1Vol. 6 No. 1 January - July 2016

In line with its mandated functions, the Curriculum Implementation Divi-sion (CID) set into motion its direction for the next three years by coming up with a clear road map on Managing the K to 12 Curriculum from 2016 to 2018.

Turn to page 13

NO LESS than His Excellency, then President Benigno S. Aquino III, appointed Federico Paldo Martin as full-pledged Schools Division Superintendent (SDS) effective January 28, 2016 pursuant to exist-ing laws.

Martin’s appointment letter was sent through fax from the Personnel Division of the Depart-ment of Education (DepEd)-Cen-tral Office on March 2, accom-panied with a transmittal letter signed by then Executive Sec-retary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. of the Office of the President of the Republic of the Philippines, Malacanang.

It may be recalled that then DepEd Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro officially designated Mar-tin as Officer in-Charge of the

Office of the SDS of Benguet on September 5, 2014. Then DepEd-CAR Director IV Ellen B. Dona-to subsequently installed Martin during a stormy morning of Sep-tember 15, 2014 so as not to ham-per the delivery of basic education services after then SDS Nancy G. Lumbas retired from service.

Martin, who hails from Ka-bayan, Benguet, rose from the ranks starting as Teacher, Head Teacher III, Elementary School Principal I, Education Supervisor I for Science in Benguet then took and passed the tough Superinten-dents’ Test and the Career Execu-tive Examination.

Prior to his designation to head the Schools Division Office

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CID unveils 3 year roadmap

Preparatory measures ensure successful opening of classes

SDO family celebrates Martin’s promotion

Senior High School begins

AS A RESULT of the early prepara-tory measures instituted, the open-ing of the school year 2016-2017 in the different schools in Ben-guet went smoothly including the opening of the Senior High School (SHS) Program amid some minor problems which were immediately remedied in the school level.

Reports from field monitor-ing by different teams from the Schools Division Office (SDO) that participated in the Oplan Ba-lik-Eskwela revealed that all pub-lic schools started their regular classes on June 13 with no serious hitches or untoward incident not-ed.

The smooth class opening was made possible through the institutionalization of the Nation-al Schools Maintenance Week or Brigada Eskwela on May 30-June 4 that mobilized thousands of parents and other volunteers for the preparation of classrooms and other physical facilities ready for the school opening.

In the case of schools offering the SHS program, the SHS Moni-

toring Team of the SDO compris-ing Curriculum Implementation Division (CID) Chief Rizalyn Guznian, Education Supervisors Samuel Ayangdan and Macarthy Malanes and Senior Education Program Specialist Virginia Ba-satan visited 43 high schools as early as April this year to assist them in their preparation for the opening of Grade 11.

Despite the unfinished con-struction of several school build-ings, which is beyond the control of the schools and the SDO, the schools concerned remedied the situation by temporarily utilizing their libraries, science laboratory rooms, multi-purpose rooms and other available buildings to make sure that classes for the SHS are accommodated while contrac-tors were urged to fast track the ongoing construction of building projects.

The SDO also intensified its continuous advocacies on the SHS last Summer like those con-ducted in Tinongdan, Itogon and in Kabayan led by Schools Divi-

sion Superintendent Federico Martin and CID chief Guznian.

There were also 126 new teachers for the SHS who were deployed since June in the dif-ferent schools offering SHS after they were hired from the SHS Registry of Qualified Applicants who underwent the proper selec-tion process as per DepEd Order 3-2016. Out of these new teach-ing items, there were 31 Teacher I, 59 Teacher II, 19 Teacher III, 5 Master Teacher I and 12 Master

Teacher II. As of June 17, data from the

Planning Section showed there are 2,956 students who enrolled for Grade 11 in the 45 public high schools in Benguet with Benguet National High School in Wangal registering the highest Grade 11 enrolees of 750 followed by Tub-lay School of Home Industries with 291 students and Loo NHS in Buguias with254 students.

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SDS Federico P. Martin leads the discussion during the “Forum on the K to 12 Program” held June 1 at the Tinongdan Multi-purpose Hall, Tinongdan, Itogon, Benguet.

BENGUET AWARDEES. The awardees from the Schools Division of Benguet pose for pos-terity with former DepEd-CAR ARD Estela L. Carino (5th from left) who was then the chair-person of the Regional PRAISE Committee, SDS Federico P. Martin, OIC ASDS Nestor L. Bolayo, CID chief Rizalyn Guznian and EPS Sylvia Rimban after the DepEd-CAR Award-ing Rites for Regional Winners at the R-NEAP HALL, DepEd-CAR Compound, January 17. The Schools Division of Benguet got a sizeable share of the regional awards through Georgina Ducayso (2nd from left), Best Performing Secondary School Head; Joseph Da-ganos (left), 2nd place-Best Performing Education Supervisor; Glenn Duguis (not in pho-to), 2nd place for Best Performing Non-Teaching Personnel; and Teresita Madinno of Loo ES, 2nd Place as Best Performing Elementary School Teacher. In the same ceremonies, Loo ES in Buguias headed by Herminia Osting (2nd from right) was awarded as the Best Performing Elementary School in the region while Lepanto NHS headed by Merlin Con-chita De Guzman (3rd from left) got the third place as Best Performing Secondary School.

January - July 2016Vol. 6 No. 1

2Vol. 6 No. 1 January - July 2016 NewsBenguet gears for contextualized curricula

First Advanced Mass Training for non-teaching staff held SDO family...from page 1

IN LINE with the Indigenous Peo-ples Education (IPED) as one of the features of the K to 12 Pro-gram, SDO-Benguet through the CID has been embarking on the contextualization of the curricula from Kinder and Grade 1 for start-up implementation this school year 2016-2017.

Since March this year, the CID started series of workshops involving community elders, teachers, school heads and su-pervisors as they looked into the community competencies that could be interfaced with the DepEd-prescribed learning com-petencies.

The first workshop was conducted March 13-18 at the SDO Adivay Hall participated by elders and IPED coordina-

tors from each of the 14 districts who joined forces with the Public Schools District Supervisors and learning area Education Program Supervisors.

The next workshop was held May 11-13 and on May 16-20 at the Brentwood Apartelle, Bagu-io where teacher-representatives joined the group as they started crafting sample indigenized les-son plans for Kinder and Grade 1.

After the series of workshops, CID Chief Rizalyn A. Guznian and Division IPED focal person Sasha Joseph Daganos led the PSDS and EPS in evaluating the workshop outputs. After series of brainstorming sessions and collaborative sharing, the CID listed the approved indigenized

learning competencies or indig-enized learning objectives which became the reference points for the preparation of contextualized lesson plans.

Lately, DepEd-CAR con-ducted regional workshop for the contextualization of the grade 7 curriculum. Like in the case of Kinder and Grade 1, the process of contextualization would be followed when those involved would work on a contextualized grade 7 curricula this September.

Guided by the framework that the Ancestral Domain is the source of learning and wisdom for indigenous peoples’ commu-nities, contextualization of the curriculum begins by looking into the community competen-cies suited to each age group such

as those children ages 5-6 who are now in Kinder and Grade 1 in the modern education setting.

As learned during the Re-gional Contextualization Work-shop held January, the CID-led workshops started from the concrete analysis of life cycle in agricultural and mining commu-nities in Benguet. From the com-munity life cycles saw elements of Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices (IKSPs) which are worthy for consideration in cur-riculum indigenization.

The endeavour, though very tedious, aims to attain a cultur-ally sensitive and relevant educa-tion so that “our identity as indig-enous peoples would not be lost in the pits of oblivion.”

– Mac Malanes

La Trinidad, Benguet - With the theme “Leading and Managing Transitions in Strategic Human Resource Organization”, 244 non-teaching personnel, levels I and II, both from elementary and secondary covering the 14 schools districts including the SDO proper, gathered for the first time on May 12 - 16 on what was dubbed as the biggest gathering of non-teaching personnel.

The conduct of the Advanced Mass Training for Non-Teaching Personnel was held on the prem-ise of its Rationale presented by the proponents headed by Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Fed-erico P. Martin, CESO VI, where-in the Department of Education captured in its Vision and Mission the significance of continuous im-provement.

The SDO Training Team served as resource speakers where Day 1 at the Benguet Cap-tiol Building II started with an opening program, followed by a Pre-Test conducted by Education Program Supervisor for Physical Education Warden A. Baltazar, Video on Team Building setting the minds of participants by SDS Martin, sharing on the Program to Institutionalize Meritocracy and Excellence in Human Re-source Management (PRIME-HRM), by Division HRMO Susan CJ Dawang, a program of the Civil Service Commission, a video on “The Difference Between Man-

agement and Leadership” by SDS Martin, Transformational Leader-ship by Chief Education Supervi-sor-Curriculum Implementation Division Dr. Rizalyn A. Guznian, Video on Levels of Leadership by Medical Officer III Angeline F. Calatan and Basic Communica-tion by Education Program Su-pervisor for Filipino Macarthy B. Malanes.

Day 2, also at the Capitol Building II, brought the partic-ipants viewing a video on Basic Management Functions and Fay-ol’s Principles by Dr. Martin as well as video on General Super-vision of HR, Conflict Manage-ment (Grievance Procedures) by Administrative Officer V Glenn N. Duguis, Conflict Manage-ment(Administrative Procedures) by Attorney III Nover B. Sing-gangan, Financial Management by Budget Officer III Florinda C. Pagoy, Continuous Improvement (Innovation) by Chief Education Supervisor-School Governance and Operations Division Lucio B. Alawas and ending the day’s chal-lenging topics is on Myers Briggs Type Indicators (MBTI) by OIC-Asst. SDS Nestor L. Bolayo.

Third and fourth days were spent for practicum, immersion in work stations, churches, homes, community, private entities and preparation of outputs. Day 5 for submission of outputs,critiquing and post test by Education Pro-gram Supervisor for Mathematics

Wilfred C. Bagsao.The objectives of the training

included among others for the participants to: learn, unlearn, and re-learn principles to meet the Service Quality Standards vis-a-vis the Voice of the Customers; adhere strongly to the principles learned to initiate and sustain positive and harmonious rela-tionship; continuously improve in terms of job competencies and be-havioral parameters; align mental model with the vision and mission of DepEd; and manage stress and pressures demanded by the job.

It is worth mentioning that three personalities from DepEd - Central Office who were in Ben-guet for their immersion activity namely: Mesdames Blanquita Do-lores D. Bautista, Chief Adminis-trative Officer-Communications Division Public Affairs Service, Elisa A. Cruz, Internal Auditor III at the Personnel Division and Blanquita D. Bautista, former As-sistant Secretary, DepEd Meralco also participated actively in the training and wowed the organiz-ers headed by Dr. Martin for com-ing up with such laudable activity for the non-teaching group. For-mer Asec Blanquita observed the participants as enthusiastic, eager, excited and fulfilled.

This training is an integral part of project EAGLE (Electroni-cally Assisted Guidance and Lead-ership Education).

-Sue CJ Dawang

of Benguet, Dr. Martin was the Assistant Schools Division Super-intendent of Baguio City.

Dr. Martin was earlier as-signed as Officer In-Charge of the Office of the Assistant SDS of the Division of Mt. Province in 2007.

Martin was also appointed as CESO VI by President Aquino ef-fective August 6, 2015.

Upon learning the appoint-ment of SDS Martin, SDO Ben-guet family members were in cele-bratory mood last March 7 as they feted the superintendent with a simple program immediately af-ter the flag raising ceremonies, which was organized by the Pub-lic Schools District Supervisors (PSDS) and District Coordinat-ing Principals, Human Resource Management/Personnel Section and SGOD-Social Mobilization.

