Baluarte Elementary School is the first public school building put up in the Philippines under the American regime. The government did not start building schools until after the passage of the Gabaldon Act in 1907.

Don Rosendo M. Mejica established Baluarte Elementary School in 1905 out of his vision to uplift the literacy level of children believing that education could be a tool to fight poverty.

To raise money for the school, Rosendo M. Mejica organized the residents into an association called " Mga Baybayanon (coastal dwellers)." The association mobilized the civic spirit of the people of Molo who contributed money and labor to construct the school.

The "nipa" school started with an enrollment of 65 pupils, including some old folks.

Baluarte Elementary School has already produced a lot of famous and distinguished people, among them former Senate President Franklin Drilon and the late Senator Rodolfo Ganzon.

Source:

The News Today