DepED Usec: Duterte Admin to comprehensively develop schools nationwide

By Dennis C. Maestrado

“At the end of the administration of President Duterte, we can say that we have comprehensively develop all our schools nationwide.”

DepEd Undersecretary for Administration Alain Del B. Pascua stressed during the second Regional Management Committee Meeting held in CRAMS Conference  Hall on April 24.

Together with Regional Director Allan Farnazo, USEC Pascua conveyed to the Regional Mancom Family the government’s plans regarding education for the next five years.

Pascua discussed Deped’s aim to develop schools and answer the shortages of classrooms by building 47,000 classrooms on a 100-billion fund from 2018-2020.

On DepEd Computerization Program, Pascua elaborated that by 2022 each school will have a dedicated computer laboratory room and 100 percent internet connectivity to address the computer needs of the students and administrative functions of the school, citing that out of more than 46,000 schools in the country only 26 percent is connected.
To help monitor and facilitate reporting, he shared that the government is now developing a DepEd mobile application which is expected  for roll out by October this year.

“Yung DepEd mobile app, is a free application sa smartphones designed for DepEd and you can use this for reporting. We will make all the reports easy. There will be no need to use the computer and use the template. We will try to make reporting as easy as texting,” Pascua confidently explained.
The undersecretary is hopeful that these plans would be carried out successfully with the support of DepEd officials in the field.
Pascua commended Normin’s billeting quarter and the Senior High School Bazaar. 

As a response, RD Farnazo thanked the undersecretary and offered a symbolic token, a hand-woven silk of a women’s group from Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental.

Antique execs welcome NMRAA Delegation

By Clariza P. Catedral

The Local executives of Patnongon and Region Six DepEd officials welcomed the Normin Delegation at Col. Ruperto Abellon Sr. Memorial School (CRAMS) on April 21.

“Palarong pambansa is not only a convergence of athletes but it is also exchanging of best practices. Gold na gold na talaga kayo.  Even you are in the public school, it seems you are staying in a five-star hotel”, Roxas City Schools Division Superintendent Roel F. Bermejo emphasized in his welcome message.

CRAMS Principal Julia Magtiza also commended the efforts of region 10 especially in improving the school facilities.

Select students from CRAMS and teachers performed different dance presentations and song numbers showcasing the unique culture of Antique. Special delicacies and a variety of seafoods were also served to Normin delegates.

In his response, Regional Director Allan G. Farnazo lauded the support extended by the Antiqueños and he highlighted the significant stories of some athletes coming from region 10.

“I love people telling us that our billeting quarter is the best quarter in Antique but I tell you that our stories are better than this billeting quarter and the best accommodation. Dala namin  ang kuwento ng kabataang taga Northern Mindanao na nagsisikap sa  pamamagitan   ng Palarong Pambansa  na mabigyan man lang ng pagkakataon at puwang ang kanilang mga pangarap”, Farnazo said. 

The Comradeship Night ended with a toast of friendship headed by Sangguniang Bayan member Jeany Servillon, representing Patnongon Mayor Jhonnyflores Bacongallo.

Muros lights Palaro '17 urn

By Liezl Marie N. Bajuyo

Philippine Sports icon Elma Muros- Posadas converged with this year’s delegates through lighting the Palaro urn, leading the howling admiration of around 7,000 athletes all over the country during the Opening Ceremony.

Muros was recognized and was awarded “Palarong Pambansa Lifetime Achievement” by President Rodrigo R. Duterte and DepEd Secretary Leonor M. Briones.

The 50-year-old former Olympian hauled 15 gold medals in the Southeast Asian Games. Eight of those were won in the East Asian Games titles in the long jump at the age of 16 in 1983. These massive achievements cemented her place as the greatest athlete the Philippines has ever produced in Athletics.

Sharing the torch with Muros was a 21-year-old tennis player from the Philippine Team, Marian Jade Saldajeno Capadocia, a pride of San Jose, Antique. With a career record of 8-5 in singles and 10-7 in doubles, Capadocia reached her highest individual ranking in 2011, when she became the No. 1 tennis player in the Philippines.

Completing the bearers of the ritualistic urn lighting  one of the known Native ‘Tankers’ of Antique, the 12-year-old Gulliver Clemente. He is set to showcase his best strokes in swimming for this year’s 2017 Palarong Pambansa - 7 events in the elementary division.

The countless glory of track and field queen, Elma Muros-Posadas strengthened present aspirant, Marian Jade Saldajeno Capadocia, to harden determination in achieving greater if not the greatest in her event. As Marian slowly forges her name at present, the like of Gulliver Clemente and the rest of the contenders in the 2017 Palaro continuously work harder day and night to be named after the greatest Philippine athletes.

Ultimately, our present is a collection of an interminable past. What makes us victorious today is the labor of an intimate, goal-oriented history. And so, this year’s torch bearers are a clear path of the influence past can do at present- making a resounding history in the future.

