Don Honorio Ventura State University (DHVSU)

The Don Honorio Ventura Technological State University (DHVTSU) 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 Don Felino Gil, the school was officially founded on November 4, 1861 upon the approval of its statues by Governor-General Lemery as “Escuela de Artes y Oficios de Bacolor” and built it on a lot donated by Suarez sisters of Bacolor. From the date of its founding to the present, the school was burned five times. The first of unknown origin, was in April, 1869 and it was reconstructed in 1892 but was burned again for the second time in 1896 when the school was used as quarters and barracks of the “Voluntarios Locales de Bacolor” (native soldiers under the Spanish Army) who were the first to revolt against the Spain. The third fire caused by the explosions of shells occurred in 1898. The school then was made as Maestranza (ordinance in the manufacture of bullets and cannon balls) by the Amobilizadores (native soldiers of Spanish Government). The fourth fire occurred during Japanese Occupation from 1941 to 1944 when the Japanese occupied the school and burned it in the course of their retreat from the American Forces of Liberation in December 1944. It was rebuilt again with the aid of the American people under the Philippine Rehabilitation Act of 1946 only to be burned once more on July 7, 1958 when the school was already serving as a regional school of arts and trades. The school was made of the seat of one of the conferences of the powerful Taft Commission, composed of Governor-General Howard Taft, Dr. Trinidad Pardo H. de Tavera, Jose Luziaga, Benito Legarda and other prominent Filipinos who proclaimed Ceferino Joven, a native son of Bacolor, as the first civil governor of Pampanga and of the Philippines on February 13, 1901. The school also served as the Provincial Capitol of the Provincial Government of Pampanga from 1901 to 1903. Later on, it was converted into a municipal building of Bacolor from 1903 to 1904, after the transfer of the Provincial Capitol of Pampanga from Bacolor to San Fernando, Pampanga. Subsequently, this school was converted into a craftsman school with related academic instruction in 1905 and was named Bacolor Trade School. The subject offerings did not deviate much from the former but were upgraded to enrich is curriculum. In anticipation of the conversation of this school into a secondary trade school, it was renamed Pampanga Trade School in 1909. True to the prediction of its administrator then, this school was authorized to offer a curriculum on the secondary level in 1922. It had its first batch of graduates in 1926. From the roster of these graduates could be found those who have excelled in the field of vocational education. Its curricular offerings included courses in Ironworking, Woodworking, and Building Construction for males and Domestic Science for females. Its academic curriculum included such subjects as English, History, Physics, and Mathematics. 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. Technical Education courses were also offered on October, 1957. In 1958, the Two-Year Technical Education curriculum was phased out and the Three Year Trade Technical Education was offered instead. In 1964, the school was renamed Don Honorio Ventura Memorial School of Arts and Trades 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.