Aside from song numbers from the CID group of PSDS and Supervisors, SDO singers sang the superintendent’s favorite songs.

The occasion was also an av-enue for thanksgiving to God as well as a belated celebration for Dr. Martin’s birthday.

In response, SDS Martin thanked everyone for the cele-bration as he said that promo-tion actually“comes from above, the Almighty” so any one who is promoted should serve more with utmost humility.

“The higher we go, the low-er we should be,” SDS Martin stressed.

– Sue CJ Dawang

3Vol. 6 No. 1 January - July 2016News

OCD-CAR launches “DRR for Kids” Project

1,170 examinees pass ALS A&E test

SocMob leads GAD activities

Tuba tops Oratorical Contest

LA TRINIDAD, BENGUET – Taking advantage of this year’s Brigada Esk-wela theme, “Tayo para sa Paaralang Ligtas, Maayos at Handa mula Kinder-garten hanggang Senior High School”, DepEd-Benguet and Office of Civil Defense-CAR (OCD-CAR) strength-ened its partnership by joining forces in advocating disaster preparedness among students through the launching of the “DRRM (Disaster Risk Reduc-tion Management) for Kids” project of OCD-CAR.

One hundred seventy expect-ant pupils, parents, teachers and barangay officials converged in the covered court of Buyagan Elementa-ry School in the morning of June 2 to witness and take part in the activity. They were not disappointed as the an-imated facilitators engaged them with games related to disaster prepared-

ness during typhoon and earthquake. One of the highlights of the

program was the presentation of OCD-CAR’s action icon on Disas-ter Preparedness - Kapitan Alerto - who provided basic tips for children on how to protect themselves in the event of strong typhoons and earth-quakes. Whistles were also distribut-ed to the pupils after explaining its importance in calling for help during emergencies.

Moreover, DRRM magazines, leaflets and posters, duck-cover-hold (DCH) earthquake response sten-cils and painting materials, includ-ing school supplies donated by SM Foundation, Inc. were turned over to the division office and the school as accepted by Lucio B. Alawas, Chief Education Supervisor – SGOD, and Josefa Belleza, School Principal.

At least 1,170 dropouts, out-of-school children (OSCs), out-of-school youths (OSYs), out of school adults (OSAs) and inmates are given another oppor-tunity to receive their academic diplo-mas after they passed the Alternative Learning System (ALS) Accreditation & Equivalency (A&E) Test adminis-tered on April 16 and 17 in three test-ing centers in Benguet.

The 1,170 qualifiers are accumu-lative passers in the following testing centers: 1) Bureau of Jail Management and Penology/Benguet Provincial Jail (BJMP/BPJ) as extension testing center listed 10 inmates who hurdled the secondary level out of the 11 who took the test; 2) Benguet Nation-

al High School (BeNHS) recorded 28 elementary passers out of the 54 registrants. Likewise, 864 passed the secondary level out of the 1,420 test takers; and 3) Loo

National High School (LNHS) testing center recorded nine elemen-tary passers out of the 24 test regis-trants and 259 passers in secondary out of the 582 test takers.

The 37 elementary passers in Benguet are qualified to enroll in pub-lic or private high schools if they opt to finish their basic education.

Similarly, the 1,133 secondary level passers are qualified to enroll

Turn to Page 17

By Rodriguez L. Belino

The Social Mobilization and Net-working under the School Gov-ernance and Operations Division (SGOD-SMN) spearheaded sever-al activities in relation to Gender and Development (GAD) Pro-gram since January of this year.

Among the GAD-related activities include the organiza-tion of GAD Focal point System in the SDO and the schools last January, the celebration of Wom-en’s Month in February and the conduct of a two-day Enhance-ment Training-Seminar on Gen-der and Development, which was conducted by batches involving 108 SDO personnel last April 26-27 and April 28-29 at the Al-al-inao Mountain Resort, Naguil-ian, La Union.

During the Women’s Month celebration bannered by the theme, “Kapakanan ni Juana, Isali sa Agenda” the following

activities were undertaken: read-ing competition, on the spot slogan contest, conduct of sym-posium and the participation of SDO-Benguet in the grand pa-rade in March 8.

In related development, the SGOD-SMN kicked off SDO-Benguet outreach program after it obtained equipment and medicines from I-Benguet in London, United Kingdom as well as shoes for the athletes courte-sy of IDA Agunos and company thru Bong Cayabyab.

Books, school supplies and clothes were also raised and distributed at the Tikey Cama-nggaan Elementary School in Bokod last February 13, which coincided with the eco-tour in Bokod, Benguet.

– with reports from May-claire A. Jimenez

A Grade 8 student of Tuba Central National High School bested other five contestants to emerge as the champion during the Division Or-atorical Contest on the Promotion of Legal Adoption Awareness held July 1 at the Division Office Confer-ence Hall.

Lhea Anayasan, coached by Ma. Theresa A. Curisay, got the nod of the five board of judges enabling her to represent Benguet during the Regional Oratorical Contest on July 7 at the DepEd-CAR Regional Office.

Blessy Grace Juan of La Trinidad National High School, coached by Josephine Tomilas, settled for the second place award followed by Christine Cadao of Alejo Pacalso Memorial NHS-Main in Itogon, coached by Alma

Willy, as third placer.The participants from the

other districts are: Xyra Mae Baa of Madaymen NHS, Kibungan, coached by Maria In-inot, Rich-mael Salazar of Loo NHS, Buguias under the tutelage of Emily Libon and Flora May Pasi of Sablan un-der coach Lorna Abad.

Bearing the theme “Legal na Ampon Ako: Anak na Totoo” the oratorical contest was the counterpart activity of DepEd in the continuing campaign to raise awareness on legal adoption.

CID Chief Rizalyn Guznian chaired the Board of Judges with Education Supervisors Joseph Daganos, Francis Peckley, Macar-thy Malanes and Librarian Melvin Alfredo as members.

- MBM

Buyagan ES learners are mesmerized as Kapitan Alerto (KA) makes his appearance during the “DRRM for Kids” program conducted by OCD-CAR in partnership with DepEd-Benguet. KA embodies every kid’s dream to become a hero which can be made possible by having the right knowledge on preparedness against disasters/emergencies. –photos and caption by Nerissa Barbosa

The smiles say it all. DepEd-Benguet’s OIC-ASDS Nestor L. Bolayo (left), OCD-CAR Director Andrew Alex H. Uy (right) , and Buyagan ES Principal Josefa Belleza (back) proudly present their commitment hashtags to DRRM during the DRR for Kids activity at Buyagan ES, La Trinidad on June 2, 2016. –photo and caption by Net Barbosa

by Nerissa Barbosa

4Vol. 6 No. 1 January - July 2016

EditorialCountless blessings

While the mainstream media is daily counting those killed in the Duterte administration’s bloody war against drug and criminality, the Adivay Newsletter in this issue bears witness to the countless blessings being received and experienced by the Schools Division of Benguet since January this year.

For one, the efforts to provide basic education services to the different schools in the 14 schools districts in Benguet are replete with inspiring stories, which are actually ‘blessings’ if one is to look at these from a positive perspective. To the mainstream media, these stories we value may just be con-sidered ordinary events that would not “sell” to the public taste. But contrary to the dominant public perception that idolizes the culture of negativity and putting more interest on violence and other negative events, something positive is actually happening in the other side of the fence.

On the part of well-meaning educators and public serv-ants, such undertakings as provision of quality basic educa-tion to the younger generation of Filipinos, the sacrifices of teachers and stakeholders, the preparation of schools, the support to education and among others actually outweigh the negative events that dominate the news today. And this what the Adivay Newsletter is all about. It aims to channel good news and information from the basic education sector in or-der to encourage rather than to discourage and to empower rather than to marginalize those who have faith in the power of education to transform lives.

This paper received various reports showing positive de-velopments in the different schools. Most of these tell about accomplishments, programs implemented, and the efforts of school heads, teachers and parents to better serve the learn-ers. To be honest, there are also struggles and challenges be-setting our schools and offices but these should not hinder our learners from accessing the best education possible to prepare them for the future. Take for instance the cases of un-finished buildings for the Senior High School or the delay in the delivery of learning materials, which are beyond the con-trol of the schools. Instead of complaining and rely on a wait-see development, our schools implemented immediate rem-edies such as temporary use of libraries, laboratory rooms, barangay halls, community multi-purpose buildings, among others so as not to hamper the smooth opening of classes.

We consider all these reports from the field and from the different offices as success stories. In other words, these are stories of the ‘countless blessings’ we experienced and continue to experience. We therefore have great reasons to be thankful because our great God has always been with us. After all, we owe everything to Him. And our part as public servants is to do the right thing at all times because we be-lieve doing things right always yields right results. -MBM

SDS CornerFederico P. Martin,Ed.D.,CESO VI What the term “administer” truly means

“Silent water runs deep,” so they say! Can an ordinary word run deep too? Depending on the Mental Paradigm of rational beings, an or-dinary term can certainly be understood at different depth levels and such understanding can affect the world because one author asseverates that word creates worlds. Now, consider the word “Administer”. It may be a very com-mon term but deep within the term lies secret implications. Spiritual Quotient (SQ), which is higher than the Adversity Quotient (AQ), Emotional Quotient (EQ) and Intelligence Quotient (IQ), provides the deepest meaning. The word ‘administer’ came from the root word minister. Minister means acting as a missionary who is controlled by Christ-centered conscience. When a teacher is controlled by Christ, his conscience is covered by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, he feels guilty if he does not teach accordingly. He may commit some mistakes in his teaching but his conscience will immediately lead him to repentance and rectification. With this, strict supervision would not be necessary because each teacher knows that he is a missionary with Christ as the genuine supervisor. If this happens, increase in pupil performance is inexorable. Likewise, the behavior of the learner will improve. Nothing can replace a committed heart. The affix “ad” attached to “minister” refers to the school head. He may facilitate the progress of the school or may lead to its deteriora-tion. He might even become a burden or problem for the teachers. School administrators must then be careful. It would be better for them to listen to James Naisbitt who said that “a modern leader is a facilitator, not an order giver.” Further, Getalado (2014), a Career Exec-utive Service Board lecturer, asserts that good leaders are not God-like but Godly. They are not Kingly but they belong to the kingdom. They are simple and simplicity is greatness. They do not fight with people but they fight for principles. If only such principles will be applied, school projects and pro-grams will end in glory. The above cited elucidation synthesizes the true essence of the word “Administer,” an ordinary term that runs deep!

Opinion

5Vol. 6 No. 1 January - July 2016

MIXED UP HOPE V.S. FEAR Lucio B. Alawas

Awards and RecognitionCONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

Action Researches Activating the School LAC

Opinion

Continuous Improvement must be the theme of all schools, learning centers, district offic-es and all section offices at the Schools Division Office in our effort to better serve our stake-holders. Clearly articulated in our vision “… as a learner-centered public institution, DepED contin-uously improves itself to better serve its stakeholders” CI puts feet to the heartbeat of our institution.

Our vision dictates and chal-lenges every teacher, school head, PSDS, EPS and every DepED worker to embrace CI as a way of life. It should start as a desire to improve followed by the will to joyfully work for it. Undoubtedly, CI drives us against our natural tendency to be satisfied with what we are doing, driven by the daily routine of activities.

To make CI work in our sys-tem, DepEd with the assistance of BEST, AusAid and other partner agencies developed the CI meth-odology (CIM). CIM continual-ly assesses, analyzes, and acts on the performance improvement of key processes focusing on both

customer needs and the desired performance. It follows the cycle - assess, analyze and act.

