educNEWS
VOL. I NO. 11 / NOVEMBER 2012
THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Why is Connie happy? The story of one of the ‘Happiest Pinoys’
The K to 12 Basic Education Program See Infokit inside
Thank you, partners DepEd recognizes LGU and private partners for their continuous support to education.
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brother’s brew
A country ripe for change
Fellow Filipinos, whether you believe me or not, tonight we started a revolution. If you’re not yet convinced, I ask you not to sleep but look outside over the city and see the flickering lights that invite every Filipino to dream something big for the country. And if the lights are dimmed tonight in the city, might as well be invited to look at the stars at night and see your particular role in a country that is just ripe for change. I do not imagine any other time in the history and in the journey of our people when change is right in front of us. The economy is doing excellently. There is a core group of civil servants who are serious and sincere in changing the course of Philippine history. It is our time, it may not come back again. I thank our superintendents, this first batch, the first generals that were trained, who have been invited to start this revolution. The Department is not only the biggest bureaucracy. It is also one that has the capacity to change history. I invite you to think about your own autobiographies, which I hope you will write, and recognize that you have a choice. You can do business as usual and perhaps get promoted but allow history to continue to be what it is, allow the Philippines to be the lagger of Asia, allow our people to seek their dreams outside of the country after they graduate. But you can also choose neither, not only for yourself but also for the country. Every revolution starts within. It is not my part of the story tonight but I’d like you to ask about the story of the orchestra that you’ve just heard - young people with big dreams. If you understand where they came from, where their music emanates, you will know what I mean. Individual dreams can only come about if we come together in orchestra fashion and work as a team. I have no doubt that, if we were to sustain the reforms in education, it will have to start with a group of Superintendents. It is in your hands that we leave not only the future of the Department of Education but also the future of the country itself. I invite you tonight to tear the report cards of the past decades that have perpetually put the Philippines and education at the bottom end of the list of countries in Asia and in the world. 2│
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I invite you to wage the revolution and cry freedom not only for yourselves, not only freedom from corruption, not only freedom from ignorance but also freedom for a country that has perpetually sought a dream that was there but we will never ever reach. That dream is in your hands tonight. Give me 50 generals who will fight with us up to the farthest island schools and we will be able to wage this revolution. Believe in the depths of your heart that you have been called to this special mission. There is no other place to start this revolution except in this Lopez Center. If you do not believe me, look outside over the city, and you will understand that this is a place for dreams, but this is also a place to make dreams come true. I thank Dr. Oscar Lopez, Mrs. Connie, the Lopez Group for allowing us to dream big and to allow that dream to happen. I thank AusAid, our single biggest and longest serving partner in the Department of Education, one that has always allowed the Department to chart our own programs and dreams for ourselves and the long years of partnership with AusAid. Thank you to the Australian Embassy, Minister Councilor Elaine Ward for allowing the department and for believing in the department, despite the bad public image that perhaps was there when you started working with us. I thank my former home, De La Salle University, for allowing the Department of Education to be part of the vision to build this nation again. I thank St. John Baptiste De La Salle. At least in the Catholic tradition, he’s the patron of all teachers. And my personal hope is that the engagement with De La Salle University will allow John Baptiste, a pioneer in a revolutionary education itself, to make a dent in the history of revolution and education in the country. Thank you very much classmate, batch mate, partner, Ms. Rina Lopez and Knowledge Channel – Ms. Rina LopezBautista, for those informal meetings over coffee, only coffee, that allowed us to dream small but it was a dream and a first step that became big. And with these partnerships, I’m very, very confident that we have a roadmap and we will be able to change not only education, but also Philippine history and future generations of Filipinos. My assignment, find out about the story of this Orchestra of the Filipino Youth – young people who can create music. If you would know their story, you will know what generals can do when they go back to the troops and join the field. Let me end by inviting all of you for a simple toast. Kung tayo po ay maaaring tumayo, mangyari po lamang na ating itaas nang may pagpupugay ang ating mga kopita: Mga kapwa Pilipino, para sa kataas-taasang pangarap ng bawat batang Pilipino na makapag-aral at mapagyaman ang kanyang likas na biyaya mula sa Diyos, para rin sa kagalanggalangang katipunan ng mga guro at namumuno sa edukasyon na naniniwala na mayroon tayong papel para sa pagbabagong ito, para sa ating rebolusyon, KKK para sa ating lahat, isa pong pagpupugay. November 2012
contents
educNEWS EDITORIAL TEAM ANNA CRISTINA M. GANZON editorial adviser
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MARIBEL P. CABASAL associate editor MELINDRE B. EGLORIA FLORELYN B. MORADA LEMUEL C. VALLES LAWRENCE D. CRUZ JASON O. VILLENA staff writers
02 brother’s brew A country ripe for change 04 editorial Why teachers are among happiest Pinoys
LEMUEL C. VALLES creative editor
05 feature Let’s make agri-fishery education sexy
ELINETTE B. DELA CRUZ layout artist
06 feature Why is Connie happy?
