The DON HONORIO VENTURA COLLEGE OF ARTS AND TRADES (DHVCAT) started when an Augustinian friar, Fr. Juan P. Zita, dreamed of helping young lads of Bacolor. Aided by equally benevolent civic leader Don Felino Gil, the school was officially founded on November 4, 1861 upon the approval of its statutes by Governor-General Lemery as "Escuela de Artes Y Oficios de Bacolor"

BEGINNINGS: Through the generous contribution of several civic spirited Pampangueños of R33,882.00 the school started its operations in a house donated by Father Zita. The Don Honorio Ventura College of Arts and Trades main campus in Bacolor, Pampanga. The school was renamed Bacolor Trade School in 1905. It was again renamed the Pampanga Trade School in 1909 and became popularly known as the "Trade School" or the "Poor Man's College." Its secondary curriculum was offered in 1922 and produced later the first batch of graduates in ironworks, woodworking and building construction for boys and domestic science for girls. By virtue of Republic Act 1388, the school was converted into a regional school of arts and trades and was renamed Pampanga School of Arts and Trades (PSAT). Technical education courses were also offered in October 1957. In 1958, the two-year Technical Education curriculum was phased out and the three-year Trade Technical Education was offered. In 1964, the school was renamed Don Honorio Ventura Memorial School of Arts and Trades (DHVMSAT) in honor of Don Honorio Ventura, a prominent son of Bacolor who was a statesman and philanthropist. The renaming was signed by then President Diosdado Macapagal, a protégé of Don Honorio who sent him to school and became instrumental in the former's successes, especially during his (Macapagal) struggling years. The Teacher Education curriculum leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Industrial Education (BSIE) was offered in July 1966 with concentration in Shopwork, Industrial Arts and Mathematics. The first batch of BSIE graduates were conferred their degrees in April 1969. Through the priceless assistance of former Solicitor-General and Minister of Justice, Estelito P. Mendoza , the school was converted into a State College on May 5, 1978 by virtue of Presidential Decree 1373. With initiatives coming from all members of the academic community and ably led by president Ernesto Nicdao, former Pampanga Congresswoman Andrea Domingo authored a bill in 1993 in the House of Representatives calling for the conversion of DHVCAT into a state university to be called the Don Honorio Ventura State University (DHVSU). Then Representative Oscar Rodriguez pursued the bill converting it into Don Honorio Ventura Technological State University (DHVTSU). However, this did not materialize because of the calamity that hit the school. The school's woes were confounded when Mount Pinatubo erupted in 1991 and the second wave of trial befell on it in 1995. Eruptions and lahar flows rendered Bacolor a ghost town but teachers and administrators of the College did not abandon DHVCAT. The flame to serve never stopped and the torch of education stayed as warm as ever. Amidst tests, be it human or natural, its strength, excellence and power are here to stay to serve poor but deserving students in Pampanga and in nearby provinces.