CIM encourages all of us to evaluate all our activities in terms of quality, efficiency and timeli-ness. Failure to satisfy our cus-tomers’ needs or fall short of ex-pectations should naturally cause us to identify possible cause/s, develop creative solutions and implement.

The preparation of this year’s enhanced SIP is based on the CI Methodology. Based on the school report card, the school planning team must do an in-depth analysis of its current situ-ation, identifying possible caus-es of shortcomings. This will be the basis in identifying solutions (these are the projects) to address the identified priority improve-ment areas and/ or to improve the different school processes like teaching-learning processes, school planning, school disburs-ing process, ranking and promo-tion, supervision, monitoring, staff development, etc.

DepED recognizes the importance of school-based con-tinuing professional development activities like the Learning Action Cell (LAC) in improving teachers’ competence resulting to improved learners’ performance. DO 35, s.

2016 requires all schools and learning centers to institutionalize the Learning Action Cell, a group of teachers who engage in collab-orative learning sessions to solve shared challenges encountered in the school facilitated by the school head or a designated LAC Leader. Thus, this process must be included in the school 3-year plan, under governance.

The implementation of this activity is an added support to the teachers’ effort in attaining their objectives in the implementation of their IPDP.

* * * * * * * * * * * *And, why are we doing these?

To better serve our stakeholders.

The conduct of action researches, a mandate not only in our schools but also at the division level, is an-other stratagem to continuously improve our systems and process-es.

DepEd Order 39, s. 2016 of-fers us a menu of researches to be conducted in all levels. For the past years, an average of 8 school-based action researches were implemented in the whole division annually. This implies the dearth of researches in our ranks. With the trainings attended by our teachers and school heads, the challenge is to actualize the knowledge gained evidenced by the increase of research outputs. These research results become the bases of implementing interven-tions and policy recommenda-tions.

We believe there are many unsung heroes out there who choose to keep a low profile. Oth-ers opt not to be in the limelight though they are doing something for the welfare of our children. But how could we further moti-vate these people to continue their good deeds? Or how could we let others emulate them?

As part of the existing Pro-grams on Rewards, Awards and Incentives for Service Excellence (PRAISE) of the Schools Division Office, the Curriculum Imple-mentation Division (CID) wants to recognize schools, learning centers, teachers and employees who made significant contri-butions in the realization of the DepEd vision and mission in their “own way and in their own terms” or in making a difference in the lives of our learners.

Included in the Division Annual Implementation Plan (DAIP) and in the CID Road Map as specified in the Action Plan for 2016, the CID is conducting a division-wide search for out-standing teachers in most of the learning areas with the elementa-ry and secondary level as having separate category. There will also be a search for the best curric-

ulum implementers among our schools including our ALS learn-ing centers. Most outstanding supervisors, from among the EPS and PSDS, and most outstanding CID personnel will also be recog-nized. This is one way of further motivating everyone to strive for the best. We know that good deeds will always be rewarded at the right time and place.

As planned, schools and dis-tricts shall conduct their searches within August. District winners each in the elementary and sec-ondary category shall be sub-mitted to the Division Office on August 26, 2016. The Search Committee will validate and eval-uate the entries from September 5-16, 2016 as the Division Win-ners will be recognized tentative-ly on September 29, a day before the major program for the Ben-guet Teachers’ Day Celebration. The recognition ceremonies will also be a time for showcasing the best practices of schools, winning teachers and employees.

We expect a lot of fun and success stories to be shared as we begin the search. And may we all be further inspired to make an impact in preparing our children to “help build this nation.”

Rizalyn A. Guznian,Ed.D

EditorialBoardThe Adivay Newsletter

Editorial Board and Staff

Rizalyn A. Guznian Lucio B. Alawas

Macarthy B. Malanes Francis F. Peckley Wilfred C. Bagsao Susan CJ Dawang

Sharon AnguraNerissa I. Barbosa

Warden A. BaltazarJoseph Sasha L. DaganosSamuel S. Ayangdan Sonia B. DupaganSylvia J. Rimban

Consultants:

Federico P. MartinNestor L. Bolayo Glenn N. Duguis

Contributors: Erlinda Quinoan, Rodriguez Belino, Kristine Rodriguez-Madalang,

Josan Sagantiyoc, Georgina Ducayso, Lorna Wallit, Corazon Molitas, Nestor Dalay-on, Daniel Peredo, Jonathan Lagan, Doroteo Cadley,

Frida Pantaleon, Fernando Bagayao, Lilia Saguibal, Oiver Lucio, Rose-marie Colas, Imelda Mang-usan, Gerald Salda, Joy Padsico, Gennie Ballasio, Claire Felipe, Claire Agpawa, Antonia Puyao, Bernadette

Taynan Molly Ablaza, Leah Calado, Nancy Pantaleon, Lorna Manuel, Sylveti Semion

6Vol. 6 No. 1 January - July 2016

FeatureBy Georgina C. Ducayso

impart knowledge and values to the children.

On the first day of the Brigada Week, more than 500 volunteers came to the school prompting the food and the resource mobi-lization committees to source out for more additional donations for food and materials. For the sub-sequent days, at least an average of 100 people per day rendered their voluntary works. The volunteers came from the government and private organizations, business sectors, religious sectors, parents and the alumni. Together, they helped transformed our school into a better environment that is safe, friendly and conducive for our school children.

The implementation of the program did not only improve the physical facilities of the school but developed a sense of community among the education stakehold-ers. It reminded us of our re-sponsibilities and commitment to improve our services for our chil-dren who are our country’s future.

The experiences during the preparation, implementation and evaluation of the Brigada Eskwela tested the leadership skills among the employees especially the school head, department heads and the coordinator. But above all, brigada opened the door for us and our stakeholders to continue collaborating for the sake of our children.

It is a worthwhile endeavour to be a part of the Brigada Eskwela. I would like to acknowledge sup-porters for the time, resources, expertise and efforts they shared in the implementation of our Brigada Eskwela Program. Their donations and voluntary works materialized as we were able to generate P600,000.00 for the repair and maintenance of our school fa-cilities.

The teachers, non-teaching staff and the school head of Tub-lay School of Home Industries, with their goal of fully preparing the school before the opening of classes enthusiastically organized the different committees as early as January this year. Planning was done and a meeting was called for the parents to choose what com-mittee they would want to join.

The Resource Mobilization Committee made early arrange-ments to identify possible donors and volunteers which is one of the reasons why our school was able to solicit a promising amount that was used for the improvement of our school. The committee mem-

bers, however, experienced rejec-tion and disappointment when they went around following up the solicitation letters. They nar-rated that one identified donor said, “Sorry, we do not accept so-licitation in this establishment.” Of course they were embarrassed but this experience did not stop them from sourcing out for more donations. We know that this kind of person is only one among the many who have benevolent heart and charitable attitude.

Despite that disheartened experience, they continued rov-ing until they came across with a manager of a business establish-ment who informed them that they are also offering tutorial services to students with difficul-ties. She mentioned that they can also assist the school in sourcing out books and reading materials for our students. The group was delighted because they did not expect such reaction from a busi-ness minded person who has the passion to help other people. This scenario reminded the teachers not to give up their aspiration to

The impact of Brigada Eskwela

While teachers could be wondering where their students are, many par-ents on the other hand, believe that their children are religiously enter-ing their classes.

Absenteeism, bullying, cut-ting classes, and poor academic performance among others are the problems that confront school ad-ministrators, guidance counselors, parents, and teachers alike.

These happen only in city schools, one might say. But schools in rural areas are not spared from these.

A student wearing complete uniform asks for an allowance and after hugging his mother, happily set out for school. However, the child had extra clothes neatly fold-ed in the bag and along the way, that student changed clothes then went somewhere else with a friend.

One of the performance in-dicators where most schools fail is in the dropout rate. High dropout rates could be attributed to many factors that include mismanaged students’ misdemeanors, peer pres-sure, problem classmates, teachers,

and even in the fami-ly.

Five years ago, I worked with a teacher who does home visits. In one of these cases, she targeted a student who had been getting ab-sent regularly, in a sense that the student got absent once or twice a week. The teacher teaches Values Education, a guidance counsellor- designate and at the same time, the class adviser. Together with two student teachers, they went to the student’s house. Luckily, the moth-er and the student were home. They learned that the mother was aware of her son’s activities but she could not do anything. The grade seven student needed to earn money for the family. He sold peanuts and quail eggs inside buses traversing the Quirino High Way.

The mother also shared that she could not work because she has to attend to her baby and the father has another family.

In school, the child is a prob-lem because of his absenteeism, but to her mother, his son is helpful and industrious.

In the same school, a male teacher was wondering why four of his students are always late. These students are from families of farm-ers who could not afford to rent boarding houses near the school. Farmers in some municipalities are low-earning as compared to the farmers along Halsema Highway. The teacher has encouraged his stu-dents not to be late as much as pos-sible but to no avail.

Sometime in October of that school year, a student’s father died. When the teacher attended the wake, he happened to see the place where these students were coming from. It was five kilometres away from the school by radius but it was about seven kilometres away when you walk the foot trail following a terrain of 45 to 60 degrees winding down the mountain. With that ex-perience, the teacher gave the stu-dents specially designed activities for them to cope with their lesson.

When teachers visit their stu-dents either planned or by chance, they generate clear profile of their students. These profiles help them design output or performance ac-tivities that would help and address the needs of their students better without compromising the learning

standards and learning competen-cies.

Student A, a grade 10 stu-dent who was staying away from her parents, asked permission from her adviser via sms that she would be absent for three days for medical consultation in the city. The moth-er confirmed that her aunt in the city will accompany student A to the doctor. Unfortunately, the three days got extended to five days. Her teachers inquired about her where-abouts via SMS and student A con-vincingly replied that she would be attending her class the following day. They also reported to her moth-er. The following week, the father and mother ended up searching for her their child in the city but they did not see her. Her aunt reported that student A left their house after the check-up. Fortunately, one stu-dent reported to the school that she saw student A in one of the beauty parlors in La Trinidad.

One of the teachers dropped at the parlor based on the descriptions given. Student A was staying with a female college student whom she met through “text-clan.” Allegedly, text-clan had been used by adult

Turn to Page 8

Home visit, anyone?By Gerald A. Salda

7Vol. 6 No. 1 January - July 2016

FeatureLesson Plan

Pioneering Our Brand of ChasmpionshipA story that We Can Use

By Lorna Vicente-Wallit

By: Roy S. Onil Jr., BNHS- Daklan AnnexBy Lorna Vicente-Wallit “Begin with the end in mind” – Ste-

phen Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

We weren’t that lucky, we were just well prepared. We reaped the fruits of the efforts that we have sown when we embraced change and ensured ourselves a well ad-justed mindset. That end of selling to all our stakeholders the K to 12 program goals and objectives, like opening the Senior High School level with utmost enthusiasm, paid off. We are heading to the right path.

The results were better than what was imagined, projected, and planned about 2 years ago when the school started preparing for its opening of the senior high school program. When the school admin-istration started the collection of data and consultations with stu-dents, parents, teachers and other stakeholders about track offering/s, today’s results about the decision of having General Academic Strand turned out to be as it was projected out of the data. The 2 weeks enrol-ment period, June 16 – 27, 2016, received 360 junior high school students and 68 senior high school students (Grade 11) where each grade level now have two sections. The grade 11 actual entrants are well within the projected 70 – 80 students based on the internal anal-ysis and early registration results. The expected feeder schools were from the nearby ICS - Bokod, Inc., our own junior high school com-pleters, TSHI – Ambuklao Annex, and nearby schools from Kabayan.

