ABOUT US

 

     When typhoon Louise hit the Philippines sometimes on November 19, 1964, Surigao City was the center.

     So far, it was the strongest, as it had marked a 295 Kph at its center - very desctructive indeed as it took away almost 2000 lives, leaving many Surigaonons homeless and miserable for years due to the loss of properties too.

 

     It was at that time that the old Bilang-Bilang Primary School along corner Narciso Street and Espina Streets (Now the Christian Kiddie Care Center) was blown down and shattered to pieces. So, the city government (municipal at that time), under the reign of the late Mayor Pedro Rivero Espina, realized to transfer the Primary School to the Present site along  Navarro Street as they have foreseen the increased of population in the near future.

 

     Bilang-Bilang Primary School, had only four (4) teachers; Mrs. Norbeta Coleto Almeda for Grade I, Mrs. Soledad Lanipa Latras for Grade II, Mrs. Felipa Yuipco Cabilao for Grade III and Mrs. Marciana Sevandal for Grade IV and at the same time the school head. All of them have gone back to the Almighty's hand now.

 

     However when Bilang-Bilang Primary School was transffered to the present site, only Mrs. Soledad L. Atras and Mrs. Felipa Y. Cabilao were left because Mrs. Norbeta and Mrs. Marciana Sevandal had retired before the typhoon. The old Bilang-Bilang public market was converted into (4) classrrom during the transfer.

    

     But, becuase the public market  (turned into school) was still surrounded with water (as the area was really a mangroove land), the General PTA members and officers with the initiatives of the new principal; Mrs. Regina Zabala Barbers worked together to improve the school ground holding a "Pahungos o Tagbo". It was because the city's garbage was dumped to the area and the school surrounding was a landfill ground.

 

     It was quite amazing because right after the close of the year 1964 - 1965, there was a soaring increase of school population the next school year. That's why.

 

     Marcos Typed School Buildings were added. It was during the school year 1965 - 1966 that the city councilors signed the implementation of the new naming of Bilang-Bilang Primary School to Mariano Espina Memorial Central Elementary School (MEMCES) in memory of the late Don Mariano Espina Sr., the late father of the incumbent mayor at that time Mayor Pedro Rivero Espina. Besides, the actual site of MEMCESwas donated by the Espina - hence the new name of MEMCES.