JASON O. VILLENA graphic artist
08 banner story LGUs continue to invest in education
EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION DIVISION EDUCATIONAL AUDIO-VISUAL DIVISION photography
10 K to 12 The K to 12 Basic Education Program Infokit
EducNews is published monthly by the Educational Information Division Office of the Secretary DepEd Complex, Pasig City.
15 pluma ng diwa Dito ‘ko masaya
Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. About the cover
Laguna Governor Jorge Emilio Ramon Ejercito, Biñan Mayor Marlyn Naguiat and Pagsanjan Mayor Girlie “Maita” Ejercito pose with Sec. Armin Luistro during the LGU Thanksgiving and Recognition Rites at the DepEd Central Office. November 2012
educNEWS
VOL. I NO. 11 / NOVEMBER 2012
THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Why is Connie happy? The story of one of the ‘Happiest Pinoys’
The K to 12 Basic Education Program See Infokit inside
Thank you, partners DepEd recognizes LGU and private partners for their continuous support to education.
R FO T LE NO SA
EducNews welcomes contributions from the DepEd community. Materials may be submitted to the Educational Information Division, Room B-110, Ground Floor, Bonifacio Building with telefax number (02) 6341169 or email eid.deped@yahoo.com.
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editorial
Why teachers are among happiest Pinoys
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ased on the 2011 Inventory on the Public School System, there are 3,741kindergarten teachers, 354,719 elementary teachers, 148,988 secondary teachers and 49,530 locally-funded teachers all over the country.
Teachers look ordinary but their task is extra ordinary. We expect them to perform their duties not only in the classroom but also in the community. And with nary a complaint, they oblige. In times of disasters, our teachers are the first to show up to prepare the classrooms as evacuation centers. Many put aside their own woes and issues -- injuries, damaged homes and grief-to take care of their students and the needs of the community. Teachers also take center stage during elections to safeguard the sanctity of the ballot. And in extreme situation, some teachers even deliver the task with their own lives. Remember Nellie Banaag who met her death as an election officer in Taysan in Batangas. Teachers are likewise expected to integrate in their lessons a slew of education projects and programs such as health and nutrition, environment, disaster response, arts and sports contests, among others. The challenge is much more difficult for the Special Education (SPED) teachers who guide students needing unique and special attention. Their mission: to make special children realize that they can be who they want to be even if the rest of the world thinks otherwise. Some of our teachers even have to climb treacherous hills and mountains, cross raging rivers and hanging bridges for hours on end to make a difference in the
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lives of alternative learners. They deliver education in the remotest areas of the country, making them easy prey to lawless elements. Teachers are sometimes seized as human shields or held for ransom. Indeed, many of our teachers have been tortured and mutilated mercilessly. In 2000, the headless bodies of teachers Dante Uban and Nelson Enriquez were found in Basilan. In 2009, the Department suffered another blow with the discovery of the decapitated remains of school principal Gabriel “Bong” Canizares, 36, who was kidnapped in Patikul by suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf. Though frequently underestimated, our teachers silently forge on to
make our stay in the classroom special everyday. Their dedication and patience are simply remarkable. A teacher’s expansive heart seems to shine the brightest during the most difficult times. No wonder, their accomplishments are the target of various prestigious award-giving bodies such as Metrobank’s Outstanding Teachers Awards,” the “Many Faces of the Teacher” by the Bato Balani Foundation Inc., the “10 Happiest Pinoys” search by Cebuana Lhuillier. Of the ten national winners of the recent search for 10 happiest Pinoys, 4 of them are teachers. Is it not an affirmation that there is happiness in making generations of learners happy?
