NICOLAS HIGH SCHOOL
Mahipon is one of the barangays of Gapan City, bounded by the town of San Miguel in the South and barangay Bungo in the East, San Roque in the West. It has a land area of 1,060 hectares and is almost nine kilometers away from the city proper. Most of the landscape is hilly and some are not suitable for rice farming for two cropping seasons. With its hilly landscape areas, there is no national irrigation system and most of the rice fields are rain-fed. The location is about five to seven kilometers away from the nearby high schools. Having this situation, the Barangay Council through the leadership of its Barangay Captain, Mr. Alvarez and with the help of Councilor Francisco N. Pablo and the PTA officers took an initiative of establishing a high school in their barangay. With the initiative endeavor, Mr. Payuyo suggested to the Barangay Council to approach Mr. Nicolas for the donation of a school site. Through philanthropic deeds of Mr. Nicolas, the Barangay Council secured a lot of 11,098 square meters and, later, the school named after him – HERMINIO G. NICOLAS HIGH SCHOOL. Through the proposition of City Councilors, the entire body of Gapan City Councilors made an affirmative decision on the establishment of the school during their meeting on March 6, 2006. Pursuant to the provisions of DepEd Order no. 1, series 2003 and Republic Act 9155, the Herminio G. Nicolas High School was granted an authority - a permit to operate – on May 26, 2006. Until now, the establishment of the school has benefitted not only the incoming high school students from Mahipon Elementary School but also students from the neighboring barangays such as Punot Elementary School, Bulak Elementary School, Bungo Elementary School in Gapan City and Bardias Elementary School in San Miguel, Bulacan. The HGNHS was established during the administration of Mrs. Estelita G. Pineda, a School Superintendent of the Division of Gapan City. The Honorable Congressman of the Congressional District IV of Nueva Ecija, Hon. Rodolfo W. Antonino made possible the construction of the first two-room school building during its initial operation in the School Year 2006-2007. However, due to a delayed construction of the new building at HGNHS, Mahipon Elementary School was temporarily an “in-house room” by the 35-male, 39-female first year students and 18-male, 26-female second year students. HGNHS initially operated with four City Local School Board (CLSB) teachers, namely: Mr. Christopher F. Javate, who was later on replaced by Ms. Madonna D. Pataleta; Mr. John Paul S. Mejia; Mrs. Ojenar; Mrs. Patricia Maghinang, formerly Ms. Dela Pena; and under the administrative supervision of Mr. Efren F. Buenaventura as the School Head. The increasing number of the students proved even more that the school rendered effective educational services to the community. During its third year operation, School Year 2008-2009, 57 first year students remained conducting classes at the Mahipon Elementary School while the other year levels (2nd – 4th year) moved to their own site – Herminio G. Nicolas High School. The first batch of graduates; 14-male, 30-female, under the advisory of Ms. Pataleta, received its diplomas on April 3, 2009. Mr. Buenaventura, Principal I, was transferred to Maruhat National High School and was replaced by the newly promoted Principal I, Ms. Cristina S. Parungao, a former Head Teacher III of San Roque National High School. Upon completion of two additional rooms, first year students conducting classes at the Mahipon Elementary School were moved to HGNHS in September 2009. Despite of its new existence, Herminio G. Nicolas High School has received numerous awards of recognition both in academic and non-academic competitions. With these, HGNHS has made remarkable history on its own way. The HGNHS gears up for a better and brighter future ahead of its graduates.
