About Us. How it all started. In the 1900’s a considerable number of Chinese migrants from Mainland China found their way to Isabela. Some of them settled in the locality of Cabatuan, Aurora and Roxas. Cabatuan was then a small, unprogressive barrio of Cauayan. Transportation was very backward and commercial activities were limited. There were only more than ten Chinese families living in these three towns, mostly businessman engaged in corner sari-sari store and grains trading. They were not rich but deep in their hearts, they were highly nationalists. They love their ancestral land and culture. They didn’t want their children to forget their Chinese origin and roots. They wanted this culture to be part of their lives, handed down from generation to generation. It was these common goal and motivation that brought these gentlemen together. The desire to provide their descendants a chance to learn Chinese traditions and values mandated them to put up a Chinese school in Cabatuan Isabela.

It was founded in September 1946 by the first Board of Trustees composed of:

1. Pedro Pua
2. Lorenzo Uy
3. Juan Uy
4. Mariano Uy
5. Miguel Dy
6. Clemente Paggabao
7. Juaquin Pua
8. Vicente Pua
9. Eusebio Uy

It was only a rented house affair in front of the San Andres-Del Pilar auditorium with more than 30 students. They were all accommodated for free. Mr. Lorenzo Uy supervised the school with Mr. Cu Cui Hong as its first principal. Aside from the first school administrator, the late Mr. Lorenzo Uy was the first Board of Trustees President.

The school was known as Philippine Chinese Yuh Chiau School for several years, the Chinese name bearing the word “Magat”, named after the famous Magat river coursing along the adjacent towns of Cabatuan, aurora and Roxas, also as the “Magat Area”, where members of the original Board of Trustees came to settle.

Under their able management, the school managed to grow and students increased to hundreds. It necessitated a school building of its own. In 1952, the first building was constructed in Del Pilar. The school subsequently changed its name to Chines Yuh Chiau School. In the year 1953, during the incumbency of the board of trustees Cairman Eusebio Uy or Uy Cho Giok, then the youngest member of the Board, proposed the establishment of a high school department. This is to give access to the elementary graduates for higher education. Being a poor town ( it was created as a municipality in 1949), very few among the residents could afford to send their kin to nearby towns or to Manila for further studies. Additional manpower, facilities and logistics were the problems to consider but Chairman Eusebio was very insistent and encouraged all the Board Members to have perseverance under the most trying situations. Eventually, high school course was offered regardless of additional financial burdens.

In 1965, the Chinese Overseas commission granted the school the accreditation for the Chinese Department. A year earlier, the English Deapartment obtained a permit from the bureau of private schools.

Thereafter, student population grew steadily that it necessitated the construction of the additional infrastructures to accommodate students coming from various towns in the province.

In 1961-62, under the administration of the late Mr. Francisco Uy or Uy Check To,the construction of two more buildings were accomplished. The first one was a 2-storey building adjoined to the rear part of the main building. The second was a girl’s dormitory. The boy’s dormitory, built several years earlier was enlarged in 1972 under the Chairmanship of the late Mr. Kiana Uy.

In the roster of past BOT presidents, it was Mr. Kiana Uy who had contributed tremendously to the welfare of the school during its difficult, early years of existence. Having served 10 terms, he had dealt with more pressing problems and hardships during his incumbencies.

The declaration of Martial Law in 1972 brought about the Filipinization of Chinese schools all over the land. In view of perceived growing influence and discriminating policies exercised by the schools, the government, by virtue of a law, enforced that all Chinese schools with names bearing the word “Chinese” in it, must change it to “Philippine” signifying that these schools were now under the Philippine sovereignty. For this reason, “Chinese Yuh Chaiu School” was changed to “Philippine Yuh Chaiu School”. The further required that members of the Board of Trustees, as well as school officers must be Filipino citizens. Subject loads were reduced to only 2 major subjects and class periods limited to two hours daily.

In addition to these structures, the school has undertaken the construction during summer of a 3-floor building, started in 1994 and expected to be completed in 1997. Unlike the other buildings built largely on Alumni and BOT donations, this building is funded by the school, named “The Founder’s Building”’ in honor of the school founders. On the ground floor, inscribed on a bronze plaque, is a citation of all BOT presidents and their meritorious services, contributions and accomplishments.

For 50 years, the school had 13 principals whose length of services range from 1 to 30 years. The current principal, Mr. Tiu Chin Kun has served the school for more than 30 years. Mr. Tiu is an integral part of the school history.

A man of principle, with a keen sense of propriety, his performance of duties and conduct as school head are reflective of the highest degree of professionalism, integrity and responsibility. As a superior, he deals fairly and honestly. He is an educator and a disciplinarian in the strictest sense, and a stickler for punctuality and efficiency. These are the qualities that elevated him from the rest. He was awarded “Outstanding Chinese Principal” in the Philippines in 1992.

For the last two decades to be specific, the Philippine Yuh Chiau School has undoubtedly achieved growth and prestige. Student population is well over 800. From 1 single school house, it has expanded into 6 buildings. It has acquired the most advanced facilities. The popularity and prestige have risen to unprecedented level. The school reached another milestone this year when Heherson Tan, a high school  student of PYCS bagged the 2nd place Individual Category in the Inter-Regional Physics Olympiad held in Brent International School, Baguio City thereby qualifying him to undergo PEP Training. Heherson Tan was among the top five PEP trainees who represented the Philippines to the International Physics Olympiad in Norway, Europe. This feat is unprecedented in the history of PYCS as well as Region 02.

The various successes of PYCS graduates in their chosen field of endeavors, the glowing achievements of PYCS students serve to remind that the hardships and sacrifices of the school founders were not wasted in vain. These achievements, definitely a far cry from the school’s humble beginning, were made possible by the men who have taken over the Chairmanship of the Board of Trustees – Dr. Sergio Uy, Mr. Reynaldo Tan, Mr. Ernesto Subia, Mr. Juanito Tio, Mr. William Uy, (all PYCS alumni) and Mr. Teofilo Uy (son of a past BOT president) – younger generation who are equally able, dedicated, and generous in extending financial assistance and support in bringing about the transformation of PYCS to what it is today, one of the most established and prestigious Chinese schools in the whole of Northeastern Luzon.

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