NMRAA Palaro newbie outshines  athletics icon

By Kathleen B. Villarubia

Northern Mindanao Regional Athletics Association (NMRAA) first time Palaro athlete Jay Ann P. Labasano defeated 2015 record-holder Jie Anne Calis in a 3,000 meter run for secondary girls grabbing gold medal on April 24.

“Proud po ako kasi natalo ko po yung dating kasama ko sa NMRAA na minsan nagging record breaker,” said Labasano when asked about how she felt. (I feel so proud that I defeated my former teammate in NMRAA who was record-breaker.) 

Her win kick started the region’s quest for gold. 

Briones, Legarda grace ‘Pamahaw  sa Diyes’

In a separate occasion, DepEd Secretary Leonor M.  Briones together with Assistant Secretary J.H.S. Ambat and Senator Loren Legarda attended “Pamahaw sa Diyes” at Col. Ruperto Abellon Sr. Memorial School (CRAMS), Patnongon, Antique on April 24.

Pamahaw sa Diyes highlighted the formal opening of NorMin Senior High School Bazaar Exhibit, Unveiling Ceremony of Friendship Marker and a Fellowship breakfast for the dignitaries.

The Honorable Secretary Briones and Regional Director Allan G. Farnazo cut the ribbon of the exhibit which showcased the products of senior high schools across Region 10.

The visitors viewed the booths and spent minutes in looking at the products.  

The 7th Chord, a band composed of school heads and teachers of Misamis Occidental Division provided entertainment all throughout the program which delighted the Secretary.

A choir member herself, Secretary Briones sang a Visayan ditty, ‘Usahay’ with the band.

When asked about his impressions of Region 10’s billeting quarter, Western Visayas Assistant Regional Director Victor de Gracia said, “Very distinct and impressive decorations and the members of the delegation have a friendly attitude.”

Meanwhile, in another ceremony, Legarda who is an Antiqueña unveiled the Friendship Marker of the people of Northern Mindanao to the people of Antique.

“Sana, dito na lang ako. Ipapakansel ko na lang ang flight”, said the lady senator in jest as she hurriedly left CRAMS to catch a flight back to Manila.  

Duterte to athletes:This moment belongs to you

By: Algie C. Dela Peña and Dennis C. Maestrado

“There are things which I have to convey to you, sa inyo mga bata to which this moment belongs to you.”

This was the opening statement of the President Rodrigo Roa Duterte during his speech in the 60th Palarong Pambansa at Binirayan Sports Complex, San Jose de Buenavista City, Antique on April 23.

“To you I said to whom the moment rightfully belongs. You deserve the medals and the honors. Ang pagpapasalamat ko ay nandiyan for the participation and the spirit”, Duterte lauded the student-athletes who represented their region.

Duterte highlighted three things that he needed to pass to the youths - sense of responsibility, sense of discipline, and love of country. He underscored that it is a must that aspiring athletes possess such qualities as they are the future of this country.

“Education gets the lion’s share of government funding. Education will save us someday,” he further noted with high hopes as he discussed some issues of the government such as graft and corruption, terrorism and war on drugs.

Speaking to educational leaders and the public, Duterte stressed that his administration has allocated the biggest budget as to the goals of the Department of Education to mold the youngsters to have competitiveness, fairness, values, and a sense of goodwill as they will be soon to be mother and father of the country. He also indicated the need for the athletes to befriend each other while building their muscles, stamina, and physical being.

Duterte tagged his common-law wife, Honeylet Avanceña and daughter Veronica in Antique.

Other dignitaries who attended the Opening Ceremony were DepEd Secretary Leonor M. Briones, Sen. Loren Legarda, DPWH Secretary Mark Villar, Special Envoy for Overseas Filipino Worker Refugees Roy Cimatu and Antique Governor Rhodora Cadiao.

NMRAA heightens security awareness

By Dennis C. Maestrado 

Due to the successive tremors felt in some areas in Luzon and Mindanao, Normin delegation in collaboration with the host school, Col. Ruperto Abellon Memorial School (CRAMS) conducted an earthquake drill to increase the security awareness of the athletes.

Spearheaded by Regional Sports Coordinator Raymund S. Antolo, the management, coaches and athletes followed the drill procedures of the evacuation plan at 8:30 in the morning on April 13.

“Powerful quakes in Batangas with magnitude 6 and followed by a magnitude 5.5 in Bukidnon are very alarming. That’s why we have to prepare,” conveyed Antolo during an interview.

Furthermore, R-10 Medical Officer Vida C. Suganob, also expressed that it is important to remind the athletes on what to do and where to go during an earthquake, especially they are in a new environment.

The earthquake drill was part of the Normin delagations’ action to strengthen the security plans during the 2017 Palarong Pambansa with the partnership of Patnongon Local Government Unit (LGU), Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (MDRRMC), Philippine National Police (PNP) and Barangay Council.