November 2012
feature
Let’s make agri-fishery education sexy by Lemuel Valles
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he Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) have teamed up to further improve the implementation of the program offerings in agriculture and fishery education.
In a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between DepEd Secretary Br. Armin Luistro FSC and DA Secretary Proceso Alcala, the two parties have forged a mutual agency collaboration effort by combining their resources and sharing their expertise and facilities so that the 126 agri-fishery tech-voc schools can better serve students who choose agriculture and fishery as their preferred livelihood. “Dapat baguhin natin ang imahe at bigyan ng buhay ang agri-fishery schools. Vision must start from each school to ensure agricuture and fishery will be major contributors to national development,” Secretary Luistro said during the forum on agricultural and fishery education held on October 9. As stipulated in the MOU, the DA has committed to facilitate the provision of training and technical knowhow to tech-voc agricultural and fishery secondary school administrators and teachers on the modern agriculture and fishery practices. “Maganda ang magiging implikasyon ng memorandum of understanding sa pagitan ng DepEd at DA sapagkat ang technical assistance na matatanggap ng aming eskwelahan ay makakatulong upang mapaganda ang instruction ng fishery education sa mga estudyante,” said Gerry Batalla, principal of Bataan School of Fishery. DA will as well provide material resources such as seedings, fingerlings, fertilizers and other resources such as farm tools and small farm equipment for the development of demonstration and experimental farms, breeding stations and plant nurseries. “Sa pagtutulungan ng DepEd at DA, magiging showwindow na ang mga agri-schools at maeenganyo na ang mga bata na pumasok sa mga agri-schools dahil hindi na lamang ordinaryong tech-voc school ang makikita nila. Upgraded na ang mga tools and equipment, maganda na ang mga November 2012
experimental farms, mas magiging madali na ang pagtuturo at mas masaya ang pag-aaral,” Ulysses Daquioag, principal of Jones Rural School, said. The agriculture department will also offer scholarship grants to deserving high school students and scholarship graduate programs for selected tech-voc department heads and teachers on agriculture specific and fisheryoriented courses in selected institutions such as UP Los Baños, Mindanao State University and Central Luzon Sate University. Agriculture Secretary Alcala said that the agri-fishery school heads must cooperate well with DepEd and DA in order to achieve the goal of strengthening and improving agriculture and fishery education in the country. “Natutuwa po ako sa partnership na ito between DepEd and DA dahil ang gusto po namin ni Br. Armin is to make agri-fishery education sexy. Our agri-fishery tech-voc schools will have a complete make-over with the provision of trainings on modern agriculture and fishery, and upgrading of tools and equipment in farming and fishing. Mas makaka-eenganyo tayo ng mga bata na pumasok sa agri-fishery school, ” Secretary Alcala added. The MOU is aligned with the Kto12 Basic Education Program with the objective to develop the skills of students in technical and vocational education.
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‘10 Happiest Pinoys’ awardee
Why is Connie happy? by Maribel Cabasal
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oncepcion “Connie” Tababa, 57, is one of the winners in the search for “10 Happiest Pinoys” this year. Connie’s track record as a teacher for 28 years in the formal and alternative education has won praises from many. Why was she chosen?
