We, the General Alumni Assembly (GAA) officers and members of the Tarlac National High School-Annex, representing the community as a whole, protest the renaming of the school to Jose V. Yap National High School due to the following reasons:

•  The school has its own rich identity and history.  It was built in 1961 as a non-sectarian school under the Department of National Defense to provide secondary education to enlisted personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who were based in Camp General Servillano Aquino, San Miguel, Tarlac City, thus, the name AFP School for Enlisted Men (AFPSEM). It was later made Camp Aquino High School (CAHS) in 1967 to provide education to civilians residing in the community. In 1973, the DND transferred the school under the Provincial Government and became an Annex of the Tarlac High School – Main campus in San Vicente, Tarlac City, which became Tarlac National High School in 1985. The very name proudly speaks of its own rich history- its making- from conception to present, and will supposedly continue to inscribe its purpose from generation to generation. Changing its name to something that has no connection to it will erode its history and heritage.  It will erase our cherished memories of humble beginnings as innocent students of the past, molded by the expertise of our beloved teachers as we climbed up and transcended into who we all are today. For many generations now, the Graduates from to present treasure the candlelight each of us left behind, that will shine along the roads, into the lives of other students. Changing its name will topple down and erase this image which we hope to continuously sustain.
• The name Jose V. Yap National High School being pushed by the school administration is not appropriate. While Tarlaqueños recognize the significant contributions of the late Jose “Aping” Yap as a Representative and Governor of Tarlac, he was not an alumni nor direct /personal benefactor of the school. It is more befitting to bestow this kind of honor to the late Governor in his hometown, Victoria, Tarlac where he became Mayor at 22.
• There was no transparency and due process, as evidenced by lack of Alumni and community dissemination of information, engagement, involvement and participation as constituents and stakeholders. General PTA Resolution No. 1 signed in 2019 did not involve the alumni. It was not publicized and there was no consultation. Likewise, the alumni and the community are not aware of City Ordinance No. 044, series of 2020 signed on December 9, 2020 at the height of the pandemic, including City Resolution VIII-9-85, series of 2022 which the council enacted on March 1, 2022.
•   The implementation of the name change was abrupt. It created not just a confusion, but now an ongoing pandemonium and profound dismay to those greatly affected - most especially the current students and their parents who will bear the burden and cost for such change as it would entail a change in school uniform, ID cards, among others. Among the immediate stakeholders who would be affected by this move are us Alumni, since our affairs, programs, projects and activities are linked with the identity and legacy of our beloved Alma Mater. Next to us are our teachers, local government officials, other stakeholders and concerned citizens who protest this move.
• The arbitrary change of school name to Jose V. Yap National High School is a violation of DEP-ED Department Order No. 29, series of 2011 that governs the renaming of schools. Said Order reiterates the Revised Guidelines of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) which explicitly states that all public places can be named or renamed only by the President, through a Proclamation, or by Congress, by legislation. It further, states that no national road, school, hospital, or national property can be named or renamed by a local government unit. House Bill No. 10339 filed by Rep. Victor Yap on 05 October 2021 seeking to rename the school after the late governor on is still pending with the Committee on Basic Education and Culture, according to the House of Representatives Official Website. This was confirmed by Mr. Rommel Reyes, the Committee Secretary. 
• DEP-ED Department Order No. 40, series of 2014 which acknowledges the authority of the Local Government Units to rename schools under their territorial jurisdiction pursuant to Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the "Local Government Code of 1991.” It is therefore the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Tarlac, which has jurisdiction over TNHS Annex, that is the proper party to pass a Resolution to change the name of the school, upon the recommendation of the City School Board.
• It is thus very surprising that despite the flaw in the hasty process that was done to rename the school, the current Principal, Dr. Arlene Perez Apostol, has implemented changes such as the painting of a bold visual signage Jose V. Yap National High School in the front building of school, initiation of the logo change contest, planning of inauguration on March 30th, and the building of a monument for the late former governor Jose V. Yap. As taxpayers and citizens, it is very concerning that the use of funds for those purposes is unauthorized due to the lack of legal basis for such disbursements.

While the alumni community does not object the renaming of the school per se, given its separation from TNHS Main, we object to renaming as Jose V. Yap National High School. We commit to unite our ranks, participate, and undertake the necessary, proper, and legal process to choose a new name befitting our beloved Alma Mater, in cooperation with the school administration, faculty, students, parents and other stakeholders.

Thus, for us Alumni to work harmoniously with the school authorities on this and other matters to advance the welfare and wellbeing of the school, its students, and its faculty, the Principal should explain her side on the matter in the interest of transparency, fairness and objectivity, instead of avoiding the issue. We likewise demand a written commitment from the school to refrain from committing any acts to further implement this name change without legal basis.

We also appeal to the House Committee on Basic Education and Culture of the House of Representatives, 18th Congress, Tarlac City 2nd District Representative Victor Yap, Governor Susan Yap, Mayor Cristy Angeles, Barangay San Miguel Officials and the Department of Education, to consider this opposition before legislating any resolution, ordinances or bills that seek to change the name of the school.

As constituents, we are respectfully requesting the honorable Mayor Cristy Angeles to convene the Local School Board of Tarlac City to initiate the process of renaming the subject school, as mandated by Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991. Since it is under the territorial jurisdiction of the city, it is but fitting to transfer its administrative and operational supervision, including its funds, from the Tarlac Province Schools Division to the Tarlac City Schools Division, with the assistance of the Department of Education and the Department of Budget and Management.

We also humbly seek the assistance of our highly esteemed City Council members in amending or repealing City Ordinance No. 44, series of 2020 and revoke the renaming of subject school to Jose V. Yap National High School as such has no legal basis given the violations of RA 7160, as well as the violation of the procedural due process which is a right of all stakeholders concerned that is protected by our Constitution.

The school and the community must therefore work hand-in-hand to undertake the  necessary, proper, and legal process to choose for themselves a new name befitting their beloved school.