Socio-Economic

Products

Bobon is basically an agricultural town and its major products are copra, rice, corn, abaca, vegetables and root crops. Its main source of livelihood is farming, tuba gathering, fishing, livestock raising and some cottage industry such as piñato making, etc.

Education

Early education of Bobonanons was given by the Spanish Friars assigned to Bobon. Even then, however, our great great grandparents have already started teaching their children the three basic "R's". Booklets and chicken feathers were used as pens and pointers. The ABC caton (Cartella method), followed by the Doctrina Cristiana, prayers, and numbers were taught in Spanish. The caton was like a nursery school, kinder or a Day Care Learning center of today. After the caton, school children would go on to attend the regular public school classes from primary grades I to III. After their primary education, students would go to Catarman for their intermediate education IV to VII. After their primary and intermediate education, students would go on to finish their high school education in Catarman, Catbalogan, Sorsogon, Calbayog, or in Manila. Early in the 1920's, a second year high school student could already teach primary school graders. Today, Bobonanons get their primary and elementary education from the Bobon Elementary School.

The Bobon Catholic Institute (also known as Fr.

Miguel Seno Memorial Institute)

In 1955, Fr. Miguel Seno was assigned as parish priest of Bobon. He founded and established the first high school that Bobonanons could call their own. The school was initially named Bobon Institute (BI) then later renamed Bobon Catholic Institute (BCI). The first batch of BCI students graduated in school year 1957-58 and the last batch graduated in school year 1972-73. On the first semester of school year 1973-74, the school stopped operation and closed its doors to its students. When the school reopened in the second semester of the same school year, the school was renamed Holy Child Academy (HCA). When Padre Seno (as Bobonanons would fondly call him) became ill and could no longer manage the school, he turned over its management to the Bobon Parish Council on November 30, 1981. Soon after the turnover, Fr. Miguel Seno died on December 30, 1981 and was buried January 7, 1982 at the Bobon Roman Catholic Cemetery. The President of the Parish Council, Mr. Agustin C. Paredes was given full authority to manage the school by Bishop Angel T. Hobayan. The President, with the approval of the Board of Directors then applied for a change of name of the school with the Ministry of Education Culture and Sports (MECS) from Holy Child Academy (HCA) to Fr. Miguel Seno Memorial Institute (SMI) in honor of its founder. In June 17, 1985 (school year 1984-1985), the request was approved by MECS Director Mr. Sevillano de la Cruz. Mr. Agustin C. Paredes managed the school from school year 1981-1982 until his death on March 18, 1987. Mr. Antonio C. Paredes continued the directorship of the school since then. Today, the SMI is alma mater to many Bobonanons who have gone on to higher education in many prestigious schools of the country and abroad. These alumni are now successful doctors, nurses, lawyers, accountants, business managers and owners, computer specialists, etc.

The Bobon School of Fisheries

In 1962, Congressman Eladio Balite of Bobon sponsored a bill in Congress to establish a vocational school in Bobon, the Bobon School of Fisheries. The first school principal was Mr. Handog followed by Mr. Celso Rempillo, and then by Mr. Justino Sanson. The school was renamed in 1992 as Eladio T. Balite Memorial School of Fisheries and Mr. Justino Sanson became its administrator. The school now has a computing center. Course offerings are secondary and technical education major in inland and marine fisheries and fish processing.

