ASSEMBLYMAN VICTORINO  MILLAN SALCEDO

One hundred twelve years ago, on February 22, 1882, Victorino Millan Salcedo was born to Brgy. Salcedo by his wife, Carolina Millan. He had an elder brother, Vivencio, and was to be Rosario Carmen, Trinidad, and Estanislao.

The intimates call him, spent his early boyhood in Hacienda Carmen. He  attended parochial school in town together with Leodegario Zerrudo, the only son of his Lolo Miguel. After, he went on the Institute of Molo, Iloilo, a school for boys run by Don Manuel Locsin.

In 1985, the revolution broke out. During this time, the gay young lads of the Salcedos were ‘Voluntarios’. Inos, who was a jocular boy – hardly a man at this stage was probably a private.

When the war was over, Inos was sent to the Union College in Hongkong for his ‘Bachilier’ course. However, he was soon recalled home without finishing his studies. Back in Sara, he was charmed by a young ‘collegiala’, Caridad Balajadia. She was the daughter of  Telecaforo Balajadia and Petra Balderas who belonged to one of the oldest and richest families in town.

Caring had stayed the last five years at the La Concordia College in Manila and she had come home to ask permission to enter the convent. Inos wanted her to be his wife. Tan Angel and Tan Poro arranged matters between them and the two were married.

The ceremony was performed by Padre Fruto de la Flor, the first priest in the newly-established Philippine Independent Church of Sara. The Salcedos had helped to found the church a year or two before.

Inos had three children, Purificacion, Ester and Mario. The eldest, fondly called Purita, was later to marry Dr. Jesus Gustillo of La Paz. Inday Ester, in 1935, became the wife of Jose M. Aldeguer, then, a struggling, young, and dashingly handsome ‘notario publico’, Toto Mario married Lourdes Ganzon of the prominent Ganzon family of Balasan.

In 1916, under the American Civil government, Inos was elected Municipal President, the equivalent of today’s Mayor. He served in this capacity until 1981. His career in public service had begun.

During has term, a concrete market and a good intermediate school  was constructed. He improved and beautified the plaza and encourage agriculture. In 1917, Ajuy became a separate municipality.

From 1919-1922, he was ‘’Diputado’’ for the fifth district to the Philippines Legislature. It was within this period in 1921, that San Dionisio and Concepcion separated, leaving Lemery as the sole arrabal of Sara.

He did not run for the second term. He went back to farming, becoming even more prosperous. In 1925 or 1926, The Sara-Ajuy Sugar Central was established. This was a modern mill turning out white sugar much superior to the old ‘’muscovado centrales’’. The farmers organized themselves and he was chosen president of the Sara-Ajuy Sugar planters’ Association.

In 1935, Victorino Millan Salcedo was elected assembly man of the fifth District of Iloilo to the National Assembly. His two terms in the National Assemble brought much progress to his district. The mountain road connection of Sara to Barotac Viejo and hence to the city had been begun by Rep.Venancio Cudilla. Assembly Salcedo completed it making it possible to go to Iloilo City by land. Lemery and Sara and Concepcion. A permanent intermediate building for the Sara Central School was built as well as many other public school buildings. It was primarily through his efforts that a potable water system was established in Ajuy.

On November 11, 1941, the filipino people went to the polls again, but assemblyman Salcedo was not to be as lucky. His bid for a third term in the assembly lost to Juan Borra of the Liberal Party.

After the second world war in 1941, Victorino M. Salcedo retired from public life. His political obligation were to be taken up by Jose M. Aldeguer, Inday Ester’s husband. Joe had begun to make a name for himself in service to the people  as was well-known in his own right.

As a final gesture, in 1946, Victorino M. Salcedo donated ten hectares of his estate in Anoring to the Sara High School. In 1950, the congress of the Philippines finally approved a bill changing the name of Sara High School to Victorino Salcedo High School . Today, the school continues to grow and insures the perpetuation of his name and memory. Pursuant to the provisions of Batas Pambansa Blg. 453 the honorable minister of Budget, under his letter on November 7, 1983, had approved the Nationalization of the school effective July 1, 1983.

