Polangui General Comprehensive High School

Polangui General Comprehensive High School began as the Albay High School of Polangui (AHSP). It was one of four high schools in the province of Albay when it opened in 1948. The others were Albay High School - Guinobatan (now Marcial O. Rañola Memorial School), Albay High School (now Bicol University College of Education Integrated Laboratory School), and Albay High School - Tabaco (now Tabaco National High School). The initial enrollment was 234 students, with nine teachers, a clerk, and a janitor. Mr. Sisenando Reantaso was the school's first principal. Mr. Victor Pineda took over as principal in 1953.

AHSP held classes in the municipal building and a rented house for about two years. Following that, it purchased property in Barangay Centro Occidental, on the Buhi-Polangui provincial road leading to Barangay Lidong. The site was a 66,607 square meter lot purchased from Mr. Eleuterio Basquiez with funds raised by the PTA through municipal council representation in accordance with Resolution No. 76 passed on August 14, 1953. On September 3, 1953, the Provincial Government validated the sale through Resolution No. 141.

Under the authority of Resolution No. 93 approved November 13, 1956 by the municipal council of Polangui, duly certified and concurred with by the Division Superintendent of Schools, Pastor Escalante, on February 12, 1959, 17,899 square meters (Lot 2) provided campus for the School for Philippine Craftsmen (now Bicol University Polangui Campus).

Mrs. Aurora R. Encisa was the principal from 1963 to 1980. On June 18, 1964, President Diosdado P. Macapagal signed Republic Act 3993 into law, converting AHSP into Polangui General Comprehensive High School (PGCHS), a national secondary school. The "new" school was modeled after comprehensive high schools in Detroit, Michigan, United States. It was to be a community school with a diverse curriculum aimed at meeting the diverse interests and needs of both students and the community. Mrs. Encisa was also in charge when PGCHS held its first extension classes in Ponso, Polangui in 1965.

Oas opened extension classes during the 1972-1973 school year. The latter was phased out in 1984 to make way for the establishment of the Oas Polytechnic School. In 1978-1979, an extension school was established in Balogo, a barangay of Oas in the province's northern mountain ranges. Another extension school was established in La Medalla, Polangui, in 1991.

When Mrs. Encisa left due to a promotion, Mr. Vicente Batbat took over as administrator from 1980 to 1981. Mrs. Felicitas Ll. Olondriz took over as principal in 1982. Mr. Wilfredo E. Pura took over after she retired in 1996. Mrs. Coreta O. Marollano took over as principal after Mr. Pura retired in 2004; she retired a year later. PGCHS was under new administration in 2005, with principal Osias S. Monforte. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo transformed all barangay high schools into national high schools during her tenure. All PGCHS extension schools became independent schools.

Dr. Sancita B. Peñarubia oversaw the school from 2010 to 2015, following Mr. Monforte's departure due to a promotion. Dr. Peñarubia is currently serving as Officer-in-Charge in addition to her official position as Education Program Supervisor for Mathematics in the Division of Albay. She was succeeded as principal by Dr. Emma R. Morasa from 2015 to 2018, and then by Dr. Alicia R. Lim from 2018 to 2019. Dr. Lourdes R. Bigcas from 2019 to 2020, then Dr. Alicia R. Lim was reinstated as the school Principal in 2021 to 2023, currently Dr. Lourdes R. Bigcas oversees the school.

PGCHS has nearly 4,500 students, 142 regular teachers and employees, two librarians, a school nurse, a five-man security unit, a five-man janitorial and messengerial team, and an accounting, clerical, and property office with six employees, one driver, contractual and casuals.

Dynamic, academically-competent and upright students responsive to the general welfare of their fellow men.

The PGCHS commits itself to provide the youth of secondary school age an education that shall mold every young boy or girl into a spiritually, morally, physically, and socially upright citizen and a disciplined and literate member of the community.

As embodied in the PGCHS Educational Development Plan, the PGCHS works towards the attainment of the following general objectives:

• To continue promoting the objectives of elementary education and to discover and enhance the different aptitude and interests of the students to prepare them for higher education and the world of work;
• To develop proper values and attitudes necessary for personal, community and national development;
• To improve educational leadership, planning and management capabilities of school managers, teaching and non-teaching personnel;
• To strengthen integration and linkages with other institutions and agencies for better coordination in the implementation of government thrusts and programs;
• To utilize not only the formal methods but also the non-formal methods of delivery of educational services.

• LOURDES R. BIGCAS: Principal IV

The school's present curricula is based on the K to 12 Basic Education Curriculum (K-12 BEC). The implementation of the program is pursuant to Republic Act (RA) 10533 or the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013 signed by President Benigno Aquino III on May 15, 2013.

The overall design of Grades 1 to 12 curriculum follows the spiral approach across subjects by building on the same concepts developed in increasing complexity and sophistication starting from grade school. Teachers are expected to use the spiral/progression approach in teaching competencies.

Subjects are taught from the simplest concepts to more complicated concepts through grade levels in spiral progression. As early as elementary, students gain knowledge in areas such as Biology, Geometry, Earth Science, Chemistry, and Algebra. This ensures a mastery of knowledge and skills after each level.[1]

There are 77 homerooms as of School Year 2013-2014.³

In line with its objectives of developing a well-rounded personality of Polangui General Comprehensive High School, the school maintains the following facilities and implements the following services:

• 2006 Regional Secondary Schools Press Conference (RSSPC)
• 9th Division Youth Congress in August 2007
• 2008 Cluster Secondary Schools Press Conference (CSSPC)
• 2008 Division Secondary Schools Press Conference (DSSPC)
• 2009 Division STEP Skills Development and Competition
• 2011 Division Science Competitions
• 2012 Regional Secondary Schools Press Conference (RSSPC)

The annual tradition of PGCHS Alumni Homecoming was initiated was Batch 1976 in 2006. Since then, every Black Saturday, the gathering is being held where former students of the different batches return to PGCHS to reminisce old-time memories and to reunite with former batchmates and mentors. Election of the AHSP-PGCHS Alumni Association is conducted every 2 years.

• Reno G. Lim (Batch 1976) - Former Congressman, 3rd District of Albay (2007–2010)
• Dianne Elaine S. Necio (Batch 2007) - Binibining Pilipinas International 2011, Binibining Pilipinas 2010 First Runner-up, Miss Tabak 2009, Mutya ng Bicolandia

Lyrics is by "Loida S. Nas, and the music is by Oscar R. Reburiano.

Lyrics is by Veron Veloso and the music is by Oscar R. Reburiano.