  • PRESENT TIMES: Officials envision DHVCAT as a center for learning in Central Luzon that will provide highly accessible educational opportunity to its clientele in order to produce continuously improving, better-educated workforce, professionals and leaders and thereby contribute to personal prosperity of the citizens and a strong socio-economic development for the region. DHVCAT is committed to provide access to higher vocational, professional and technological instruction and training, undertake research and extension services and provide advanced studies and leadership in the fields of trade, industrial and technological education to meet the demands of the ever-changing occupational patterns in the country. The enactment of Republic Act 8292 otherwise known as Higher Education Modernization Act of 1997 entirely revolutionized the Philippine educational system which provides representation of the different sectors of academic community to the highest policy making body of state universities and colleges. Such innovation could be traced from the University of the Philippines' system giving opportunity to student, alumni, faculty and private sector to voice up grievances and actively participate in all the deliberations. Pursuant to Section 15 of Memorandum Circular No. 04, Series of 1997, known as the Implementing Rules and Regulations for Republic Act 8292, the composition, manner of appointment and term of office of the Governing Board were established and followed. Thus, the governing board of DHVCAT now is headed by Dr. Carlito Puno, Chairman of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), as Chairman and Dr. Ernesto Nicdao president, as Vice-Chairman. Other members include: the Chairman of the Committee on Higher and Technical Education of the House of Representatives, Rep. Cynthia Villar; the Chairman of the Committee on Education, Culture and Arts of the Senate, Senator Juan Flavier; the Regional Director of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Hon. Remigio Mercado; the Regional Director of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Dr. Conrado Oliveros; the Faculty trustee, Engr. Ariel Mallari; Student trustee, Hon. Paul Buan; Alumni trustee, VP Enrique Baking, and the two private sector representatives, Atty. Ananias Canlas Jr. and Engr. Arturo Manahan. The private sector representatives were selected through a search committee and later on appointed by the DHVCAT Governing Board. The board became instrumental in charting new courses especially on efforts of rehabilitating the century-old college. Developments are ongoing in all phases on infrastructure, curricular programs, faculty and staff development, research and production. In an effort to strengthen its numerous educational, research and extension programs, the institution established linkages with various local and foreign schools and agencies. Among these are: DC - SUC III/ CIRPS, DOST and LGUS, AACCUP, GEACCUP, DepEd - CHED supervised schools, NGOs and POs, DOLE, CLIERDEC, NEDA, LSC, MIRDC, Prince Technologies Corporation, Sheffield Employment Agency PTD LTD and Toyota Motors Philippines Foundation. Educational institutions where the College has consortia are the Bulacan State University and De la Salle State University. Linkages and networking in local and foreign agencies and educational institutions even reached nearby countries such as South Korea, with Hannam University, Yeung Jin Junior College, Daegu City and with North West University Peoples Republic of China, and the Xian Institute of Physical Education in the Peoples Republic of China. –WikiAnswers

 

  • # DHVCAT - A Vision Of Greatness: After steering the school from a difficult transition, the former DHVCAT president gave way to a new one, 49-year-old Dr. Enrique G. Baking. The ascendancy of Baking to the top position at DHVCAT could be providential for this school of 1861 vintage. Dr. Baking is very competent and armed with a vision. In a recent interview with this columnist, Dr. Baking confided his vision for DHVCAT: To make DHVCAT a premier technological institution within Central Luzon as its initial target area. The vision is articulate, well said and loaded. DHVCAT has a population close to 6,000 students. Its teaching and non-teaching personnel are 287. Its institutions are Engineering and Architecture, Industrial and Technical Education. There is also evening opportunity for Education and Graduate school. It also has a secondary department composed of 800 students, broken down into nine sections; three for first year, two for second year, two for third year, and two for fourth year. The head of engineering and architecture is engineer Roel Serrano, acting vice president for administration, finance and auxiliary and concurrent dean. The institution has close to 2,000 students. The head of the institution of Industrial Technical Education is Dr. Esperanza Salinas. With a population close to 1,000, the head of the Industrial Technical Education comprising of two years and three years and with a population of less than 2,000 is Professor Francisco Fernandez, Dean and acting presidential assistant for Internal Development. The management of DHVCAT through its Board and president envisions great plans in the next five years. Still reeling from the effect of the Pinatubo eruption, buildings and equipment destroyed, DHVCAT had an initial funding of P75 million to realize them. The equipment comprising of machinery and gadget perished during the lahar onslaught. The government did not provide funds for replenishment. Still, on evening opportunity classes with 859 students, this department is headed by Prof. Petronilo Galang. It is all shop and non-academics. Meanwhile, the graduate school with 75 students is headed by Dr. Yolanda Crisostomo. As observed earlier, the vision is not without pain and sacrifice. One major problem is overcrowding of classes. In college, there are 65-70 students per class while in the high school these are 70 to 80 students. The ideal number of students per class is only 35 to 50 students. The high density is due to shortage of human and non-human resources. Admission rate is only 43% and rejection rate is 57 percent. There is also the problem of transition. While in the past, time records were loosely prepared on a monthly basis, now, strict monitoring standards demand that it be on a daily basis. To meet the exigencies of the time and rising challenges for quality affordable public education, management has devised a five-year development plan. For lack of space, I will dwell on them in the next issue. Our changing business landscape and topography, coupled with government initiatives to build infrastructure, transportation and other amenities within the hub will be addressed accordingly. One such feature is Automotive Engineering. Pampanga is fast becoming the Car Distribution Center in Luzon next to Metro Manila. This industry alone will need a great number of automotive engineers and technician in the coming years. More in the next issue. -Art R. San Pedro
 
Make a Free Website with Yola.