campus in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.
References:
Araneta, G. C. (2006).
Those Gabaldons.
Retrieved August 1, 2011, from Philippine Heritage Conservation
Society:http://www.heritage.org.ph/article.php?id=39Constituting a Task Force on
the Conservation of Heritage School Buildings. (2009, April 15).
DepED Memorandum No.164 S. 2009
.
Gabaldon Schools of Ilocos Norte.
(2009, March). Retrieved August 1, 2011, from Museo Ilocos
Norte:http://www.museoilocosnorte.com/index.php?
option=com_content&view=article&id=221:gabaldon-schools-of-ilocosnorte&catid=13:featured-exhibits&Itemid=18Henares, I. (2006, March 8).
Pillars of the Philippine educational system.
Retrieved August 2011, from The GabaldonLegacy:
http://gabaldon.ivanhenares.com/2006/03/pillars-of-philippineeducational.htmlNational Historical Commission of the Philippines. (2011). Draft
Copy of Gabaldon Restoration Guidelines 2011.RA 10066: National Cultural Heritage
Act of 2009. (2010, March 26).Villalon, A. (2010, May 24).
Pride of Place: Philippine-Australian cooperation restores Gabaldon-type
school inCamiguin.
Retrieved August 2011, from Philippine Daily
Inquirer:http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/artsandbooks/artsandbooks/view/20100524271665/Philippine-Australian-cooperation-restores--Gabaldon-type-school-inCamiguin

Section 48 of the law provides that whoever intentionally destroys, demolishes,

mutilates or damages a heritage building (that includes buildings 50 years or older)
or modifies, alters, or destroys the original features of or undertakes construction or
real state development in any site protected by the NHCP, shall be, upon conviction,
"subject to a fine of not less than P200,000.00 or imprisonment for a term of not
less than ten (10) years, or both upon the discretion of the Court." It provides
further that "if the violation is committed by a juridical person, the president,
manager, representative, director, agent or employee of said juridical person
responsible for the act shall also be liable for the penalties provided."
It further states, "Heads of departments, commissions, bureaus, agencies or offices,
officers and/or agents found to have intentionally failed to perform their required
duty as prescribed by the deputization order under Section 28 of this Act shall be
liable for nonfeasance and shall be penalized in accordance with applicable laws."

If we demolish our heritage sites, we demolish part of our history, Paolo

Bustamante.