The classes’ opening day was

exciting and less stressful as was originally expected. Out of the 70 students who were registered in the enrolment, 69 of them or 99 % of them were present during the opening day and they all sustained this until Friday during their orien-tation with the parents. Only few of the parents did not attend the ori-entation, and that during such ori-entation they were assured by the school that there are not much of a problem with regards to senior high school implementation.

The school have no problems about classrooms. The grade 11 classes are held in two new JHS classrooms momentarily while their intended school building is under-going completion. The arrangement has been pre-planned with the oth-er junior high school classes.

The regular class schedule and classroom program of teachers have already been in place since there are no foreseen problems on class-rooms, teachers, and resources. These class programming allows the teachers to start their classes early so that they could meet and maxi-mize the 80 hour period per subject area in a semester.

The school administration and the entire stakeholders take pride in hurdling this step of the K to 12 implementation. Still with the vision of increased enrolment for the succeeding school years, the school continuously plan, prepare, and seek collaborative efforts to sustain our brand of doing and giv-ing quality service to our learners. We always start with the end in our minds.

Aesop’s story tells about a boy who stole a writing tablet from one of his schoolmates, and took it home to his mother. Instead of giving him a sound thrashing, she told him what a clever chap he was.

So, when he grew up, he be-gan to steal more valuable things, until one day, he was caught in the act and sentenced to death. Among the crowd that lined the road to the place of execution was his mother wailing and beating her breast, and obtained permis-sion to whisper one word to her. But rather, he seized in between his teeth and bit it off. He blamed his mother for not punishing him that day he went home with a writing tablet.

Being a mother and a teacher, I too would want my kids and pu-pils to be upright. But it is impos-sible to look over them every min-ute of the day. There will still be times when they will learn things and do things unusual or some-times acts that are unacceptable to standards.

The principle of reward and punishment to children most es-pecially to pupils in today’s gener-ation is being challenged as laws are enacted to regulate school policies, which have set the guide-lines of our profession. Some-times, these rules are neglected, put into writing yet often not ap-plied. Here and there are news

of teachers or pupils involved in issues regarding abuses and bul-lying.

Alarming as they seem, I still find this profession/calling as a journey to be savored each step of the way. Sometimes, things happen in our lives that cause us to stop and think about the things that really matter and the people who are really important. So, I am taking this opportunity to im-part my thoughts in writing as my way of slowing the world down and taking away some of the pres-sures-moments when demands of making a living take too much away from making a life.

This is my way of educating everyone not to take anything that doesn’t belong to them because I don’t want my children and my pupils one day blaming me for what they will become.

Let us then cultivate the fear of God, impress them on our chil-dren and on our pupils. In school, let us always find time to instill desirable traits to our pupils. In our hectic schedules plus the nu-merous forms to be accomplished and papers to be checked, let us still find a way to be with our pu-pils, to correct their wrongdoings at their young age. Let us talk about good characters when we sit at home, at school and when we walk along the road.

Life dictates what is and what’s not. This may sound as frustration when we are unable to attain our objective or something we fervent-ly planned. It has its own phase. At times, we wanted to capture and hide the painful reality of having two faces. We have every moment of wishing for a slow motion when life moves so quickly unnoticed like a day into a night.

I remember when my dreams were still written in my mind and I struggle every day to make the checklist complete with check marks. For I also believe that the greatest doers in the world are ever the dreamers.

There were those mo-

ments when life pain urges you to drop your weapon but your prayers were powerful enough to stop the storm, it is the most magical realization that you just reached the finish line.

Learning starts from our homes amplified by formal educa-tion. Once we enter the world of schooling, it is a cascade of events of knowing. From innocence to consciousness, from nothing to everything we become.

We all seem to thirst for change yet we never understood change itself. Then until now, teacher as a profession is under rated. Well, it’s never a debate of whose profession is the most no-ble? It is how well the job is done. All materials in this world we have may perish but the lessons we learn and acquire remain. The

best legacy that we are eager to pass on through generations. The best gift a hard working parent would be happy to receive.

It is not yet too late to value education, for it can carry us be-yond the valleys of our dreams. It creates a stream that brings us to all we ever wish-the best spot to-wards our horizons.

Wake up while you have the chances. See the changing light of education that comes from our values and priorities. It tastes so sweet, cool and revitalizing.

Decide now to place yourself under the dominance of one great teacher that we all know in Jesus Christ. Look well, therefore, to the significant time of accumu-lating knowledge- to store up evi-dences and to find out the answers to your questions about the vital

problems of life. We are all teachers mak-

ing the best lesson plan to teach, we draft our objectives and find the best time to make reality out of it- to share our high ideals and lofty purposes and to turn more dreamers with incalculable value. It is not just in songs that answers are in the laughter of the playing children, or in the argument of kids- it is a fact.

Often times they are un-complicated as the happiness of a child when given an ice cream. So let’s keep our youth in us, store up strength of body, mind and character. An energetic person is always ready to face challenges, climb mountains and cross riv-ers- this increases one’s supply of dynamism and control that leads to success in achieving one’s goal.

8Vol. 6 No. 1 January - July 2016

TSHI gears to produce more skilled learners Under the Senior High School Program

TSHI Automotive Class utilizing the Automotive Electrical Mock-Up. Senior students on their hands-on activities on automotive wiring installation and circuit.

Beauty Care/Nail Arts with Hand Massage Grade 11 Students SY 2015-2016

Tublay School of Home Indus-tries (TSHI) is a tecnical-voca-tional school that implements the Strengthened Technical-Vocation-al Education Program (STVEP) and adopts the Competency-Based Curriculum anchored on the TES-DA Training Regulations and a substance to the K to 12 curricu-lum.

Recognized to be one of the best technical-vocational schools in the region, TSHI was identified to offer the SHS Early Implemen-tation for School Year 2015-2016. The school is determined to pro-vide students with opportunities to acquire certifiable vocational and technical skills that would

allow broader options in pursu-ing their post-secondary career whether this is college education, short-term technical courses, en-trepreneurship or employment. To further realize the goal of pro-viding better opportunities for the students, the school is con-tinuously upgrading the tools and equipment including the shop rooms.

The teachers handling the technical-vocational specializa-tions are NC II or NC III hold-ers. These teachers also attended trainings related to their field of specializations and some attend-ed the Training Methodology Course.

One of the activities that was pri-oritized by the school is building linkages with the potential part-ners to cater the students for their immersion later. Most of these partners are alumni of the school who are successful in their busi-ness like automotive shops, furni-ture and cabinet making, beauty shops and eatery.

The business they are en-gaged in is actually the applica-tion of the specialization they had in their high school and two-year technical courses. This is one of the reasons why the administrator and the staff of the school are very supportive to the Senior High School Program

because they have seen the success of their alumni in the dif-ferent fields of business.

Despite of the many negative speculations about the program, the school administration and staff were not discouraged, but the more they were challenged to employ strategies like home vis-itation, LGU coordination and advocacy to the out-of-school youth, parents and the communi-ty until they were able to enrol 20 students in Grade 11 this school year.

“I stopped schooling for three years because I always felt bored attending classes but when Mr. Jerry Esnara, the Senior High School Coordinator explained to me the essence of K-12 program, I decided to continue my stud-ies. In my Grade 11 experiences,

I have learned many things that I know I would not be learning outside the school and I also ap-preciate my teachers for their pas-sion and efforts in teaching us,” said Joshua Quinuan, Grade 12 student in Computer System Ser-vicing.

Marjorie Pio, taking up SMAW said, “I am learning a lot from the teacher because he is always inspiring us to become a good welder and also reminding us the appropriate attitudes that we have to develop. With this inspiration from my teacher, my attitude in dealing with my class-mates and other people and my perspective in life was changed and enhanced for a better future.”

Ridalyn Todiano, also a Grade 12 student under Food Tech. said, “I experience difficulty in my academic subjects but I am challenged because I am learning how to cook”.

“The topics in the differ-ent subjects are upgraded that inspired me to learn more’, said Shadto Sinong, also a Grade 12 student.

“Senior High School is fas-cinating and challenging because it provides the students opportu-nities to hone their skills in the specialization they are taking”, said Fransiel Abol, also a Grade 12 student.

By Georgina C. DucaysoSchool Principal II, TSHI

News

child offenders to lure high school and college students. Apparently, some college students in La Trin-idad and Baguio City are inviting students from rural areas via SMS to be clan members. These clan members in the city will help other members without internet access to research for topics or assignments which are required in their schools. These downloaded topics will be sent to the concerned students via SMS or in hard copies.

Fortunately, student A contin-ued entering her class after a confer-ence by the guidance designate and the mother.

Home visits create a good im-age for the school. When teachers reach out for these students who are at risk, parents feel the care con-veyed. A single home visit ignites a spark that radiates throughout the

community especially when it is passionately done. In the long run, the community will give their sup-port to the school.

During visits, teachers are able to discuss with the student’s parents about their child’s performance in class and agree on how to improve it, and how to manage behavior problems, among others. Parents and students are also free to ex-press their thoughts because they feel secure in their own ground. The meeting is not too formal, unlike when they are called for a confer-ence in the school.

A teacher cannot save all stu-dents at risk, but it could matter to one of them. Eventually, a home visit that is done beyond what is required of a teacher, could lead to the realization of the mission and vision of DepEd. ###

Home Visit...from page 6

9Vol. 6 No. 1 January - July 2016

Carrot Man, Bagong Mukha ng Cordillera sa social media

YES-O ng PES, nagpakain ng lelot balatong sa mga bata

School-based INSET ginanap sa TES

Ginagabayan ni Ginoong Gorio ang mga guro sa kanilang pagsasanay sa computer.-Joey A. Padsico

Nagpakain nang libre ang YES-O para sa mga mag-aaral ng Paoad ES, Tublay.

Pagkatapos ng ilang taon mula nang namayapa ang tinaguriang kauna-unahang Igorot na artista sa Pilipinas na si Marky Cielo, isa na namang kababayan natin ang pumukaw sa atensyon hindi lang sa buong bansa kundi sa mundo ng internet. Isa sa mga sumisikat na personalidad sa social media sa ngayon ay ang binatang tubong Mt. Province, ang tinaguriang “Carrot Man” na si Jeyrick Sigmaton.

Dahil sa kanyang angking maamong mukha at kaaya-ayang pigura, siya ay ikinumpara sa mga sikat na artista maging sa mga dayuhang sikat na celebrities gaya nina Lee Min Ho ng Korea at Vic Zhou ng Taiwan.

Siya ay may milyong likes sa facebook at lumabas na rin siya sa ilang palabas sa telebisyon. Inilath-ala ang kanyang buhay at pinag-mulan sa programang “Kapuso

Mo, Jessica Soho” ng isang telebi-syon. Doon naisamadla ang kan-yang pinagmulan at buhay. Naging panauhin din siya sa “Wowowin” na isang variety show at mga ibang sitcom sa telebisyon.

Siya ay bumighani sa mar-aming netizens na pinagkagulu-han ang kanyang mga larawan na inaplod nina Edwina Bandong at Chee-nee de Guzman. Ayon sa ka-nilang pahayag sa facebook at mga ibang panayam, sila ay papuntang Sagada para magbakasyon nang

napadaan sila sa pinag-aanihan ng carrots ng binatang Sigmaton. Napansin nila ang matikas na pan-gangatawan sa kabila ng kanyang karaniwang ayos na nagtatrabaho. Palihim na kinunan nila ng litra-to si Jeyrick dahil nahihiya silang lumapit dito. At pagdating nila sa Maynila, ay inaplod sa facebook ang mga nakuhang imahe. Kala-unan ay naging sikat ang walang kamuwang muwang na binata hangang sa hanapin ng mga tau-han ng telebisyon para makap-anayam.

