Call it a Valentine surprise but an invitation dated February 14, 2023, from the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Davao has asked us to attend the Committee on Education, Science and Technology, Arts and Culture hearing chaired by Dr. Pilar C. Braga. Of interest in the invite is Item No, 537, a request from the heirs of Tomas M. Tionko to rename Davao City National High School (DCNHS) to Tomas M. Tionko National High School (TTNHS).
In a letter dated November 14, 2022, the heirs of Tionko wrote an “urgent appeal” to change DCNHS’s title in honor of the man who donated the estate where the school stands. The property is a 28,804-square-meter prime land donated on October 30, 1939, out of “pure generosity and benevolence.” In 1950, another donation of 6.2 hectares was added.
The heirs cited parallel cases of renaming as the basis for the appeal, mentioning, in par-ticular, the Matina Aplaya High School, now Daniel R. Aguinaldo National High School (DANHS), and Catalunan High School, now Jesus Soriano National High School (JSNHS).
Renaming public buildings and places in honor of persons who have contributed to the development of a community is established by Republic Act 10086 which strengthens “peo-ples’ nationalism through Philippine history” by changing the name of the National Histori-cal Institute (NHI) to National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), the guide-lines in renaming public places and edifices, both local and national, were revised, with the education department playing a collaborative role in case the change affects a government learning institution.
Under RA 1059, signed in 1954, bans “the naming of sitios, barrios, municipalities, cities, provinces, streets, highways, avenues, bridges, and other public thoroughfares, parks, plazas, public schools, public buildings, piers, government aircrafts and vessels, and other public in-stitutions after living persons… except when it is a condition in a donation in favor of the government.”
Under NHCP guidelines on the naming and renaming of streets, public schools, plazas, buildings, bridges, and other public structures, certain provisions apply suitably to the case.
Section 1, Part I, stipulated that “local government units cannot rename public place if the original name was created by an act of Congress or by a proclamation of the President of the Philippines.” In this case, the name DCNHS is an offshoot of RA 6655 or the Free Public Secondary Education Act of 1988, which classifies its change of name as “an act of Con-gress.” The use of “national” in the title is based on the intent to nationalize all public sec-ondary schools.
Section 2-3, Part I, of the revised NHCP guidelines, meanwhile, stipulates that the local legislatures of component cities and municipalities, prior to changing the name of streets, roads, schools, health facilities or any other public place or building within its territorial juris-diction, may consult first the NHCP. In Tionko’s case, Davao is not a component city.
The NHCP guidelines also declare: “A street, plaza or any public place may be named or renamed to honor a person or family who contributed to the welfare of the Filipino people” but with a caveat that the school’s old name should be placed underneath the new name in signages so as not to misguide people who know the school by its ancient appellation.
Renaming DCNHS to TTNHS is within the functions of the local government unit if the purpose is to honor donors and to perpetuate the memory of generous people who, with a commitment towards community advancement, extend their resources without monetary returns.
Gideon Lasco, a UP doctor and anthropologist, explains his stance on naming places after people: “Of course, we should continue to honor people by naming places after them—and this is especially for new constructions—airports, subway stations, dedicated bike lanes, and walkways. But they should honor not just political figures… but people from all walks of life.”