Connie shares functional literacy, livelihood skills and life lessons to rebels, indigenous peoples and out-of-school youths and adults in the hills of Tubungan, Iloilo. Her routine includes a 23-kilometer walk to the farthest barangays to help her learners finish the equivalent of elementary or high school in their own time, at their own pace, and as close to their barangays as possible. Classroom for her are rundown houses and old buildings. Despite the teaching conditions, Connie finds joy in her job.
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A friend to all Initially, the rebels, the tribes and the jobless were not interested in education. “Wala daw panahon, mahirap na daw matuto at tama na raw ang ganung klaseng buhay,” she recalls. Pero pumayag din sila at nadala sa aking pangungulit,” she chuckles. “Para masunod ko ang itinakda nilang oras at araw, nakitira ako sa kanila sa bundok, malayo kasi kung uuwi pa ako sa amin. Kung ano ang kinakain nila, kinakain ko rin…minsan dahun-dahon, minsan naman adobong palaka o ‘pangka’, she says. “Tinuruan ko rin silang magluto ng embutido at mga gulay,” Connie adds. In the process, Connie became a friend to her learners. Word of her non-traditional teaching style spread, and since then, she was accepted in the hills. “If you really want to get something done, you can, someway, somehow,” Connie shares. Connie teaches basic writing, reading, math, values education, responsible parenthood and livelihood
skills. “Pag ALS graduate na sila, kailangan magpatuloy sila ng pag-aaral sa regular school system o maghanap ng trabaho upang makapamuhay ng marangal.” Connie’s persistence has led some people to change their perspective in life. There is a former member of the New People’s Army (NPA) who surrendered, studied under her guidance then became an employee of the local government of Tubungan. Before long, another rebel-learner turned his back on the organization and now works as a welder in Zambales. Other former rebels are now into small business ventures in the community.
Jobs here and abroad But Connie’s major effort is the employment of 380 ALS graduates in Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, Papua New Guinea and Kuwait as welders, painters, carpenters, masons and electricians. The latest addition is the TESDA-accredited graduates who are November 2012
Concepcion “Connie” Tababa is driven by her husband to Barangay Cadapdap, Tubungan, Iloilo for another day of learning and fun.
now employed in Korea (8), Dubai (78), Qatar (79) and Malaysia (69) as construction workers. Her linkages with the local government, the Philippine Army, the church and some recruitment agencies have paid off. “Tumatawag ang local firms sa akin kapag may hiring sila. Meron kaming databank ng graduates namin kaya madali silang maihanap ng trabaho,” she narrates. “Tinutulungan ko rin ang mga learners sa paglakad ng kanilang NBI clearance at pasaporte. Kung kumpleto na ang mga papeles nila, binibigyan sila ng Tubungan Employees Development Cooperative (TEDCO) ng seminar para makautang sila ng 40,000 hanggang 50,000 para sa kanilang placement fee sa napakababang interest,“ she says. Connie also gave the Sulod tribe a chance for a better life through education. She is delighted that a member of the tribe is now a barangay secretary and two have become teachers. Numerous families have increased their monthly income from 10,000 to 25,000 because of the newfound jobs. “Ngayon, nakakahingi na ako ng gamit sa aking mga graduates para sa aming community learning centers (CLC),” she says. At present, November 2012
Tubungan has 10 CLCs in its 10 barangays. A CLC serves as a reading and recreational center and a venue for livelihood skills trainings, seminars and literacy classes.