Si Carrot Man ay naging mukha ng Cordilleran, na sa kabila ng karukhaan ay patuloy na nagsu-sumikap sa buhay. Higit pa man sa kanyang kisig at tikas, ipinamalas niya ang pagiging masipag at pag-tatrabaho nang marangal para sa pamilya.

Siya ay tulad ng marami sa

mga kababayan na laki sa hirap ngunit patuloy na nagbabanat para makatulong sa mga gastusin ng kanyang pamilya. Sa katunayan ay huminto siya sa pag-aaral para mabigyang daan ang pag-aaral ng kanyang mga kapatid. Kahit na sa kanyang banat na pangangatawan at ilang taong natingga sa pag-aaral, masasalamin ang kanyang kagustuhang makatapos sa pag-aaral. Sa mga panayam na inire sa telebisyon maririnig ang kanyang matinding hangarin na umasenso sa buhay.

Tinagurian siyang mukha ng Cordillera dahil kanyang ip-inagmalaki ang pagiging Igorot at ipinamalas ang kaguwapuhan ng mga taga-highlands. Higit pa roon ang pagiging masipag, mapag-sakripisyo at marangal na ugaling isinasapuso ng isang tanyag na tao.

– Josan L. Sagantiyoc

TUBLAY, Benguet- Nagpakain ng lelot balatong ang Youth for Envi-ronment in School Organization (YES-O) ng Paoad Elementary School sa mga batang kulang sa timbang at sa mga nasa ikalawa at ikatlong baitang ng nasabing paaralan noong ika 17 -18 ng Di-syembre , 2015.

Ang pagpapakain sa mga batang kulang sa timbang ay isa sa mga programa ng nasabing organ-isasyon ngunit dahil sa sobra ang mga sangkap na tinipon ng organ-isasyon, isinali nang pinakain ang ikalawa at ikatlong baitang .

Pinamunuan ni Myrna G. Olante, tagapayo ng YES-O, ang pagluluto at paglilikom ng mga sangkap ng lelot balatong. Ito ay isang simpleng pagkain na kombinasyon ng malagkit, kala-basa ,monggo at gata. Ang mga sangkap na malagkit, monggo at gata ay mula sa mga matutulung-ing tagatangkilik ng paaralan sa-mantalang ang kalabasa naman ay mula sa Gulayan ng Paaralan na pinagtulungtulungangalagaan ng mga ika-lima at ika-anim na bai-tang.

-- Claire B. Agpawa

KAPANGAN, BENGUET- Natu-to ang 15 na guro sa tatlong araw na INSET tungkol sa paghahanda ng digitized learning material na ginanap sa Taba-ao Elementary School noong Mayo 24-26.

Inimbitahan ng TES si Gi-noong Romeo Gorio, guro sa Lepanto National High School na siyang naging tagapagsalita sa nasabing seminar. Siya ay magal-ing at bihasa dito dahil siya ay inatasan ng Dibisyon ng Benguet na lumahok sa pangnasyonal na seminar tungkol dito.

“Ikinatutuwa ko bilang tagapagsalita ninyo sa tatlong araw na seminar para ituro ko rin

ang kagalingang natutunan ko”, ani G. Gorio.

Inanyayahan din ni Bb. Evan-geline L. Pinong, prinsipal ng na-turang paaralan ang ilang guro sa karatig paaralan na maging ka-lahok tulad ng Pakawan at Cuba Barrio School.

Layunin ng mga guro na maging bihasa o magkaroon ng kaalaman sa paggawa ng digitized learning material upang maiang-kop nila sa kasalukuyang pana-hon ang mga paraan ng pagtuturo gamit ang teknolohiya na gagami-tin sa kanilang pagtuturo ngayong pasukan.

--Joey A. Padsico

Lathalain at Balita

10Vol. 6 No. 1 January - July 2016

NewsEducation leaders visit far flung schools

Bakun hosts 45th Jamboree Dance troupe perform during Bakun festival

KIBUNGAN, Benguet-- Hik-ing through rugged terrains, a combined team of educators from the Schools Division Office of Benguet led by Dr. Rizalyn A. Guznian, Chief of Curriculum Implementation Division (CID), and DepEd Kibungan District led by Pub-lic Schools District Supervisor Aladin Dobinto visited and monitored far flung schools of Tacadang, Kibungan and Kayapa, Bakun on January 19 – 22, 2016.

According to Dr. Guzni-an, the visit aimed to monitor the implementation of the School Base Management (SBM) grant, recruit out of school youths to enrol in the Alternative Learning System (ALS), inform teachers on the availability of learning re-sources by accessing online the DepEd -Benguet LRMDS website and portal, monitor the imple-mentation of the Learning Action Cell Session (LACS) on early lan-guage literacy and numeracy, and check the content of the schools bulletin & transparency board.

Dr. Dobinto added that the monitoring activity was not about finding fault as the monitoring team wanted to assist the teachers in their daily classroom activities.

The team thus provided ori-entation on the use of school

forms, lesson planning, test con-struction, and making table of specifications (TOS).

Apart from Dr. Guznian, the other participating members from the DepEd Division Office included Tito Bes-tre (EPS- ALS), Sonia D. Dupagan (EPS-Learning Resource), and Rodriquez Belino (ALS Education Program Specialist).

PSDS Dobinto led the Kibun-gan District members togeth-er with Joel Begseng (Principal I, Es-esa S. Alodos Elementary School), Margarita Baldo (Head Teacher I, Batangan Elementary School), and Doroteo B. Cadley (Head Teacher I, Sagpat Elemen-tary School).

Hiking by foot from Beyeng, Bakun passing through the rug-

ged mountains of Tagpaya and Oten in Tacadang, KIbungan, the team first arrived at the Es-esa Al-odos Elementary School and sub-sequently continued their hiking journey to visit Les-eng Primary School, Batangan Elementary School, and the Tacadang Nation-al High School. All schools are located in Tacadang, the remotest barangay in Benguet which could only be reached by several hours of hiking,

To reach more schools, the team agreed to be divided into two groups. Dobinto, Belino, Baldo and Cadley proceeded to Bekes Barrio School, the remotest school in Tacadang and to Naga-wa Elementary School in Kayapa, Bakun while Guznian, Bestre, Dupagan and Begseng went to

Lanipew Barrio School in Taca-dang and to Legab Elementary School in Legab, Bakun.

The two groups eventually met in Kayapa, Bakun as they vis-ited Kayapa Elementary School, Kayapa Annex High School and the Cadsi-Amuy Elementary School, also located in Kayapa.

After visiting the remotest schools in Tacadang, Legab and Nagawa, the team heaved a sigh of relief for they “were able to let these schools feel the presence of DepEd and the government.” The team likewise expressed gratitude to the teachers and parents who warmly welcomed them as well as the porters who helped them along the way.

– Doroteo B. Cadley

(Left photo)The monitoring team conducts exit conference at the Kayapa Annex High School. Right photo shows the team resting along the clean river in Lingey, Tacadang, Kibungan, Benguet. -Doroteo B. Cadley

BAKUN, Benguet-- Once again, Bakun District hosted the 45th Council scout Jamborette held in Barangay Poblacion here last Jan-uary 21-24.A total of 1,200 Boy Scouts, Senior Scouts, Roverettes, Rovers, and Scouters from the entire province participated except Kibungan whose supposed participants met vehicular accident a day earlier.

Upon arrival, the scouts and scouters were challenged by the distance and the terrain of the pathway, which entail hiking for hours. But thanks to a private organization for their tramline facility that helped transport the delegates’ luggage.

The host district welcomed the guests with a simple evening program. Bakun National High School Senior Scouts played the “tallak” and the Boy Scouts of Tal-bino Elementary School played the “tinaktakyad” while a song

was rendered by a Senior Scout of Ampusongan National High School that entertained the scouts and scouters in the camp. A din-ner was tendered to all troop lead-ers and adult leaders as well as the organizers, courtesy of the Mu-nicipal Government of Bakun.

Sctr. Rosita Samson, Regional Director for Northeastern Luzon Region, was the guest Speaker in the opening program. Meanwhile, the “Kab Palabas” presented by Bakun Central School and Tap-ayao Abiang Elementary School Kab Scouts highlighted the pro-gram.

Activities on this youth de-velopment and scouting activity focused on skills training such as livelihood projects which include ginger tea production, camote chips production, bracelet mak-ing.

Other special activities were Turn to Page...11

Ampusongan, Bakun-- The cultur-al dance drama group of Talbino Elementary School showcased its masterpiece during the opening day of the 80th Bakun Foundation Day with the theme “Sustaining the Culture of Unity Towards Pro-gress” on January 31, 2016.

Twenty-eight pupils from Talbino ES together with students from Palidan ES, Ampusongan ES, and Ampusongan National High School joined the teachers of the different schools as DepEd participants during the parade and opening program. Intermis-sions and ground demonstrations were rendered to entertain the au-dience.

In the afternoon affair, Tal-bino ES performers showcased

the dance drama, having been the contestants of the municipality in the Cultural Dance Drama Com-petition during the 2015 Benguet Adivay Festival.

Governor Nestor B. Fong-wan, one of the guest speakers, pointed out that “the people of Bakun should know their town’s history.”

He asked questions about Bakun’s history and gave prizes to those who answered correctly.

In related development, Tal-bino ES Principal Noeme M. Balangeg urged the teachers to continue integrating indigenous knowledge systems and practices (IKSP) in the teaching –learning process.

-Lilia B. Saguibal

by Oliver W. Lucio

11Vol. 6 No. 1 January - July 2016

NewsSDS Martin shares vital info during Bakun visit

Schools embark on SLAC sessions

Mayor vows support for SHS Bakun hosts...from page 10

BAKUN, Benguet--Schools Di-vision Superintendent Federico P.Martin enlivened the teachers, parents, pupils and other stake-holders when he visited Bakun Central School here last Febru-ary 8 as he shared updates on the K to 12 Program particularly the opening of the Senior High School as well as other important information relative to basic edu-cation.

Dr. Martin’s visit coincided with the community immersion program of the Provincial Gov-ernment spearheaded by then

Governor Nestor Fongwan in the form of medical services.

The superintendent also informed the public about the continuous support of the Local Government Units (LGUs) to the DepEd’s programs.

He said that the Benguet Provincial Government alone empowered DepEd to prepare the budget for the proper utili-zation of the Special Education Fund (SEF) based on priority needs.

Dr. Martin especially men-tioned that through the full sup-

port of the LGUs from the mu-nicipal to the division level, the Schools Division of Benguet sus-tained the overall championship in the Regional Schools Press Conference during the last four years.

As a core of his message, the superintendent shared the un-derlying best practices known as TEAM PLAY. This stands for Train, Educate, Advocate, Man-power development, People, Laying out plan, Acquire re-sources and Yes to K to 12.

According to him, TEAM

PLAY serves as guide in ensur-ing the success of any present educational program.

Meanwhile, governor Fong-wan reiterated his commitment for an open gym in the school which the superintendent open-ly supported.

While the program in the school was ongoing, medical teams from private and public hospital and clinics provided medical services benefitting 39 school children and 249 other individuals.

– Fernando C. Bagayao

KIBUNGAN, Benguet—The DepEd Kibungan District has embarked on a series of School Action Learning Cell (SLAC) sessions conducted per school where lessons learned during the Division-wide Seminar on Early Language Literacy and Numer-acy (ELLN) were shared to all teachers in each school.

