The history of Mameltac started a long time ago. A mud-splashed hill in San Fernando, La Union was a paradise to the people who love hunting. One day, an old man was giving his carabao a bath when a spaniard riding on a horse passed by. Mud splashed all over the face of the old man who got angry that he shouted “Peltac, peltac, peltac!” Upon returning home, the Spaniard recorded his adventure and remembered the man shouting “Peltac, peltac, peltac!” which means in English “splash with mud”. Our place then was later called Mameltac.
Barangay Mameltac is one of the fifty-nine barangays of the City of San Fernando. It is situated at the northeastern part of the city. It has a land area of 94.3 hectares. Mameltac is approximately 4.5 kilometers away from the city proper. Mameltac is one of the alternate route going to San Juan- San Fernando-Bauang By-Pass Road making its location accessible. It is bounded by Barangay Bato and Bangcusay, on the north, Dallangayan on the South, Biday on the west and Abut and Saoay on the east. These barangays compose the MABASA (Mameltac, Bato, Abut, Saoay ) Association.
With its vast and abundant fields, people are engaged in farming. Palay is the primary crop raise in the community. Secondary crops planted by farmers include corn, vegetables and other root crops. The place then was known as “Pallang Village” because rice field are bounded with pallang or winged beans. Other families are engaged in backyard poultry and livestock raising.
Meanwhile, some residents are employed in public and private offices. Others are working abroad to provide their needs. In order to augment the family income there are some sari-sari stores to cater urgent needs.
For years, the place keep on improving as this is blessed with hardworking, God- loving and happy people. Mameltac is a Christian community. The people are hospitable and generous people as shown in their songs, dances, and way of talking to each other. Ilocano is the mother tongue in the place but they do understand and speak Filipino or English. The people are educated through the school present in the barangay. The school is named after the barangay where it is located.
Mameltac Elementary School is a child-friendly school. It has a land area of 10, 974 sq. m. bounded by Barangay Bato and Bangcusay on the north, Dallangayan on the South, Biday on the west, and, Abut and Saoay on the east. It is about 4.5 kms away from the city proper. Its catchment barangays include Barangay Abut, Bato, Biday, Dallangayan Oeste, Mameltac, and Saoay.
With its vast and abundant field, most of the parents of the pupils engaged in farming where rice plant is the primary crop raised in the community. Parents from Upper Abut are making “kuribot”, a woven basket made from Bamboo Grass. Some are managing their own businesses like karinderia, sari-sari store and online selling. Others are employed in the government and public offices while others are working abroad.
At present, the school offers kindergarten, primary and intermediate levels with two sections per grade level, and a non-grade class to cater to pupils
with special needs. It is a complete non-central elementary school, manned by a Principal II, with one (1) Administrative Officer II, one (1) Contract of Service, one (1) Utility Personnel, one (1) Canteen Helper and sixteen (16) Nationally-funded Teachers which include one (1) Master Teacher II, one (1) Master Teacher I, ten (10) Teacher III, one (1) Teacher II and three (3) Teacher I.
The school provides support services to meet the needs and welfare of the pupils in the teaching- learning process. It established linkages both public and private to meet the needs of learners to nurture them mentally, emotionally, socially, spiritually, and physically to enhance and strengthen their capacities, abilities, skills, and potentials so as to be globally competitive in the field. The school head, teachers, parents, pupils, and stakeholders work harmoniously to make the school a better place to nurture the young minds of the learners.
Education is a heritage of the ancestors in the place. The ancestors have high expectation with regards to education. In 1930, a school was built out of bamboo but at Barangay Bato, San Fernando, La Union. The school was only for primary level and pupils need to transfer for their intermediate level. It was in 1940’s that the school had finally transferred to Barangay Mameltac with a total area of 10, 974 square meters with complete grade level. Since then, the school produced successful graduates coming from Barangay Mameltac, Saoay, Bato, Abut, Biday, Dallangayan Oeste and other neighboring barangays.
The school is the beacon of wisdom of known Filipinos here and abroad. To name, Charlie Cruz, a recipient of International award as Ulirang OFW. Professionals are now occupying high positions in the government like Dr. Lorena C. Salvador, Education Program Supervisor in-charge in Mathematics. Three of the teachers who graduated in Mameltac Elementary School, Mrs. Joan J. Salvatera, Mrs. Evelyn E. Gaon and Mrs. Hexeil F. Rivera, is presently serving and giving back to the community where they are honed. Some became doctors, engineers, teachers, architects, accountants and many others. Their elementary years were spent and they were nurtured in this school.