BAOL goes international Among Connie’s ALS programs, her Barangay Aid On Literacy (BAOL) mostly gained commendation. BAOL, a Kinaray-a term for treasure box, is a travelling library consisting of modules and locally-produced materials delivered to the house of learners by two facilitators. After three days, a new set of modules and learning materials are placed in the BAOL for another round of lessons. “At first, skeptical colleagues warned me that parents would not be interested in BAOL,” Connie recalls. She personally talked to families, knocked on their doors, introduced herself, talked about the program, and everything else fell into place. The BAOL program is now done in 10 depressed communities of Tubungan. It has since been replicated in the municipalities of Anilao, Concepcion, Ajuy, Cabatuan, Igbaras, Miag-ao
and Tigbauan. Other places like Tagum, Davao, Cadiz, Cadiz City and Binalbagan, Iloilo City also adopted the program. Adding to the sweet recognition is BAOL’s replication in Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste. Working for the education and employment of Connie’s learners took many months to arrange, keeping many nights away from her family. She felt a little guilty of her work schedule. Her children needed to see more of her, and she needed to see more of them. But it wasn’t possible then. “Ngayon naiintindihan na ng pamilya ko ang aking trabaho,” she says. Connie is married to Vinicius Tababa, a retired policeman, and her three children are now professionals- a police officer, a military officer and a psychologist. An ALS coordinator only gets modest salary and allowances, but she continues the good work anyway. Connie says: “Hindi basta pera lang, kailangan may puso ka sa trabahong ito… at kaya ako masaya kasi masarap ang pakiramdam ng tumutulong.” Connie was a finalist in the Metrobank Foundation 2007 Search for Outstanding Teachers and an honoree in the Bato Balani Foundation’s “The Many Faces of the Teacher 2011.”
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banner story
LGUs continue to invest in education by Lawrence Cruz
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he Department of Education (DepEd) recently recognized the local government units (LGUs) for their continuing support to education in a ceremony led by Br. Armin Luistro at the Bulwagan ng Karunungan DepEd Complex, Pasig City.
The recognition comes with a Gabaldon school replica made by acclaimed artist Napoleon Abueva which was received by 23 governors and 104 mayors in the thanksgiving and recognition program organized by the Adopt-a-School Program Secretariat. Br. Armin mentioned the significance of the event because it is the first time that DepEd is honoring more than a hundred LGU executives for their exceptional contribution in narrowing down education resource gaps. “We are very thankful for the continuing enthusiatic response of LGUs in our
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call for them to invest in education,” Br. Armin said. The LGUs honored were chosen for using their Special Education Fund (SEF) in helping public schools in their respective provinces and municipalities. “The first batch of LGUs that were awarded allocated at least P2 million of their SEF for classrooms, sets of tables and chairs, armchairs, blackboards, sets of computers, other technology support, direct assistance to students and teachers, learning support, assistance given to reading and feeding programs and other infastructure like toilets, handwashing facilities, school stage, fence and drainage,” Romeo Granadozin, Project Assistant of Adopta-School Program said. One of the awardees was Quezon Governor David “Jayjay” Suarez whose accomplishment include funding for the construction and repair of schoolbuildings, construction of completely furnished computer laboratories and day care centers,
and the Serbisyong Suarez Scholarship Program which is presently catering to over 5,000 students. Among the governors, Bulacan Governor Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado topped them all by investing 685,500,229 for education. “So far we have constructed 1,405 classrooms and we have signed an agreement with Division Superintendent of Bulacan Edna Zerrudo for the provision of 1,942 more classrooms, so we still have 537 classrooms on the way. Aside from this we also made provisions for school furniture and school supplies for our students,” said Governor Alvarado. Another awardee, Tagum City Mayor Rey Uy, was recognized for making and distributing school facilities nationwide through the Care For School Chairs (CFSC) program. “The CFSC fabricates school chairs, desks and tables from confiscated illegal logs turnedover by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and distributed by the city government to November 2012
Quezon Province Governor David Suarez, Taguig City Mayor Ma. Laarni Cayetano and Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim receive a replica of the Gabaldon building from Br. Armin Luistro and Undersecretary Rizalino Rivera during the Thanksgiving and Recognition program for LGU executives at the Bulwagan ng Karunungan on September 27, 2012.