Through the sessions, the mentor-participants had a like-ly first-hand observation to the best facilitators and demonstra-tors of ELLN because the lessons were on video. Best practices in reading strategies, class-room-based assessment tools and explicit teaching particu-

larly on phonological awareness and Alphabet knowledge were some of the highlights in the video-lessons.

The teachers were also shown the video presentation of Undersecretary Dina Ocam-po on the status of Early Grades Education. Other topics during the SLAC sessions included the Characteristics of the K-3 learn-ers, 14 Domains of Emergent Learning, 14 Domains of Begin-ning and Early Reading, Lesson Plan Walk Through, PHIL-IRI, Introduction to Children Lit-erature, Pre and Post Reading Strategies.

Based from observations

made by school heads, signifi-cant improvements were noted every after the SLAC session.

“The standards and outlook of teachers probably move up as they internalize significant information from the SLAC ses-sions,” noted one school head- observer.

While several schools in the district almost finished all the sessions, all schools would still sustain the SLAC sessions so that all the topics would be learned within this school year.

The SLAC sessions for all schools were undertaken as part of the continued engagement to improve quality instruction.

“In the face of knowl-edge-driven 21st century ELLN is a great leap forward in the field of education. It gives em-phasis on the role of oral lan-guage development in the early grades as a strong foundation to learning to read, write and do arithmetic,” reads the rationale of the undertaking.

“Effective learning begets good teaching and is achieved when the activities are well-planned and the experiences of the learners are continuously re-lated and interrelated into a larg-er, more meaningful and more inclusive pattern relations,” it added. – Jonathan C. Lagan

KIBUNGAN, Benguet—Mayor Ce-sar M. Molitas of this town assured the all-out support of the munic-ipal government to the different educational programs especially the implementation of the Senior High School Program in the three secondary schools here.

The mayor made the assur-ance after he was informed that only few students pursued grade 11 at the Madaymen National High School, which is currently offering the Accountancy Busi-ness and Management (ABM) track.

Mayor Molitas said that the town’s officialdom will look into how “they could help so that our parents would be assured of the provision of quality education by our secondary schools like in the case of Madaymen NHS.”

Kibungan NHS is offer-ing the General Academic Strand

(GAS) and Technical Vocational Livelihood (TVL) track- Car-pentry for the SHS which has 37 current grade 11 students while Tacadang National High School, which is offering GAS, has seven enrolees. Madaymen NHS initial-ly reported less than five enrolees for Grade 11.

In related development, Cur-riculum Implementation Division (CID) Chief Rizalyn Guznian together with Education Supervi-sors Macarthy Malanes and Sam-uel Ayangdan joined the stake-holders general assembly at the Kibungan NHS, July 3, to further convince the town folk to con-tinue patronizing the secondary schools in the town up to the SHS level.

Vice Mayor Aureiana Sacpa, Councilor Saturnino Tayag and Poblacion Punong Barangay Fer-nandez Bulangen together with

other barangay officials met with the education officials from the division office.

“We have the best teach-ers in Kibungan as evidenced by several alumni members who are now professionals and successful in their chosen fields. Tell your children to complete their sec-ondary education here so that you will continue to guide them while saving on supposed expens-es. They will soon go to the cities for their higher education if they will be matured enough,” Guznian stressed.

The CID chief added that the access of the future children to ba-sic education, including the SHS, must be the primordial consider-ation so the town folk should grab the opportunity now of strength-ening the SHS.

“If one school fails to open SHS now, as if we will miss a gold-en opportunity for the future,” said Guznian.

Jamborette pictogram t-shirt printing, learning how to play “tallak” and rice planting.

The scouts and scouters also toured the Mini Hydro Pow-er Plants, ancestral burial caves and explored the Nagasa Cave as highlights of the Eco-challenges.

With financial assistance from the Municipal Government, the Luzon Hydro Corporation to-gether with its sister company and in coordination and collaboration with the Local Government Units, Philippine National Police, com-munity people and other partner agencies, the biggest provincial scouting activity went smoothly and was concluded a success.

12Vol. 6 No. 1 January - July 2016

Best Brigada Implementers bared

DepEd LT District join LGU-led tree planting

Proper nutrition promoted

Civic group adopts Kabayan BS

After a month-long rigid selec-tion, eight schools were declared by the School Governance and Operations Division (SGOD) as the division winners for the 2016 Search for Best Brigada Eskwela Implementers.

Leading the pack of best implementers are the EXCEP-TIONAL schools that have been considered as “Hall of Famers” in the implementation of the yearly Brigada Eskwela (BE) or the National Schools Mainte-nance Week, a major activity un-der the Adopt A School Program that aims to prepare the schools

ready for the opening of classes. Loo ES in Buguias, headed

by Herminia Osting with Janet Gaewen as the BE coordinator, is the exceptional implement-er in the big elementary school category while Guinaoang ES in Mankayan headed by Cristeta Igualdo with Marieta Damoslog as the BE coordinator is the ex-ceptional implementer in the el-ementary small school category.

Benguet NHS, headed by Wilbert Cuidno with Winene-freda Domeres as coordinator, took the exceptional award in the big high school category

while Ampusungan NHS head-ed by Mildred Tuazon with Ner-issa Pecdasen as coordinator romped the exceptional award in the small high school category.

Celo Haight ES in Atok headed by Simon Backian with Vincent Depayso as coordinator was adjudged first place among small elementary school imple-menters while Lepanto ES in Mankayan, headed by Karen Te-gan with Michelle Ngala as coor-dinator, got the first place in the big elementary school category.

In the high school level, Tublay School of Home In-

dustries headed by Georgina Ducayso with Leoncio Baguling as coordinator was adjudged as first place among the big high schools while Camp 30 NHS in Atok headed by Mana Estakio with Dionisia Quintino as coor-dinator was declared first place winner among small secondary schools.

These exceptional schools and the first place winners will be the entries of Benguet for the Regional Best BE implementers.

– Mac Malanes with reports from Ceasar Lumaang

The Department of Education La Trinidad Schools District actively participated in the tree planting activity spearheaded by the La Trinidad Municipal Government at the Shilan Barangay Communal Forest on June 24, 2016.

The communal forest with an estimated land area of 44.4 hec-tares located at the western part of Shilan became the site of the tree planting activitiy which was also participated by the Department of Environment and Natural Re-sources (DENR), municipal gov-ernment employees and person-

nel from other agencies. Shilan Punong Barangay

Mariano Calusa expressed grat-itude to the participation of the different agencies in this tree planting activity, which is in line with the government’s National Greening Program (NGP) to re-store the nation’s forest cover.

Calusa further urged those who participated to follow up what they planted to ensure that these will grow even as he assured the barangay’s resolve to co-man-age the communal forest.

– Nancy M. Pantaleon, Ed.D.

KIBUNGAN, Benguet—The Sad-dle Elementary School of this dis-trict recognizes the importance of imparting proper nutrition to the pupils not only during Nutrition Month celebration but as a year-round integrated teaching endeav-our.

As part of this nutrition awareness promotion, two fourth year Bachelor of Science in Nutri-tion and Dietetics students from Benguet State University, Miss Esmin Marie N. Alawas and Miss Jona Mae La-ongan through Prof. Imelda O. Degay, came to this school last February 17, 2016 and lectured on proper nutrition to the Grade 5 and 6 pupils here.

The BSU students shared the importance of vitamins and min-erals needed by the human body while citing the negative effects in cases of deficiencies in vitamins and minerals.

While the lectures of these lady students served as their practicum, the school maximized their presence so as to emphasize to the pupils the practice of prop-er nutrition amid the availability of junk foods outside the school.

This school expects to con-tinue tapping other students from the BSU College of Nutrition and Dietetics in its year-round nutri-tion promotion awareness.

--Frida L. Pantaleon,Ed.D.

From being hospitable to being an adopted school!

Since five ago, a professor-led group adopted Kabayan Barrio Elementary School after the folks showed simple acts of hospitality.

It all started when Sir Ed-win I. Raagas visited Kabayan as a tourist. He is pleased with the simple display of hospitality he re-ceived. The school children in the school also caught his attention.

Being a teacher, he loves children and likes them to be a life-giving citizens of tomorrow.

After his memorable trip in the landlocked town, he contacted the School Head through phone calls and arranged the provision of various assistance to the school.

Together with University of the Philippines Professor Efren Domingo, among the donations Raagas facilitated to the school included raw materials for two-seat restrooms, two flat screen TV sets with DVD player, soft copies of instructional materials and construction materials for wash trough. As counterpart, the

school shared the aggregates from its MOOE allotment while the parents handled the labor.

Sir Ed, as he is fondly called, also partnered with other individ-uals like Roger and Marie-Josee Degreef Verbelen from Vilboor-de, Belgium, who donated school supplies and 60 arm chairs for grades V and VI pupils.

The group turned over the arm chairs during their memora-ble visit to the school last January 30, 2016.

Every start of the School year, Raagas distributes school sup-plies, serves snacks and lunch for pupils and teachers and showcas-es educational films.

He brings with him fellow professors from Saint Louis Uni-versity (SLU) and other volun-teers who are mostly his students to assist him in his undertaking.

In response, the parents were so please that they did the cook-ing and preparation of utensils during the visits.

--Corazon C. Molitas

Councilor Salvador Aroco, chairman of the Committee on Tourism of the Municipal Council, expresses gratitude to spouses Roger and Marie-Josee Degreef Verbelen from Vil-boorde, Belgium for donating armchairs for Kabayan Barrio School. --Corazon Molitas

News

13Vol. 6 No. 1 January - July 2016

MSWD-Kabayan intensifies Parent Effectiveness Seminar

DepEd technical adviser visits GBDAIS-Main

Senior Police trainees join Brigada

No less than the Senior Technical Adviser of the DepEd-Central Of-fice gave positive impressions on the start-up implementation of the Senior High School (SHS) Program of the Governor Bado Dangwa Agro-Industrial School (GBDAIS).

Mark Norman A. Maca, sen-ior technical adviser of DepEd-CO visited the school on June 16 together with Ceasar B. Lu-ma-ang, Education Program Supervisor of DepEd-Benguet Division Office to oversee the im-plementation of the SHS.

After a short conference with School Principal Jimmy D. May-os, and the different department heads regarding this year’s school plans, Maca and Luma-ang visited immediately the Grade 11 sen-ior high school students and had chance to speak to them.

Maca gave words of encour-agement to the students to pursue

what they have started while Lu-ma-ang, who happened to be an alumnus of the school, reiterated to them the importance of acquir-ing and developing different skills.

Both said that the newly en-rolled Grade 11 students are lucky to have chosen GBDAIS to pursue their senior high school because of the different courses offered particularly under the Techni-cal-Vocational-Livelihood Track.

Both visitors also spent min-utes to visit the different classes and met the classroom teachers of both the academic and techni-cal-vocational departments.

Before leaving the school, Maca left a very good impres-sion saying that he was impressed with the spacious laboratory area of the different shop rooms and also with the complete tools and equipment each course has.

– Genie S. Ballasio

KABAYAN, BENGUET-- Policemen undergoing Public Safety Senior Leadership Course actively took part in the Brigada Eskwela at the Kabayan Central School on May 16-20.

As part of their enhanced community immersion, the group comprising 54 Senior Police Of-ficer 2, six SPO1 and one SPO4, visited Kabayan and chose Ka-bayan CS as their immersion area through the initiative and lead-ership of Senior Police Inspector Ruel Dangos Tagel Jr. who traces his roots to Poblacion, Kabayan.