The Bobon School for Philippine Craftsmen

Republic Act No. 5228 creating the Bobon School for Philippine Craftsmen was enacted in 1969. The bill was originally sponsored by the late Cong. Eladio T. Balite before he died in August 24, 1968. Due to many other legal requirements, the Implementing Guidelines of this bill was only approved in 1972, through the efforts of Cong. Raul Daza. In August 14, 1972. the Bobon School for Philippine Craftsmen was formally opened. The school having a Home Industries curriculum is the only school of its kind in the whole province. Its main objective is to offer terminal courses like dressmaking. tailoring, wood, bamboo and steel crafts, lamination and other related crafts to Out of School Youth and employable adults not only in Bobon but to its neighboring towns. In its infant stage, the school rented a private house in Brgy. San Juan to hold classes for the seventy initial first year students and later moved to the Bobon Public Market as the enrolment increased. In 1974, the school was allotted a Capital Outlay intended for the acquisition of a school site and for the construction of a school building in Brgy. Magsaysay, Bobon, Northern Samar, two kilometers from the town proper of Bobon. The school site with an area of eight (8) hectares was acquired through purchase and donation from the family of Mr. & Mrs. Gerardo Tapang. In the school year 1975-76, the school started having classes in its own building in its own school site along the national highway, seven (7) kilometers from Catarman, the capital town of Northern Samar. With the leadership of Mr. Gerardo E. Baoy as Home Industries Training Supervisor, the school pursued its programs and projects as prescribed by the department, until the implementation of the New Secondary Education Curriculum which was adopted in the school year 1989-1990. With the untimely death of Mr. Baoy in 1990, Mrs. Lydia B. Paredes was designated Officer In- Charge of the school until she was permanently appointed as Secondary School Principal in 1991. In its pursuit of improving quality and sustainable education, the Bobon School for Philippine Craftsmen has made great strides toward making the school a Division Leader School of Northern Samar, an Empowered School, School of the Future and a BP-OSA school (Balik Paaralan para sa Out of School Adult). Likewise, the school is an implementor of some Skills Training and High School Summer Classes. Today, the Bobon School for Philippine Craftsmen as a small humble family is composed of thirty four (34) teachers and employees and five hundred forty (540) students.

Peace Corps Volunteers

Peace corps volunteers from the United States - Fred Knoth and John Halloran stayed in Bobon from 1962 to 1963 and taught English as a second language.