On February 11, 1967, Former Assemblyman Victorino Millan Salcedo passed away. In a speech delivered on the floor of Congress, Representative Fermin Z. Caram, Jr. paid tribute thus:

“Representative Salcedo was not only a pillar of the most influential members of the house of representative for three terms, not only a pillar of the Nacionalista Party in Iloilo province, not only a patriarch and a first citizen of the one of the biggest municipalities of Iloilo, but a distinguished and venerable former member of the house of representative, whose private and public life had been build and enshrined on the precious rock of integrity, modesty and humility.”

“The public and private life of the late representative Victorino Salcedo is a lifetime that all of us in this August body must be proud of and not amiss to emulate, such as the extraordinary example we look up to with great humility esteem and honor”

   Victorino Salcedo Polytechnic College is one of the pioneer high schools in northern Iloilo with a humble beginning. Since its first operation, the school has under- gone a gradual metamorphosis and has produced men and women who are now holding high and responsible positions in practically every field of dignified positions.

             It all began in the market extending to the "kamarin" owned by Don Victorino M. Salcedo. This institution started in April, 1945 as a refresher for students whose school-> Ting was interrupted by the war. She was then called Sara Regional High School with Mr. Brigido Jove as Teacher- in-Charge having an initial enrolment of 469.

              The regular school year 1945-1946 had Mr. Jose D. Zerrudo as Teacher-in-Charge when Mr. Brigido Jove transferred to Iloilo High School. There was a meteoric rise in the enrolment that the school needed a wide site to accommodate her-growing population.

              The school finally settled on a ten hectare lot in Brgy. Anoring donated by the philanthropic couple, Don Victorino M. Salcedo and Doña caridad Balajadia Salcedo on February 25, 1947. The first nipa and bamboo building was erected on this spot which later gave way to more stately and attractive buildings we now see.

             Mr. Jose D. Zerrudo then worked for the change in the name of the school from Sara Regional High School to Victorino Salcedo High School in honor of the school site's donor. However, congressional action came late so that the school had to retain the name as ruled - Iloilo Provincial High School (Sara Branch).

              In 1946-1947, the name was changed to Sara High School. Mr. Jose P. Dator assumed as principal and continued to serve until 1950. The years of waiting eventually gave way to Victorino Salcedo High School in 1950-1951. Mr. Antonio Benliro took over bu had to leave when Mr. Jose P. Dator re- turned and served until 1960-1961.

            When Mr. Jose P. Dator was appointed as Division Solence Supervisor, Mrs. Fortunata A. Indiana who was groomed as a candidate for office took over. Students then multiplied to a colossal number. The old dilapidated buildings were gradually demolished and concrete materials of modern architecture sprouted through the efforts of Congressman Jose M. Aldeguer whose love for his home- town was a priority.

            Mrs. Fortunata A. Indiana did not tire in working for the upliftment of the school. On June 10, 1983, Victorino Salcedo High School was converted from provincial to national roll and named Victorino Salcedo National High I School. Modern edifices continued to sprout within the S campus. Renovation of old and dilapidated buildings were attended to. Electricity and water facilities were installed.

The school has taken big steps in enriching the teaching-learning processes. It is rich in leadership training through the organization of various clubs which mobi- lize productive and successful school programs and projects. Sports programs and co-curricular activities were launched to bare students' talents and value inculcation.

When Mrs. Indiana retired from office, Mrs. Niela Q. Velasco acted as Officer-in-Charge from April 1 to September 20, 1987.

 Miss Salome P. Sorongon assumed office on September 21, 1987 until November 18, 1992, as principal for more than five years. She had contributed much to the improvement of the school. During her time, there was a e marked increase in enrolment

Correspondingly, the school accommodated new teachers to meet the demand of her big population. More academic buildings were constructed and modern facili- ties purchased and installed. Through dedicated services, she had facilitated the construction of eight rooms in 1990 and another eleven rooms were materialized in 1992. The guard house and concrete fencing of the school though not completed were realized during her time.

 On November 23, 1992, Mrs. Araceli T. Habaradas assumed office as Principal II. She envisions the school to further excel academically and physically. And, she has done it. In her efforts, the school has established strong linkages with the parents, church, government and pri- vate sectors as manifested by the full support of the com- munity in all school projects and programs. Her fondest hope to see Victorino Salcedo National High School a Polytechnic College materialized on March 1, 1995 through Republic Act No. 9734 sponsored by Congress- man Niel D. Tupas. The institution has her initial post sec- ondary offerings in five courses in the school year 1995- 1996. A Computer Literacy Program also caters to the needs of in-school, out-of-school youths and profession- als as well.