Headed by their class presi-

dent SPO2 Ruby Rose D. Pesase, the group spearheaded clean up drive activities; distributed of IEC materials; conducted lectures and workshops on BPAT and other voluntary works.

Teaming up with barangay officials, PTA , faculty and staff of Kabayan CS, the weeklong Briga-da Eskwela resulted to the paint-ing of the school building roofs and complete cleaning of the sur-roundings. School supplies were also distributed to incoming 60 kinder and grade 1 pupils.

- Edil Belting

KABAYAN, Benguet - The office of the Municipal Social Welfare and Development (MSWD) con-ducted Parent Effectiveness Sem-inar (PES) to all the Pantawid Pa-milyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and non 4Ps beneficiary couples of the 13 barangays on various dates of January to June 2016.

The seminar, which was funded by the LGU, is an inte-gral part of the several communi-ty-based programs of the MSWD. Here, parenting roles were made parallel to the changes in the na-ture and disposition of todays’ generation attributed to the non-stop technological transforma-tion. Hence, one of its aims is to

heighten parents’ awareness and understanding on the core of par-enting the children of the 21st century and its impact on growth and development.

The coverage of the semi-nar includes home management and budgeting, environmental consciousness, child growth and development, building positive behavior, understanding the ad-olescents, responsible parenting vs good parenting, child abuse, self-awareness and self-esteem among parents.

In the conduct of the ac-tivity, the MSWD Officer, Ms. Dolores D. Gayaso, involved the LGU Health and Agriculture of-

fices, represented by Ms. Lolita B. Ganase and Ms. Marlett Pechog, respectively.

Partner agencies include the Philippine National Office (PNP) with PO2 Margie B. Bangonan, while the Department of Educa-tion (DepED) was represented by Ms. Ursula M. Dalay-on, Guid-ance Counselor of Kamora NHS. She had been constantly tapped to represent the Education sector in the implementation of several MSWD community services and trainings since 2010 to 2016.

Ms. Dalay-on was given a Community Service Award on June 27, 2016 by the Ka-bayan-LGU.

The PES is one of the most commended programs of the MSWD considering the positive effect to the community people. Mrs. Julieta Cawaing, a barangay kagawad of Ballay who partici-pated said, “the program is one of its kind, an eye opener and how I wish it was given during my younger years as a parent so I applied it to my children”. On the other hand, an elder of barangay Bashoy shared, “It was very edu-cational hence, if possible. It will be conducted to all the sitios so more parents from remote areas will be benefited”.

- Nestor O. Dalay-on

Mr. Mark. Norman A. Maca, technical adviser from the Dept. of Education Central Office (second from right) and Mr. Ceasar B. Luma-ang, Education Program Supervisor of the Dept. of Education-Benguet Division (extreme right) paid a visit to the Gov. Bado Dangwa Agro-Industrial School last June 16. The two were joined by Dr. Jimmy D. May-os, School Principal I (second from left), and Mr. Bernabe P. Wasen, Head of the Tech. Voc. Dept. (extreme left), and Mrs. Jessica C. Allan, Head of the Related Subjects Dept (Center).

News

CID Chief Rizalyn A. Guznian led the crafting of the three-year road map through a series of workshop and brainstorming sessions involving all the Education Program Supervisors (EPS), Public Schools District Super-visors (PSDS) and CID personnel.

The roadmap was made clear after the CID conducted an interface workshop with the Schools Gov-ernance and Operations Division (SGOD) and the Office of the Schools Division Superintendent (OSDS) last June 25-26 that defined the mandated functions of each division in support to the implementation of the curricu-lum. EPS Warden A. Baltazar facilitat-ed said workshop.

The roadmap embraced 16 major thrusts such as the implementation of the Senior High School Curriculum, the conduct of a yearly synchronized festival of talents, monitoring of cur-

ricular and co-curricular programs, expanding the implementation of special programs, improvement of teaching-learning outcomes in all learning areas, addressing the spe-cial needs of learners, indigenization of the curriculum, provision of ac-cess to learning resources through the LRMDS, strengthening of the Mother-Tongue Based-Multi-Lingual Education (MTB-MLE), implemen-tation of Early Language Literacy and Numeracy (ELLN), integration of child protection concepts in the all learning areas, and the search for the best implementers of school learning resource center.

Guided by these 16 major thrusts, each EPS and PSDS formu-lated action plan starting for this year so that each has clear focus to work on under the framework of “manag-ing the implementation of the K to 12 Curriculum”. – Mac Malanes

CID ...from page 1

14Vol. 6 No. 1 January - July 2016

Stakeholders take part in Regreening Activity

Stakeholders pour support for Bulalacao ES Binga NHS gets open gym

KABAYAN, Benguet—The Kamora National High School conducted a five-day tree planting activity in compliance to one of the condi-tions stipulated in the Special Tree Cutting Permit (STCP)granted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

The foremost condition of the STCP dated September 23, 2015 states that the permittee shall re-place each tree to be cut with one hundred (100) seedlings prefer-ably indigenous tree species in close coordination with CENRO, Baguio City in support to the Na-tional Greening Program (NGP) and Climate Change initiatives of the government. Further, replace-ment planting shall be initiated by

the permittee or the school head even prior to the tree cutting op-erations, and shall maintain the seedlings planted for a period of three years with 80% survival rate.

However, since the trees for cutting were planted by the school employees, students and other stakeholders, required replace-ment for each tree was reduced to 50 seedlings. All in all, 1,600 seed-lings were planted as replacement for the 32 Melina trees cut.

The tree planting activity was made possible through the efforts of various concerned stakehold-ers. The first group was composed of 23 members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) under the CARTEC – Public Safety Senior

Leadership Class 2016 – 01 on May 19.

A total of 63 PTA members from the barangays of Ballay and Amlimay followed suit on June 27. Gusaran and Kabayan Barrio with 54 parents had it on June 28 while 43 constituents from Po-blacion, Pacso and Duacan were scheduled on June 29.

In addition, 33 members of the Small Scale Mining group ex-hibited their environmental con-cern in July 2, and such was made possible in coordination with the Kabayan PNP.

Through the initiative of the Municipal Environment and Nat-ural Resources Office (MENRO) of Kabayan, CENRO-Baguio City

provided 1000 pine tree seedlings while the Cordillera Conservation Trust (CCT) was the source of the coffee and pine seeds potted in the school nursery.

The tree planting activity was also in support to the NGP and in observance of the Arbor Day in our country that aims to promote a healthier ecosystem through the rehabilitation and regreening of the environment as stressed in Proclamation No. 643 that amended Proclamation No. 396, s. 2003.

Since Greening Program is a national concern, other groups expressed their participation in the school’s tree planting activity any day of July and August.

by Nestor Dalay-on

MANKAYAN, Benguet—The Bu-lalacao Elementary School here received various support since the National Schools Maintenance Week up to the opening of classes.

Among those who extend-ed support included a brigade of volunteers from Camp Molintas, Buguias, Benguet who arrived in the school on June 1 with their gadgets to assist the PTA, headed by PTA president Leonardo Ba-guingey, during the Brigada Esk-wela undertaking.

Likewise, councilors-elect

Juanito Labi of Bulalacao, Aldrin Camiling of Poblacion, and Bal-udoy Totanes of Cabitin extend-ed material and cash support to augment the school budget and donations from the PTA. All in all, at least ₱20,000 was generated for the installation of fences, con-creting and repair of pavements, replacement of gutters, among others.

A day after the opening of classes, June 14, the Northern Lu-zon National Greening Program Inc. (NL-NGP) team headed by

Edgardo E. Campos visited the school with their gifts of 245 bags of school supplies for all the en-rollees of the school. The team also lectured on general safety rules and precautionary measures related to electricity and electrical connections.

The BES faculty headed by School Principal Rosemarie D. Colas expressed gratitude for these various supports from the internal and external stakehold-ers, signaling a productive year for the school. -Rosemarie D. Colas

CHILDREN’S GIFTS. Pupils of Bulalacao ES, Mankayan, Benguet line up for the distribution of school bags filled with school supplies provided by the NGCP headed by Edgardo Campos, June 14. -Rosemarie D. Colas

ITOGON-Benguet--The long-time dream of parents, teachers and stu-dents of having an open gym is final-ly realized with the ground breaking of the open gymnasium project cou-pled with an indigenous ritual led by a “mambunong”last May 9, 2015.

The Parents Teachers Associa-tion (PTA) headed by Maxie Pedro requested the project through a PTA resolution. After series of follow ups, Benguet Congressman Ronald M. Cosalan favorably considered the project by allotting P2.5M for the first phase construction out of the Regular Infra Fund for FY 2015. It may be recalled that Cosalan chaired the powerful Lower House Committee on Public Works during the previous Congress.

The open gym, having a di-mension of 14 meters x 18 meters, was implemented by Polo Engi-neering and Construction head-ed by Engr. Daniel Sevillos which started on May 13, 2015 under the supervision of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DP-WH)-Benguet Engineering District I.

Binga NHS is located in an open space and whenever school activities are conducted, partici-pants look for a shaded area just so they can be protected from the heat of the sun during sunny days and from being so wet during rainy days.

Stakeholders thus expressed their gratitude for this project, the second phase construction and completion of which is expected within this year.

–Daniel Peredo

News

15Vol. 6 No. 1 January - July 2016

BSU extends services to Basil ES

TDSTEA officers want BOSY confab

Basil ES receives 10K grant

Schools benefit from ‘hot logs’

TUBLAY, Benguet-- The Benguet State University (BSU) formal-ized its commitment to provide its extension services to the Basil Elementary School in this district through a recently signed Memo-randum of Agreement (MOA).

Prior to the formal signing of the MOA, the BSU College of Nursing has been conducting community immersions in this school for the last five consecutive years

The BSU-College of Teacher Education (CTE) followed suit by offering free Summer ICT train-ings for teachers and barangay of-ficials conducted during Saturdays at the CTE ICT center. Facilitated by amiable instructors, the partic-ipants were exposed to “hands on” activities during the ICT training which started on April 1.

On April 2, 41 officers and

members of the BSU Student Su-preme Government (SSG) headed its governor Jerry P. Soriano con-ducted an outreach program in the school. The student leaders, grouped into teams contributed in the following: making of instruc-tional materials (IMs); organiza-tion of the SLRC/ School Library; upkeep of the school nursery, herbarium, and the Gulayan sa Paaralan; repainting of the play-ing area/sports ground; painting of signages and provision of gar-bage cans; and clean-up of the sur-roundings.

Inspired by the extension ser-vices of BSU, Basil ES Principal Claire W. Felipe and the PTA are forming a Rondalla group of pu-pils to be trained by Prof Almavida Gallardo, BSU Rondalla trainor, during this SY 2016-2017.

– Bernadette Taynan

Among the five schools from Ben-guet with approved project pro-posals, Basil Elementary School, Tublay, formally received P10,000 Three Acts of Goodness (TAG) grant from Fo Guang Shan Foun-dation on July 7 during the Turn-over Ceremonies at the SDO Adi-vay Hall.

The amount shall be used to inculcate the three acts of good-ness through music with the or-ganization of a school Rondalla, a creative and productive way for the pupils to spend their free time, develop love for music and discover hidden musical talent.

The grant would augment the limited school fund for the trans-portation and food expenses of

pupil-members of the Rondalla who will be undergoing series of training and rehearsals at the Ben-guet State University (BSU) and in the school.

Earlier, the school partnered with BSU for the training of pu-pil-members of the Rondalla. The premier university also pledged to seek sponsorship for the musical instruments of the group.