the schools in the country. Tagum City has provided three classrooms, 13,004 armchairs, 3,875 desks, 404 tables since the program started August last year,” Uy said. Mayor George Ricardo Gacula of Taytay, Rizal spent 18,031,000 for the construction of school buildings, purchase of lots, repair and maintenance of schools, procurement of books, equipment and school furniture and the provision of school vehicles. “Ang lahat ng 18 elementary schools at isang annex elementary school sa Pag-asa, Taytay pati ang pitong pampublikong high schools ay kinakalinga ni Mayor Gacula. Kung may kailangan ang school, tinutugunan agad ito ni mayor,” said Billy Ines, executive secretary of Mayor Gacula. According to Ines, “Taytay had only one school before Mayor Gacula’s term, now Taytay has seven goverment high schools through the initiative of the mayor, Congressman Joel Duavit and Rizal Governor Junjun Ynares.” Aside from LGUs, the department also recognized the support of individuals and private corporations who donated to public schools through the Adopt-A-School program. November 2012
Let’s hear from our our readers EducNews is very informative and an innovative newsletter that is a unifying enabler of all schools in the Philippines. Congratulations on the Educational Information Division’s endeavour. God Bless. Christopher Raj Anthony Director, COLUS Sdn Bhd Petaling Jaya,Selangor Darul Ehsan EducNews is very informative. It updates the readers on various accomplishments of the Department of Education. It inspires students to emulate the achievements of other students. Congratulations to the Educational Information Division for a worthy project. Dr. Lucila F. Tibigar Professional Lecturer IV, New Era University Executive Vice President, Foundation of Outstanding Professional
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Dito ‘ko masaya Ang aking propesyon ay may kahirapan maliit ang suweldo madalas pa’y kulang. Mahirap man ito na maunawaan ngunit ligaya ko’y dito natagpuan. Kapag namamasdan mga batang musmos kahit pa makulit at wala sa ayos. Nadaramang tuwa sa puso ko’y lubos at tanging misyon ko sila’y mapagtapos. Salitang kuntento’y dito ko nakamit at pagiging guro’y di ko pagpapalit. Kahit pa maghapon kapiling ko’y paslit hindi magsasawa’t hindi maiinip. Ang sarap pakinggan na tawagin kang mam tila kakambal ng salitang paggalang. Ang galak sa puso na nararamdaman ay nag-uumapaw at walang pagsidlan. Hindi masusukat ng laki ng sahod na maging masaya’t panatag ang loob. Di baleng maghapon sa trabaho’y subsob basta’t pakiramdam ay kalugod-lugod. Ako’y isinilang upang maging guro ang aking tadhana ay sa pagtuturo. Di matutumbasan kahit pa magkano ang kaligayahan dito sa’king puso. July 2012 November 2012
Paliwanag ng Tula Marami ang nagsasabi na kung marami kang pera ikaw ay masaya. Hindi ito ang kaisipang nais ipahiwatig ng tulang ito. Batay sa tula, ang kasiyahan ay nakakamit kung tunay mong minamahal at kinagigiliwan ang iyong trabaho, kahit maliit ang iyong sinasahod kung ang bawat sandali naman nito’y nagbibigay sa’yo ng kasiyahan walang anumang halaga ng pera ang makakatutumbas dito. Tulad ng mga gurong patuloy na sinisilaban ang sulo ng mga mag-aaral na kanilang tinuturuan at sinasanay sa pagharap sa kanilang kinabukasan. Silang mga guro na sinasalubong ang bawat araw na may ngiti sa kanilang mga labi at tinatapos ang maghapon na may pananabik sa paparating na kinabukasan. Tunay na napakapalad ng isang tao na nahanap na ang kanyang kasiyahan hindi sa mga materyal na bagay na nauubos at nawawala kundi sa mga bagay na nakatutulong sa kapwa lalung-lalo na sa ating mga kabataan. Kaya’t sa tuwing maiisip ko ang alaala ng aking mga guro napapangiti ako’t nasasabi sa aking sarili “Isa ako sa libulibong estudyante na nagpasaya sa aking mga ulirang guro.”
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