Cagayan National High School

The Main Building, commonly known as the Gabaldon Building, is the oldest edifice in the campus. It houses classrooms and the Conference Hall or the Old Library.

With the Thomasites as organizers, the Cagayan High School was formally opened in June 1905 with Albrow S. Burnell as its first principal. It was housed in Otto Weber's residence which was later on bought by the government for its first school building.

The school was situated on 16.5 hectares of land which was purchased by the provincial board of Cagayan under Governor Gracio Gonzaga.[2]

Meanwhile, to solve the problem on teacher shortage, the school, which was at the same time a teacher training institution, offered Domestic Science in 1918 and a Secondary Normal Course in 1921. Then in February 1922, District Engineer Salesby laid the cornerstone of the new Cagayan High School building at its present site which was completed and inaugurated after a year.

After more than two decades, the American line-up of school administrators ended and Demetrio M. Andres, a native of Marikina, became the first Filipino principal of the school in 1931. During his term, post-graduate normal course was opened to meet the demand for elementary school teachers. However, in March 1937, the last group of secondary normal senior students graduated and for the first time, two valedictorians were proclaimed - one for the general course and one for the normal course.

Due to the outbreak of World War II, the school was forced to close for three years. Nevertheless, in September 1945, the school was reopened with a handful of teachers, holding classes in the bomb-shattered building. In July 1948, regular publication of The Cagayan Students' Chronicle which is the school organ of the Cagayan National High School up to this day, was resumed. In 1967 to 1972, the school was one of the ten pilot high schools in the country in teaching secondary English as a second language. As such, it was a regional center for the five-year English program.

The school year 1974–1975 started the implementation of the Revised Secondary Curriculum Program 1973 which is the present curriculum. Cagayan National High School witnessed a significant milestone in its history following its nationalization by virtue of Presidential Decree 1050 on July 1, 1976. Its principal then, Conrado I. Bacuyag, was the principal author of its nationalization.

To this day, the Cagayan National High School is ever-glowing with her remarkable feat and records in competitions.[3]

• Frank Co Tui, valedictorian of class 1915 and known for his achievements in science.[5] In 1958, during the Garcia administration, he was tasked to survey the state of science and technology in the country. From that, he recommended that the National Science Development Board be established, now known as the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).[6]
• Julian Olivas, alumni of class 1918[7] and the Constabulary Provincial Commander of Pampanga.[8] On July 12, 1939, he was shot, which will be the cause of his death, from behind by four men, identified with the labor group, while mediating a labor dispute at the Pampanga Sugar Development Company (PASUDECO). President Manuel L. Quezon immediately awarded him posthumously the Distinguished Contact Star medal.[9] Camp Julian Olivas in San Fernando, Pampanga was named after his honor.
• Eulogio Balao, former Vice Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,[10] former Secretary of National Defense (1956–1957), former Senator (1957–1963), a Philippine Legion of Honor recipient with the rank of Commander. He graduated in Cagayan High School in 1926 and passed the entrance exams to the Philippine Constabulary Academy. Balao is remembered for his leadership in the Battle of Bessang Pass against General Yamashita's Japanese Armies holed up there during the battles for liberation of the Philippines.[11]