The Pampanga High School, where most distinguished men of the government, in business and in science, have passed through, has no accurate record to make a history of its existence, but we shall endeavor to visualize for you from various information its early beginnings and present status.

From old friends like Mr. Jose de Kastro of class 1912, we have gathered that prior to 1912 the Pampanga High School started its function to educate the young men and women of Pampanga. The school had its early beginnings since 1908 from an old house formerly known as the "Buison Building" located near the town plaza of San Fernando. This building is still in existence to become first the residence of the Eusebio family and later, the Pampanga Hotel.

At first there was only a handful of students which constituted the pioneers. Among these few students are such distinguished people as the Feliciano brothers (Drs. Jose and Hilarion), Feliciano Ocampo and Bartola Mercado (Mrs. Yusuico). However, these few students had to leave the school and continue their studies in Manila for the reason that there was not enough students to warrant the formation of Junior and Senior classes. Again in 1910 the same experience had to be undergone by the High School as only a few third year students could constitute a class eligible for the fourth year. Among these junior students are the Tan brothers (Judge Bienvenido and Dr. Vidal), Milagros Perez, and Judge Quirino Abad Santos. They all had to continue their students somewhere else in order to finish their high school.

But in the year 1911-1912, there were sufficient fourth year students to form a class, so that the principal, Mr. John W. Osborn, (First American Principal), made the most of the situation and turned out a very good group of graduates; the first graduation class of the Pampanga High. The class of 1912 had at the time only 20 students and 19 of them graduated. The first graduates were: Alberto Dalusung, Jose Gutierrez David, Juan C. David, Conrado V. Dayrit, Jose A. de Kastro, Maximo Dimson, Trinidad L. Eusebio, Milagros Perez Herrera, Pilar Perez Estanislao, Silvino Canlas Quiambao, Jose Q. Lopez, Estanislao T. Roque, Macaria N. Roque, Tomas N. Roque, Pedro N. Sales, Maximo Vergara, Francisco S. Villarta, Hermogenes B. Vitug and Wenceslao B. Vitug. Wenceslao B. Vitug and Macaria Roque, becoming the first Valedictorian and Salutatorian, respectively, of the High School.

In the meantime the old Buison Building, which is becoming inadequate at the time, was abandoned and the classes from first year to fourth year were transferred to a new building located near the Pampanga provincial building. In this building, more students could be accommodated. Meanwhile, the growth of the student population had been going up year by year until it was decided in 1935 that a much bigger building with a large athletic playground be constructed at some other place within the town of San Fernando.

The exodus of students coming from various towns of Pampanga and some from the neighboring provinces has certainly forced the national government to build a new building along the Teopaco street, now known as the High School Boulevard.

The quality of teaching during these periods, especially under the administration of American teachers and principals, produced better graduates and further enhanced the prestige of the Pampanga High School. While the first American principal was Mr. John W. Osborn, the last to administer the school was Mr. Charles G. Whitewell (1935). Among the graduates who made a name for the school and the province is no less than our beloved president, Diosdado M. Macapagal, graduate of the class 1929. The school has also produced such men as Dr. Manuel Carreon of the NSDB, Mr. Alfredo Naval, first president of the Philippine Normal College, Mr. Zoilo Castrillo of the Bureau of Lands, and many others which will make a long list.

But the tutorship of the American teachers and principals cannot last forever. Afer a job well done, they started to leave and be replaced by qualified and competent Filipinos. The first Filipino principal assigned in the Pampanga High School was Mr. Demetrio Andres (1935-1939). The quality of teaching has not diminished. From the humble beginning of having 19 graduates in 1912, we have for the year 1962 a total of 553 graduates. The present principal, Mr. Pablo R. Pinlac, has his hands full in the administration of the school, but in spite of the heavy load that he has, he enjoys his work immensely that he still has time in meeting his fellow alumni to make the Golden Jubilee Homecoming a success. He is a member of the Class 1925.

The sprawling location of the present high school is now augmented with other buildings such as the Home Economics, Industrial Arts, Vocational, Military Science and others. There is a plan to add another building to be known as "Science Building" to go with the present trend, in order to enlarge the knowledge of the students in Atomic Energy, etc.

With the above, we cannot say we have finished, but certainly as time will come, you of the coming generations will see more improvements in your dear Pampanga High School.