Humble Beginnings

Our school, Dr. Jovito S. Francisco Elementary School, was formerly named Camilo Osias Elementary School. It was named after our First Filipino Superintendent, First Secretary of Education, and First Senate President of our beloved country.

It was founded when the first batch of teachers, namely Rowena Abalayan And Florentina Romero, accepted their assignments to be the first teachers of the school located at Bago Aplaya, Davao City under the district of Talomo in the school year 1976 – 1977.

They started with only Grades I and II classes. Their classroom activities were held in an old rented house owned by Mrs.Cristina Quezon. In the school years 1977 until 1980 , the classes were held in the community chapel near the basketball court of Virsare Village because the dilapidated house already needed a renovation.

In the school year 1980 – 1981, the parents, teachers and concerned community members elected officers to help put up the first school building in a dead road, which was a vacant area, near the private lot of the Francisco family.

In December 8, 2008, the 2,037 sq. meters lot area of the school was donated by the Francisco family through the initiative of the very active School Head, Mrs. Rosita S. Remitar. In response to their wonderful Christmas gift, our School Head showed positive response in renaming the school to Dr. Jovito S. Francisco Elementary School, in honor of the real owner of the lot of our school.

 After a year of processing, the Camilo Osias Elementary School was already renamed in honor of the late Dr. Jovito S. Francisco. Now, our small school is officially called Dr. Jovito S. Francisco Elementary School.

The school started with 1 building which has 3 rooms and now we already have 6 buildings with 14 rooms. Population increased from 80 pupils to 384 pupils. It started with 2 very responsible teachers and now we have 11 multi-tasking teachers and a very active School Head.

At present the school is already surrounded with tall fences, has a Covered Court, Washing and Drinking Area, Outdoor Comfort Room, Heroes Park with Petals of Peace Educational Mural ,and Garden of Meditation Area with the presence of the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes.

The humble beginnings of the 2 teachers have now come to fruitful developments of our small school.