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The Death of a  Corporation
by Ish Fabicon

I had been warned in Banton last April (1998) to keep my mouth shut. My relatives were blunt: " Do not rock the boat. Keep your comments to yourself."

I followed their advice. However, my silence did not last long. I have to write down my thoughts today, August 16. The story is about death. The death of a corporation, The Banton High School. The glowing announcement of its death printed in bold letters: THE 50TH FOUNDING OF THE BANTON HIGH SCHOOL now BANTON NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL.

Why of all things should I write about death? The pundits, the alumni, the sages, the students and the Bantoanons in general, seemed to agree that 1998 was indeed the year of celebration - a celebration honoring the visionaries who etched the name Banton High School in the yagting psyche.

"What is in a name?" they said. "Call it any other name, it is still the Banton High School, a treasured gift of the founding fathers." In the Souvenir Program magazine, essays trumpeted the glory of the school's humble beginnings, "the indomitable will" of the founders and stockholders to push through "thick and thin" no matter what, etc. etc. Please do not get me wrong. I am very proud to be an alumnus of the Banton High School and I honor and deeply respect the hundreds of Bantoanons who nurtured and nourished the existence of the school.

I submit the celebration of death amidst the euphoria and public demonstration of joy and goodwill in a weeklong April event in Banton.

Romulo Faz Sr. in his essay, "A High School's Historic Saga," writes:"In 1948 Ex-Mayor Fabella brought the corporation papers of the school to Manila for registration with the Security and Exchange Commission...The petition for the opening of the school was filed immediately."

There is no argument here. Let the record speaks that the Banton High School was incorporated in 1948.

Mr. Faz continues: "In 1989, the Board of Trustees of the Banton High School constituted by Dioscoro Fetalvero, president; Buenaventura Fabella, vice-president; Isabelo Ferrera, secretary; Norberta Rios, treasurer and members Mayor Jory Faderanga and Romulo Faz Sr., alumni representatives called a meeting of all stockholders of record of the high school corporation. In the said gathering, it was proposed and sanctioned that the school should be sold to the municipal government."

Mr. Faz however in his article did not mention how the stockholders or proxies voted as provided in any by-laws of a corporation. All we know is that the corporation, The Banton High School ceased to exist when it became the Banton Municpal High School in 1990. Forty-two years of private secondary education was history. Nevertheless, the option for the "golden celebration" pushed through because "no matter what you said, the Banton High School was founded and created 50 years ago. Period." Now, that reminds us of a couple who called it quits - after 42 years of married life - yet their relatives insisted that they should celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.

The Banton Municipal High School, the spunky one-year old died too, Mr. Faz Sr. explains: "Then, the pertinent papers needed in the application for the nationalization of the school were cooperatively worked out with dispatch by Dr. Salustiano Faigao and Mayor Jory Faderanga. After the request of the school for its nationalization was signed by the Mayor, it was strongly recommended to the DECS secretary by Dr. Faigao on May 19,1990."

A third child was born: The Banton National High School. It came to pass one April day in Banton when a speaker in a half-day seminar opined that what the Bantoanons were celebrating was the golden jubilee of private and secondary education in the island.

Confusion becomes appropriate to describe the quandary in a meeting to decide what to name the alumini association. The Banton High School Alumni Association? The Banton Municipal Alumni Association? The Banton High School Alumni Association? We are talking here of private and public secondary schools. To borrow a vintage Asi expression: "Pangabor-sabor." A mishmash indeed.

Yet, "what is in a name?" they said. Three sisters, yes. The eldest,menopausal and barren died; the second, did not even reach childhood's terrible two; the third is on her way to her teens charting the waters of public education.

There must be joy in death. In April 1998, the Banton National High School had enough practical understanding and class to remember and honor the memory of her sisters. Two years from now, the first graduates of the national high school will probably celebrate their 10th anniversary class reunion. They will not forget the movers who opted for public secondary education in Banton. They will hold their own, despite the scars of death.

 

Volume 1 No 3