Civic Organizations

The Bobon Council of Elders

When one talks of clubs and associations in Bobon, the Bobon of Council of Elders usually comes to mind. The Bobon Council of Elders has a very colorful history and it is one of the associations that has withstood the test of time and has become an institution. It all started in August 1970 when a group of civic-spirited Bobonanons met and thought of organizing a Mr. and Mrs. club because of the people's poor attendance in the just-concluded town fiesta celebration. The group realized early on that organizing a club was not an easy task. But after several attempts and careful planning and study, they sent a letter to a few prospective couples inviting them to attend an organizational meeting. That first meeting was held on September 6, 1970, and was attended by the following: • Mr. Constancio Escober • Mr. Agustin Paredes • Mr. Guido Escober • Mr. Fernando Caparal • Mr. Artemio Miranda • Mr. Pedro Villanueva • Mr. Antonio Rodriguez • Mr. Juan Bido • Mr. Agripino Agasang • Mrs. Mila Ballicud • Mr. Rufino de Asas • Mr. Pelagio Casinas • Mr. Florian Quinones • Mr. Ramon Paredes • Mr. and Mrs. Celso Rempillo • Mr. Antonio Agasang • Mr. Felipe Dagotdot • Mr. Tomas Anonuevo • Mr. Domingo Agasang • Mr. Jaime Lustico The meeting was presided over by Mr. Constancio Escober who immediately called for an election of the officers. The following were the first elected officers of the club: • President Mr. Agustin Paredes • 1st Vice President Mr. Guido Escober • 2nd Vice President Mr. Rufino de Asas • Secretary Mrs. Mila Ballicud • Treasurer Mr. Ramon Paredes • Auditors Mr. Jaime Lustico and Mr. Artemio Miranda • Sgt. At Arms Mr. Florian Quinones • Mr. Tomas Anonuevo Immediately after the election, the group deliberated on the name of the club. The majority voted for Bobon Council of Elders, a name introduced by Mr. Constancio Escober, and which everyone believed best described the group's membership profile and composition. A committee composed of Atty. Bartolome Cornillez, Atty. Amancio Ballicud, and Constancio Escober was then created to frame the constitution and by-laws of the council. After the organizational meeting, more Bobonanons were recruited to join the council. The induction to office of its new officers and members was held on September 26, 1970 with then Judge Felipe Cardenas as the administering officer. One of the first projects of the council was the beautification of the town plaza which at that time was just being used as a grazing ground for horses, carabaos, and goats. The plaza is a church property so the president wrote then Bishop Cipriano Urgel of the Diocese of Calbayog asking permission to beautify the plaza. Architect Guido Escober was then commissioned to prepare a landscaping plan that will be submitted to the body for approval. To raise the needed funds for the project, the council organized dance parties, and solicited pledges and donations in the form of materials and cash. So, when the council received the Bishop's favorable communication, the project was started right away on March 18, 1971. That was the start of what came to be known as the Elders' Park. The Park was sub-divided into four areas and council members were grouped into four with each group taking care of a sub-divided area. Members donated concrete benches with their names inscribed on marble slabs. At the center of the park was a concrete marker with the Council's name and logo; and at its main entrance, every visitor was greeted by its "Welcome" marker. Every weekend, members would come to the park to water their flowering plants, clean-up their assigned places or help other groups that needed assistance in maintaining their places. The Elders' Park was completed on the first week of August 1971 just on time for that year's town fiesta. Bishop Cipriano Urgel blessed the Park before he celebrated the Pontifical Mass. All members in their formal attire stayed in their respective lots to welcome and receive the Bishops's blessings while the officers of the Council along with their guests stood as sponsors. It was indeed one of the Council's greatest and proudest moments. After the successful completion of the Elders' Park, the Council again asked the Bishop's permission to develop the lot adjacent to the Elders' Park into a Childrens' Park. With the same ways and means, the Council enclosed the park with concrete panels donated by members and friends. A multi-purpose auditorium was constructed and concrete tables and benches were set up around it. This auditorium has become the venue for childrens' performances, gymnastics during special occasions, and the Council's social gatherings and fund raising parties. All parish council organizations also held their social affairs in this multi-purpose auditorium. The Council also put up playground apparatus such as sea-saws, swings, and a concrete slide through its fund raising activities and some financial assistance from the Bobon Metro Manila Residents Association. An electric generating unit was also procured through donations to light the Park at night time. To keep the membership involved, committed and informed, a regular monthly meeting was conducted every second Saturday of the month. Also, every year from 1971 to 1987, the Council always celebrated the following: • Its anniversary in September. • A special fiesta night either on August 9 or 10. • A joint christmas party with the Knights of Columbus and the Daughters of Mary Immaculate. • Valentine's Day, and • Monthly celebration of members' birthdays and wedding anniversaries. In 1986, the Council president, Agustin C. Paredes, together with all the officers, decided to turn over the beautification and maintenance of the Elders' and the Childrens' Parks to the municipal government because many of the Council's members were retiring from active membership. Because of this, plans were made to reactivate the Council by recruiting a younger generation of members to replace the older retiring ones. Unfortunately, however, on March 18, 1987, the president died and those plans have remained as such until last April 19, 2000 when some council members met and elected a new set of officers with Mr. Justino Sanson as their president. Then in 2007, the members once again held an election to revitalize the association and elected the following as their officers: • President: Ms. Lydia B. Paredes • 1st Vice President: Agripino Agasang • 2nd Vice President: Miguel R. Agasang • Secretary: Mrs. Maria dela Tonga • Asst. Secretary: Mrs. Felisa B. Novio • Treasurer: Mrs. Emma Labsan • Asst. Treasurer: Mrs. Cynthia M. Jao • Auditors: Jaime Lustico, Tomas Anonuevo, Pablo Ricalde, and Angelo Pacle • PRO San Juan: Mrs. Josefina P. Unay and Macedonio Miscreola • PRO Sta. Clara: Mrs. Jorgia S. Arellano and Eleuterio Celespara • PRO Gen. Lucban: Mrs. Pacita del Monte and Mrs. Flora A. Nunez Elected to the Board of Directors were Emma B. Balite, Antonio C. Paredes, Rosario E. Paredes, Josefa L. Lomo, Tita M Capoquian and Nerio D. Torres. These officers were inducted into office on February 4, 2007 and they have decided to put together their resources and take on the task of bringing back once again the Council's grand old days!