Hon. PIA S. CAYETANO
Senator, Republic of the Philippines 
Chairperson, Senate Committee on Education, Arts and Culture
GSIS Bldg., Financial Center, 
Roxas Blvd., Pasay City

Dear Sen. Cayetano:

Re: HBN-1841, “AN ACT CHANGING THE NAME OF BATASAN HILLS NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL IN BARANGAY BATASAN HILLS, CITY OF QUEZON, METRO MANILA TO CORAZON C. AQUINO NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL”

We, alumni, students, parents and teachers of Batasan Hills National High School, as well as concerned citizens and voters of Brgy. Batasan Hills and nearby barangays in Quezon City, were recently informed through mass and social media and linkages, that Speaker Feliciano Belmonte et al. filed House Bill No. 1841 which is currently pending in your committee.

We would like to express our objection and disdain regarding the said bill.

We, stakeholders and concerned citizens, have been building and maintaining the good reputation our school and its students earned since its foundation in 1998. Through the generous funding from the national and local government and private sponsors, and through the unparalleled efforts and selfless service of students and faculty members, we were able to establish the name “Batasan Hills National High School” NOT as a site where economically challenged students flock every opening of classes and have to suffer from deteriorated school facilities, as it was known before, BUT as a school where top caliber students are produced every year, be it in the field of leadership, science and technology, sports, journalism, arts and other academic and extracurricular activities at the regional and national levels. We were able to build our name and credibility through the years.

The name "Batasan Hills National High School" is a significant part of our collective identity not only as citizens of Quezon City in District II but also as productive members of the society struggling our way out of poverty. It is not just a landmark: It is symbolic, a significant part of how our community developed through the years. Hence, its proposed change of name is unwelcomed to most of us. It is part of our collective memory as residents of Batasan and nearby barangays and as students/alumni/faculty etc. of the said school.

We do not believe that the change of name is for the best interest of the students and faculty. Some suggest that changing the name of BHNHS might result into the provision of better facilities and services to stakeholders and more attention from the government, but we believe that, as basic rights of every Filipino citizen, quality education and good service should be provided by the government without entering into any form of bargaining, be it in renaming an institution, among other possibilities.

We recognize President Corazon Aquino as significant in the history of the Filipino people. Her service in the government has been recognized locally and internationally. Her role in history is being taught in schools, written in books, recognized in national commemoration ceremonies every year. Her name is already established as a national figure. Hence, we do not believe that renaming BHNHS after her will significantly contribute to her “national” commemoration. Actually, through our research, we were able to know other schools named after her. To cite:

President Corazon C. Aquino High School in Baseco, Intramuros, Manila

President Corazon Cojuanco-Aquino National High School in Mojon, Malolos

Corazon C. Aquino High School in Gerona, Tarlac

In addition, we are very curious why renaming schools into political figures has become a recent trend in Quezon City nowadays (see for example the case of schools in Barangay Commonwealth and Barangay Payatas). We do not want to “politicize” the name of our school. We also do not believe that if Pres. Corazon Aquino is still alive today, she will allow this “trend” to happen.

Hence, we are firmly expressing our objection against House Bill No. 1841. We contend that the name “Batasan Hills National High School” be maintained as the name of our school, as it has been.

Truly yours, 

Students, Alumni, Faculty Members and Concerned Citizens