For San Pedrense students who passed through the halls of the San Pedro Central Elementary School, this school's "Gabaldon Hall" holds dear memories.
It was in this hall that intra-city school competitions such as quiz bees are always held in past decades.
For non-Central students, having entered this hall is a mark of prestige not only for them but also for their respective schools, as it is a witness to their academic excellence and stellar talents.
Today, that heritage of academic excellence has been preserved for future generations.
This, after the Sangguniang Panglungsod of San Pedro recently passed an ordinance recognizing this edifice as a City Historical Landmark.
City Ordinance No, 2026-21, filed by Councilor Gius Castasus, aims to "recognize the historical significance" of the San Pedro Central Elementary School's Gabaldon Hall and adopt "measures for its protection, conservation, and promotion for the benefit of present and future generations."
Long history
Historical records researched by the San Pedro City Tourism, Culture and Arts Office (CTCAO) showed that the Gabaldon Hall (formally known as the Jose Martinez Sr. Hall) was first constructed around 1912.
The building came about as the fruit of Act No. 1801, filed by Assemblyman Isauro Gabaldon of Nueva Ecija, which paved the way for the mass construction of public-school buildings in the Philippines during the time of the American occupation.
Hundreds of these so-called “Gabaldon Halls” were constructed around the country, which designs were based on the traditional “bahay-kubo” and “bahay na bato” that were the hallmarks of Philippine architecture during the Spanish occupation.
However, many of these historic buildings fell victim to World War II or were left to deteriorate in past decades – a symbol, some believe, of the continued neglect of the country’s education sector.
The Gabaldon Hall of San Pedro Central Elementary School, however, was preserved and subsequently used for official functions and even for sessions of the San Pedro Municipal Council.
In 1994, the hall was officially named the Jose Martinez, Sr. Hall, in honor of the statesman who became Mayor of San Pedro from 1928 to 1934.
It then underwent renovation under the auspices of Republic Act No. 11194 (Gabaldon School Buildings Conservation Act) that was enacted in 2019.