HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Don Honorio Ventura College of Arts and Trades (DHVCAT) started when an Augustinian friar by the name of Fr. Juan P. Zita dreamed of helping young lads of Bacolor. Aided by equally benevolent civic leader Don Felino Gil, the school was officially founded on November 4, 1861 upon the approval of its statutes by Governor-General Lemery and was then called “Escuela de Artes Y Oficios de Bacolor.”
Through the generous contribution of several civic spirited Pampangueños and the amount of P33,882.00, the school started its operations in a house charitably donated by Father Zita.
The school was named Bacolor Trade School in 1905. It was again renamed to be the Pampanga Trade School in 1909 and became popularly known as the “Trade School” or the “Poor-man’s College.” The secondary curriculum was offered in 1922 and the first batch graduated in courses of: Ironwork, Woodworking and Building Construction for boys and Domestic Science for girls.
By virtue of Republic Act 1388, the school was converted into a Regional School of Arts and Trades and was renamed Pampanga School of Arts and Trades (PSAT). Technical education courses were offered in October, 1957.
In 1958, the Two-Year Technical Education curriculum was phased out and the Three-Year Trade Technical Education was offered. In 1964, the school was renamed Don Honorio Ventura Memorial School of Arts and Trades (DHVMSAT) in honor of Don Honorio Ventura, a prominent son of Bacolor who was a statesman and philanthropist. The renaming was signed by then President Diosdado Macapagal, protégé of Don Honorio Ventura who sent him to school and became instrumental in the former’s successes especially during his struggling years.
The teacher education curriculum leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Industrial Education was offered in July, 1966 with concentration in Shop work, Industrial Arts and Mathematics. The first batch of BSIE graduates were conferred their degrees in April 1969.
Through the priceless assistance of former Solicitor-General, Minister of Justice and Pampanga Governor Estelito P. Mendoza, the school was converted into a state college on May 5, 1978 by virtue of Presidential Decree 1373.
One of the mandates of chartered institutions of higher learning like DHVCAT is to provide relevant quality education to its clientele, not only in the province of Pampanga but also in neighboring provinces in Central Luzon. Hence, new curricular programs like Bachelor of Science in Architecture, Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering were offered in response to its mission and vision of delivering quality technological education to its service sector, especially the poor and underprivileged families.
In 1989, due to the need for the offering of more relevant curriculums, the BSIE Program was phased out and the BSED curriculum with major in HET was offered. Due to the need of various schools for more industrial education teachers of which only DHVCAT is the sole producer, the College decided to reoffer BSIE and BSIT major in Shop Technology courses in 1992.
In the expansion of the graduate programs, the Doctor of Education program was offered in the second trimester of Academic Year 2002 – 2003 in consortium with the Bulacan State University.
To provide students with a broader and stronger general education that will lay the foundation for critical and analytical thinking in all fields of specialization, the Institute of Arts and Sciences was created by virtue of Board Resolution No. 4 s. 2007 dated February 22, 2007. Effective first semester of AY 2007 – 2008, the following additional programs were offered Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with majors in Marketing and Economics, Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship, Bachelor of Science in Fine Arts and two ladderized programs: Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology and Bachelor of Technical Teacher Education. In the Laboratory Training Department, the Special Math and Science Program was added to the regular Basic Education Curriculum and offered initially in the AY 2007 – 2008.
With initiatives coming from all members of the academic community and ably led by the former President Ernesto T. Nicdao, the former Pampanga representative, Congresswoman Andrea Domingo passed a bill in 1993 in the House proposing the conversion of DHVCAT into a state university to be called as Don Honorio Ventura State University (DHVSU). This move was pursued by former Congressman Oscar S. Rodriguez converting it into Don Honorio Ventura Technological State University (DHVTSU). This did not materialize because of the calamity that hit the College starting in 1991 with the eruption of Mount Pinatubo. The second wave of trial was felt in 1993. Eruptions and lahar flows rendered Bacolor a ghost town but teachers and administrators of the College did not abandon DHVCAT. The flame to serve never stopped and the torch of education stayed as warm as ever. Amidst tests, be it human or natural, its strength, excellence and power are here to stay to serve poor but deserving students in Pampanga and in nearby provinces.