Concepcion Elementary School is located along J. Molina Street corner F. Torres and E. Santos Street in Concepcion Uno, Marikina City. It used to be the biggest public school in the city with an original total land area of 28,579 square meters or 2.8 hectares. The land was donated in 1953 by the Tuazon family, one of the most prominent families in Marikina. It was also during this year that the school was built and was named as Bayan-Bayanan Elementary School when the city was still a province of Rizal.

Part of the land area is now occupied by Marikina High School and the Regional Educational Learning Center (RELC). With the demolition of the two (2) Bagong Lipunan Buildings and the renovation of the school’s front gate in 1998, reducing the school perimeter further backward, the school now encompasses an approximate land area of 14,000 square meters.

The sprawling stretch of land that was Concepcion Elementary School in the early ‘90s was a picture of an idyllic playground where its students enjoyed the vast green bed of grasses amidst tall trees and varieties of potted, hanging, and soil-based plants and root crops. It also featured a Sakahan portion (rice plantation) and a fishing pond which students used for practical application of skills learned. The school was known for its gardening and Gulayan sa Paaralan programs.

When the older school buildings were condemned and demolished, eventually new ones were erected. In 2006, DEL Building was completed, a three-story building with 22 classrooms. The construction was initiated by Congressman Del R. De Guzman. In 2007, a 27-classroom MCF Building was built. This was during the term of Mayor Ma. Lourdes C. Fernando.  That same year, two buildings, namely the Rodriguez and the PTA were dismantled after years of use, and wear and tear finally caught up.

Two (2) other buildings were constructed - Q1 and Q2 Buildings - in 2016 and 2017, respectively both initiated by Congressman Romero Federico S. Quimbo. The construction of these additional structures paved the way for the implementation of a single shift session for all grade levels.

Another distinctive feature of the school is the covered court which is used as a venue during flag-raising ceremonies, awarding, recognition, and commencement exercises, a practice area for sports activities, and a convenient place for community gatherings. It was for this purpose that former Congressman Romeo C. Candazo, an alumnus who attended the school in the 1950s, designed and donated this court.  It has undergone renovations to accommodate the growing number of learners enrolled. In the most recent time, it served an important role during the Covid-19 pandemic.  For the two years that the National Capital Region was placed on varying degrees of public health emergency classifications, it was a silent witness to how the local government bent its effort to help the families in need. Regularly, people from the different barangays in Marikina would be seen in the school to receive financial and medical support and even employment opportunities.

The local government also built a Science and Math Garden in 2018. It is styled as an interactive learning zone where students can commune with nature,  have a picnic, read informative topics, and use play-based structures such as a makeshift bridge over a small pond, and a laboratory table for conducting experiments.

The school has five (5) buildings which include the Gabaldon School House of Concepcion Elementary School. It is a  picture of a restored edifice that serves as a reminder of the country’s rich historical heritage. During the time of American occupation in the 1900s, reforms in education were introduced which led to the passing of Act No. 1081, written by Isauro Gabaldon. It provided funding for the construction of modern public schools across the country from 1908 to 1915.  American architect William E. Parsons designed the elevated one-story building with wood, high-ceiling, and prominent large capiz windows typical of the prevailing Filipino architecture of the time. 

Prior to 1953, the former Bayan-Bayanan Elementary School was part of an American runway for military aircraft since the Bayan-bayanan itself was called Paliparan. School-age students attended barracks-like schoolhouses. When the school was formally opened, Gabaldon was its first school building. According to its former occupants, retired teachers, and alumni, the building design suited the warm temperature prevalent in most months of the year, bringing in natural light, air, and a spacious feel. The wood, being its original material, has long been worn out and eventually replaced with concrete, markedly changing its appearance as opposed to how the alumni nostalgically remember playing under the ‘silong’ of Gabaldon. Evoking plenty of memories of the past,  alumni’s colorful stories of Gabaldon as a classroom and also a playing area during class breaks bring out a picture of a warm, friendly learning atmosphere for its learners. There was also a reading corner where students comfortably enjoyed reading literature and a veranda outside where they would exchange folklores and other entertaining tales learned in school and at home. 

The effect of the Covid-19 pandemic not only brought financial woes to most families but also a mass exodus of learners from private to public schools. Many lost their jobs and other sources of income because many companies and factories were compelled to close down its operations. 

On October 5, 2020, public schools finally opened after almost seven months since the abrupt end of SY 2019-2020 in March. Alternative delivery modes of education enabled learners to continue their education. Self-Learning Modules (SLMs) basically replaced traditional classroom processes that were normally controlled by teachers. 

The sudden shift to distance education has indeed brought in learning gaps in many aspects. One such issue is the uncertainty of whether submitted outputs and assessment results are an indication of what students have learned. But now that the pandemic seems to have abated and people could come out again, including children, face-to-face classes are now on the horizon. Various security and health measures are now being put in place to ensure the students’ safety and security. 

History of Gabaldon

Concepcion Elementary School’s Gabaldon has survived its century-old existence and continues to play a crucial part in the school system. It has undergone three major renovations since then and has witnessed significant transformations not only in itself but in its immediate surroundings.  The expansive space fronting Gabaldon has turned into a public park during the term of Mayor  Bayani Fernando. When Mayor Del De Guzman took office, the building was renovated and modernized. Hardwood floors were replaced by concrete and tiled to ensure comfort and hassle-free events like conferences, training, and other school programs.  In 2018, the administration, which was headed by Mayor Marcelino Teodoro, replaced the roofs and ceilings and installed new air conditioning units. Two (2) large city government buildings - Marikina City Health Center and Marikina City Social Welfare Center stand on Gabaldon’s front view and along its sides, landscaped public parks afforded the community a place to relax and sit.  Undoubtedly,  the Gabaldon building pioneered what Concepcion Elementary School is known for today.

Concepcion Elementary School’s use and significance extend beyond its intended function of providing a suitable instructional environment for the children. On August 9, 2012, about 387 families or 2, 637 individuals evacuated from the school, mostly coming from Barangay Tumana, a low-lying residential community just opposite the famed Marikina River. In the succeeding years, as disruptive weather conditions hit the country, the school continued to serve as a refuge to the city’s residents, just as it did when the most recent calamity, Typhoon Ulysses struck, and again the school was temporarily inhabited for three weeks by residents of different barangays. While all four instructional buildings were used as a shelter for the evacuees, the Gabaldon Building was used as a  storage area for donated goods and supplies. 

The Gabaldon is no longer used as a regular classroom with the addition of four (4) buildings enough to house the school’s current enrollment, but this historical building will be here for a long time to witness new generations of learners.