Councilor seeks to rename two schools

CEBU, Philippines - The Committee on Laws of the Cebu City Council is presently reviewing the proposal to rename two public schools in the city, the Bitlang Integrated School in Barangay Sudlon 1 and the Florencio Urot Memorial National High School in Barangay Mabolo.

Outgoing city councilor Nestor Archival has proposed that the Bitlang Integrated School be renamed Barangay Sudlon 1 Integrated School for the reason that the present school’s name represents only Bitlang, one of the sitios in barangay Sudlon 1 and not the entire barangay.

“The move to rename the school will not in any way diminish the honor and achievement of its students and the residents of sitio Bitlang, but to make the school as the landmark of the barangay,” said Archival.

Sudlon 1 barangay captain Dante Tabucal had attested that during their regular session on July 5, 2009 the barangay council had agreed to change the name of the Bitlang Integrated School because the move has been approved already by the city’s school board.

Archival also proposed that the Florencio Urot Memorial National High School be renamed the Mabolo National High School because it is situated in the barangay. He said renaming of that school will also not diminish the honor and memory of the late councilor Urot because he is already honored by the city with a street in his name at the North Reclamation Area.

A resolution of the Mabolo Barangay Council states that the school is situated at a reclaimed parcel of land and which was part of the North Reclamation Area contrary to the prevailing belief that the land on which the school was built was donated by Urot.

Mabolo barangay captain Reynaldo Ompoc said the late councilor Urot was not a resident of Mabolo, but of the adjacent barangay of Carreta.

According to Ompoc since 1985 when the school was established in Mabolo the barangay cons-tituents have not been able to foster any kind of attachment with the school whose name is unfamiliar to them.

“Usahay himoon na lang kataw-anan ang maong eskwelahan nga ang mga tinun-an nga gagmay’g grado ingnon nga adto paeskwelahon sa Urot,” said one of the residents who lives near the school.

Urot was a councilor of Cebu City from 1941 up to 1971, and also sat as acting mayor for 108 days after city mayor Eulogio Borres and his vice mayor that time sought other elective positions, requiring them to resign before they can campaign.

As first councilor, Urot became the acting mayor while then Councilor Jose Rodriguez also assumed as acting vice mayor.

Urot was born in Tabogon town in northern Cebu in 1904 and later he became the town’s police chief before he migrated to Cebu City after earning his Law degree. – THE FREEMAN