Historical Background

The name

The school was named Josefina H. Cerilles Memorial Barangay High School in honor of the assemblyman’s beloved wife who was once a supervisor of DECS. This was approved through a Sangguniang Bayan Resolution No. 23 in April 1983 and Sangguniang Panlalawigan Resolution No. 295-A in 1984 pursuant to DECS Order N0.6, series of 1983.

Crispin Mag-usara took the leadership of the newly created school and not long after, Fortunato Gumintad succeeded him as teacher-in-charge. With the cooperation of the school’s faculty and staff, and the residents of the community, Gumintad made a lot of improvements of the school which was originally constructed out of light materials.

In 1987, when all barangay high schools in the country were fully nationalized, the school’s name was changed to Josefina H. Cerilles National High School. In the succeeding year, it was one of the lucky recipients of the Secondary Education Development Program (SEDP) building package and subsequently thereafter, the U.S. AID academic building package.

From JHCPC to J.H. Cerilles State College

On February 25, 1995, Josefina H. Cerilles National High School was converted into Josefina H. Cerilles Polytechnic College by virtue of the Republic Act 7895 authored by Congressman Antonio H. Cerilles. With this development, the High School Department became the laboratory school of the Teacher Education Department of the college.

In 1996, Josefina H. Cerilles Polytechnic College started its full operation as a CHED-Supervised Institution with Mr. Francisco Caylan of the DECS as its Officer-In- Charge. The first eight faculty members of the college were Mrs. Filomena G. Montealto, Mrs. Winifreda L. Rico, Mrs. Daylinda P. Sulong, Mrs. Mila A. Samin, Miss Nelia B. Aragon, Engr. Jerry B. Superales, Mr. Lumabao B. Sanlao and Mr. Jesus B. Purisima.

In 1997, Mrs. Filomena G. Montealto was appointed as Vocational School Superintendent and since then, she took the lead in all the educational ventures of the college while at the same time upholding its vision, mission and goals by providing quality and relevant education to all its students.

After six years of operation as a CHED-Supervised Institution, JHCPC was converted into J.H. Cerilles State College on August 11, 2001, by virtue of the Republic Act 9159 authored by Congresswoman Aurora E. Cerilles. Montealto was appointed as the First President of the State College.