Brief History of Virac National Agricultural Technology School (VNATS):

As part of the rural development thrust of the Philippines’ push for nation-building, onwards from the 1950s saw the founding of many agriculture and trade schools in the secondary level.

Along this line, Republic Act 3398 titled “An Act Providing for the Establishment of a National Agricultural and Trade School in the Municipality of Virac, Province of Catanduanes, and Authorizing the Appropriation of Funds Therefor” was promulgated on June 18, 1961.

With an appropriation of PhP200,000. Virac National Agricultural Technology School (VNATS) as it was known then rose on the Calatagan campus, its main building located at the spot where the current College of Education of Catanduanes State University is now. The first Principal was Mr. Maximo S. Binos.

In 1967, it produced its first batch of 31 graduates. Aside from the regular secondary courses, the curriculum was steeped in the science and practice of agriculture. Aside from that, students were taught practical crafts and the girls took subjects in home-making arts. VNATS graduates therefore were honed in both theory and hands-on work.

Here are some noteworthy aspects of student life at VNATS:

• VNATSians were well-taught in the parliamentary principles and rules, they even won contests in the regional level along this line.
• Students from places beyond 10 kilometers from the school were allowed to live on campus, in dormitories built by their parents.
• Enrollees to VNATS were youngsters from all over the province.
• Students from nearby places, such as barangay Palta and San Vicente, typically walked to school and brought lunch wrapped in banana leaves.
• Students earned money by working in the various agri-ventures of the school.
• There were certain working days throughout the school year where everybody labored in the farm fields, including teachers and administrators.
• Regular “pabayle” events were held on campus to allow the young teachers some past-time considering that Calatagan was rural and “boring,” and also to allow the students to make prospects for future partners.
• VNATSians got bullied by the taga-banwa and were called su mga taga pulang-lupa. But really, who cared? They were getting good and solid education, buda batid man sinda ning parliamentary procedures, aber?

After a decade on June 19, 1971, VNATS was converted into Catanduanes State Colleges (CSC) by virtue of Republic Act 6341. The last VNATS batch were handed their diplomas in March 1972. In all there were six batches, totaling 232 graduates. CSC was elevated to university status as Catanduanes State University (CSU) on October 19, 2012, under Republic Act No. 10229.

Featured image: photo of VNATS school faculty and administration in 1968-69.

Editors’ Note: The Catanduanes State University currently offers 47 undergraduate programs, 12 masters degree programs, and 2 doctorate programs. The university has 11,724 enrollees. CatSU was honored as one of the 100 Best Universities in the Philippines according to the independent ranking by EduRank.org in 2023. Additionally, CatSU has been acknowledged as one of the top three universities in the Bicol region by the FindUniversity.ph. (reference: CatSU website)

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CATANDUANES STATE UNIVERSITY