The different generations went through the stages of change in the development of music and arts in the school. In 1970’s the school was known for its Bandoria Group which was lasted until 1980’s. The instruments then were financed by the parents and the bajo was borrowed from Barangay Abut Musical Group. In the late 1980’s, the Drum and Lyre Corp was organized. During that time Drum and Bugle Corps was organized to grace fiestas in the barangays and towns.
Mameltac Elementary School continuously served its stakeholders. Exemplary performance handed down from one school head to another. To name; Vicente Flores Sr., Emilio Ubaldo, Celerina Cueto, Lydia Balagot, Mrs. Tadiar, Mrs. Adriano, Norma H. Hafalla, Isidro Zambo, Mercedes Reyes, Ernesto Viloria, Cresteta B. Feria, Jessie Gaona, Teresita Morales, Brenda A. Sabado, Lorena C. Salvador, Arnulfo M. Apilado, Ruth P. Paragas, Guadalope B. Sobrepena, William A. Tubera, and Gloria C. Abad (Present).
Mameltac Elementary School was so blessed with leaders/principals who had served the school with selfless, loving dedication and commitment.
The following principals took their turns in leading & improving the school.
2003-2005 - Teresita M. Morales
2008 – 2010 - Brenda A.Sabado
May 2011-Oct.2011- Lorena C. Salvador
2011 – 2013 - Arnulfo M.Apilado
2013 - 2016 - Ruth P. Paragas
2016 – Jan 2021 - Guadalupe B. Sobrepena
Jan 2021- April 2023- William A. Tubera
April 2023- Present- Gloria C. Abad
The K to 12 Program of the Department of Education, emerges the institutionalization of Kindergarten to Grade Six. The implementation of K to 12 Program has led to success. The stakeholders show their support to the programs, activities and projects of the school wherein the school received numerous awards such as Gawad Alibtak, Best in DRRM Reporting, One of the Entry of the Division in School Paper in the Regional Schools Press Conference, Best Brigada Implementer, one of the Best Schools LAC Implementer in District III, and Best in Gulayan sa Paaralan.
Gulayan sa Paaralan making pupils aware of the nutritional value of vegetables in their health. Harvested vegetables from Gulayan served beneficiaries of the school based feeding program. It also generates income which were used to buy seedlings and garden tools. To show its worth Mameltac is a consistent awardee as Best Implementor of the said program for 5 years.
Disaster preparedness is also essential for safeguarding lives of the pupils and staff of Mameltac Elementary School, protecting properties and minimizing the disruption caused by emergencies. It serves as a proactive approach to reduce the severity of disasters and facilitate a smoother recovery process. By having comprehensive plans in place, pupils, teachers, stakeholders and organizations can respond swiftly and effectively, minimizing the damage and chaos that often accompanies emergencies. With this, the school has been awarded Gawad Alibtak for two (2) consecutive years by the City Government of San Fernando. This shows that the school is not just a haven of learning but a safe space for fun and exploration.
As the Department now shift to another ageda, The MATATAG Curriculum, Mameltac Elementary School continue to embody the aspirations the department have for every Filipino learner. The school dreams to successfully deal with future challenges by embedding 21st Century skills, preparing them to excel in the local and global arena. Together with the department, we envision learners to embrace and shape change producing lifelong and peace-loving Filipino learners who are holistic and future-ready and embody the core values of Maka-Diyos, Makatao, Makakalikasan, and Makabansa.
The mud splashed hills transformed into paradise as years passed by but its legacy remains. This can be compared to the education it affirms to the learners. Sticky mud is like the holistic education the school offers. The learning sticks to the lives of the recipients. Mud is slippery. This is compared to adaptability to change people for good. Mud- splash is a melted rock which symbolizes how humble the people in the place.
Mameltac Elementary School is trying its best to attain the desired learning outcomes by providing the essential services to our clientele. There are lots of obstacles and factors that affect the attainment of the goals set and hinder the improvement of the school, but through the years it is always ready with contingency measures which may be undertaken to augment all shortages.
Mobilizing the school’s resources and establishing good partnership and working relationship with the internal and external stakeholders is believed to be necessary as these people could help finance and support the school’s programs and projects to attain quality education.
Mameltac Elementary School is indeed a mud- splashed hill, a school that develops learners achieve their dreams. The school that nurtures every learner. The people in the place hold on to the motto “ Mameltac, Agbibinnatak tapno aglatak”.