Basil ES and Paoad Elemen-tary School, also a recipient of the TAG grant, are expected to submit progress reports and documenta-tions of their projects. If imple-mentation yields positive results, subsequent TAG grants could be availed.

- Claire W. Felipe

The new officers of the Tublay District Schools Teachers and Employees Asso-ciation (TDSTEA) pushed for the re-vival of the teachers’ conference every beginning of the school year (BOSY) for updates on relevant issues and con-cerns during their first meeting held immediately after they took their oath of office before District Coordinating Principal Erlinda C. Quinoan on May 2.

Newly elected president, Claire W. Felipe, put into motion the said conduct of BOSY teachers’ conference and was duly seconded by the other officers: Edwin B. Marino (Vice-Pres-ident), Angel C. Budong (Secretary), Eleanor C. Dig-o(Treasurer), Myr-tle A. Pasiwen(Assistant Treasurer),

Osward P. Suaking(Auditor), Selveti K. Semion (P.I.O.), Nover P. Waig and Dizon W. Delmas(Business Manag-ers).

The first action of the new set of TDSTEA officers for 2016-2018 is geared towards expanding the three-year practice of holding an end of the school year (EOSY) meeting of teach-ers.

Same officers composed the group who represented Tublay Dis-trict during the 28th BPSTEA Bien-nial Convention at Calajo Restaurant, Km. 6 La Trinidad on April 25-27 which was proven to be very inform-ative especially among neophyte par-ticipants.

-Selveti K. Semion

MANKAYAN, Benguet—While step-ping up its relentless anti-illegal tree cutting campaign, the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) based in Abatan, Bu-guias granted the request to donate portions of confiscated pine lumbers to Cabacab Elementary School and Balili National High School-Cabacab Annex, both in Mankayan District last June.

Informed of the donation, some parents headed by the PTA Presidents, Melord P. Payangdo of the elementary and Ramon T. Gan-ga-ey of the high school hauled the donated lumber.

Cabacab Elementary received a total of 216 board feet pine lum-ber comprising 30pieces of 2x3x10 and 10 pieces 1x8x10 while BN-HS-Cabacab Annex received 340 board feet comprising 20)pieces

2x3x10, 20 pieces 2x3x12 and 10 pieces 1x12x12.

CES will use the lumbers for canteen tables while the high school planned to make classroom tables, bookshelves and benches.

The donated lumbers were part of the confiscated logs by the police stockpiled at CENRO, Abatan, Bu-guias Benguet.

Nathalie P. Lagan and Im-elda P. Mang-osan, the school heads of the two schools expressed their gratitude to CENRO particularly to Rabindranath P. Quilala, CENR Of-ficer, for the donation.

The school heads likewise ex-pressed their appreciation to the parents who volunteered to help make tables, armchairs and other furniture out of the lumbers donat-ed.

-Imelda P. Mang-osan

News

ENVIRONMENT AWARD. The Baayan Elementary School-Annex in Tublay, Benguet, headed by School Principal Linda Tambic with Mark Devag as Solid Waste Management Coordinator, was bestowed the award called “GAWAD PAGKILALA: Sustainable Best Practices on Solid Waste Management” in the academe category by the DENR-Environ-mental Management Bureau-Cordillera Administrative Region (DENR-EMB-CAR) in recognition of the collaborative efforts and best practices of the school personnel, pupils and stakeholders in solid waste management. The school receives the award during the 1st Cordillera Environmental Summit 2016, July 27. –Photo by Nerissa I. Barbosa.

Analyzing Data registered the lowest overall MPS of 47.79% followed by Making Models with 48.21% .

The other teachers who ob-tained 82% and above MPS in the EPT are: Roseginda Adais, Itogon I-85.56; Patricia Bendi, Sablan-84.44; Aileen Casibang, Kapangan- 84.44; Vanessa Galletes, Mankayan-84.44; Lily Ann Hilario, La Trinidad-84.44; Mary Licudan, Kibungan-84.44; Lorna Regis, Tuba-84.44; Sebio Badival, Atok-83.33; Melecia Micklay, Mankayan-83.33; Hilaria Palayao, Atok-83.33; Mede-nia Payagen, Kibungan-83.33; Mary Jean Antonio, Sablan-82.22; Joanne Baucas, Kibungan-82.22; Lolita Jose, Bokod-82.22; Noralyn Pagad-uan, Tuba-82.22; Bernalyn Palgue,

Kabayan-82.22; Felicitas Pangdew, Atok-82.22; and Aurea Valdez, La Trin-82.22.

In the PST, the other topnotch-ers are: Jennifer Balinggan, La Trin-82.50; Ronnel Bulos, Itogon I-82.50; Caroline Daus, La Trin-82.50; Mark Devag, Tublay-82.50; The following obtained 80% MPS: Sebio Badival, Atok; Amil Baguilat, Kapangan; Lorelie Balanag, Itogon; Jorenz Belleza, Tublay; Patricia Bendi, Sablan; Edmund Besic,Kapangan; Diana Dominguez, Tuba; Vanes-sa Galletes, Mankayan; Angeline Mabli, Mankayan; Agustina Menes, Tublay; Maryann Palaci, Buguias; Bernalyn Palgue, Kabayan; Felecitas Pangdew, Atok; and Medenia Paya-gen, Kibungan.

- Wilfred C. Bagsao

Topnotchers...from page 19

16Vol. 6 No. 1 January - July 2016

Moran ES gets water purifier Tublay, Benguet – The Moran Ele-mentary School headed by Ana Pa-kias of this district is a recipient of water purifier from the Provincial Government of Benguet which was installed on March 3, 2016.

The provision of water puri-fier was the offshoot of the visit of then Governor Nestor Fong-wan on September 29, 2015 to the school where he saw the need for children to have safe and clean drinking water.

Fongwan, during his term as

governor, also initiated the provi-sion of water purifiers for other schools to enable children to have access to clean and safe drinking water instead of drinking soft drinks and energy drinks which are harmful to health.

During his visit, Fongwan reminded parents to help their children refrain from drinking carbonated drinks. Instead, they should encourage their children to drink water.

- Antonia D. Puyao

The Ambiong Elementary School in Ambiong La Trinidad, Benguet im-plemented a perimeter fencing project from December 2015 to April, 2016.

The project was funded by the office of then vice governor Nelson Dangwa who allotted P200,000.00 and the offices of Board Members Robert Namoro- P150,000.00, Jim Botiwey- P150,000.00 and the late Jack Dulnu-an who allocated P100,000.

The project materialized through the initiatives of the barangay officials especially Barangay Kagawad Abra-ham Insas, committee chairman on education in Ambiong, the school staff headed by Johnson B. Legaspi and the whole PTA.

Implemented by Jackson

Depolyo, the perimeter fence stretch to 140 meters length out of the 1.2 hectares lot area of the school. Around 110 meters of the elementary school lot have yet to be fenced while 300 meters for the reserved junior high school area also need to be fenced. The stakeholders thus forwarded to the Benguet Capitol a resolution for the completion of this project.

The perimeter fencing tops the priority list of projects considering that the school area needs to be se-cured from illegal squatters and astray animals as well as to prevent pupils from going to the dangerous portions of the Ketsap Mountain.

–Lorna K. Manuel

TUBLAY, Benguet--In line with the DepEd vision to continuously im-prove, majority of the multi-grade teachers in the district received trainings on separate dates and venues.

Six (6) teachers handling combination classes in grades I and II attended the Division Level Echo Seminar on Early Language, Literacy and Numera-cy (ELLN) on December 10 -19, 2015 at Brentwood Apartelle, Baguio City while 15 attended the Division Echo Training on Multi-grade intended for teachers handling multi-grade classes from kindergarten to grade III on Janu-ary 25 -30 at same venue.

Three teachers also attend-ed the Read-to-Learn Workshop

on Teaching Beginning Reading on April 28-30 at Summer Place Hotel, Baguio City, conducted by DepED-CAR in partnership with McDonald House Charities, Inc. (RMHC).

The participants enhanced their knowledge and broadened their teaching and facilitating skills while they also received in-structional materials.

The district facilitators, Lin-da C. Tambic, School Principal I and Erlinda C. Quinuan, School Principal III were also fortunate to have attended higher level of trainings enabling them to share in return what they learned to their co-workers.

-Erlinda C. Quinuan

Stakeholders take part in Parenting Seminar

Perimeter fence implemented Tublay Multigrade Teachers Trained

At least 97 dynamic participants joined the fruitful Positive Parent-ing Seminar and Workshop organ-ized by Gilbert Semon Elementary School on June 17, 2016 at Alta Verde, Km. 6, Asin Road, Tuba, Benguet.

The participants were 11 teachers and PTA/SGC officers of Gilbert Semon Elementary School, 84 stakeholders and two speakers from the University of Baguio or a total of 97 partici-pants.

The seminar and workshop was conducted to encourage the parents to re-evaluate their par-enting style and initiate them to adapt to the new ways of parent-ing as well as to let them identify their love language to their chil-dren for them to understand their different emotions and behaviors.

Moreover, it aimed to en-hance the awareness of parents about their children who are in their adolescent years, a stage where they feel curious, rebel-lious, and vulnerable even as oth-

ers search for belongingness.The conduct of the semi-

nar-workshop became timely as parenting remains one of the so-cietal issues today. It is the sin-gle largest variable implicated in childhood illnesses and accidents, teenage pregnancy and substance misuse, truancy, school disrup-tion, and underachievement, child abuse, unemployment, ju-venile delinquency, and mental illness.

Positive parenting prepares the next generation. The result will be emergence of a “parent-ing society,” in which all citizens recognize their shared rights and responsibilities for giving and re-ceiving care, control, and devel-opment, particularly to the needy, among which children are the most prominent.

As explained comprehensive-ly by the well-regarded speakers, Ms. Janet Calado and Ms. April Joy D. Sadien, who are both psy-chologists, positive parenting ac-cording to Dr. Laura Markham is

“simply guidance that keeps our kids on the right path, offered in a positive way that resists any temp-tation to be punitive.”

A positive parenting program entails teaching children right from wrong through guiding their actions and encouraging good be-havior. Parents are taught to treat their children with respect, be a role model for them and raise their families in a peaceful, loving environment.

Positive parenting doesn’t eliminate all the problems and challenges of raising children. However, it does offer practical tips and solutions to resolving problems such as power struggles, poor eating habits, stubbornness, sensitivity and more. Positive par-enting with a plan to raise happy, well-adjusted children will also help parents more fulfilled in their roles. -Leah M. Calado

News

17Vol. 6 No. 1 January - July 2016

FIVE schools in Benguet have an-other reason to be thankful for being selected as recipients of monetary support from Fo Guan Shang Foundation, an interna-tional non-government group lead by Chinese Buddhists who are ex-tending various forms of support to different nationalities.

The five schools which re-ceived P10,000 each as grant from the foundation on July 7 were Palatong Elementary School in Mankayan, Basil ES and Paoad ES in Tublay, Camp 30 NHS in Atok and Tuba NHS-Main.

The Foundation’s represent-atives, mostly Chinese, personal-ly handed the grant in the form of checks to the school heads of the recipient schools with no conditions other than for these schools to practice the three acts of goodness being espoused by

the group. “Do good deeds, speak good

words and think good thoughts,” are the NGO’s three acts of good-ness.

The Schools Division of Benguet through the SGOD es-tablished contact with the group through communications ena-bling Benguet to be the lone ben-eficiary of the group’s assistance among the divisions in the Cor-dillera. The SGOD facilitated the submission of project proposals from several schools of which five were approved.

Based on information, the foundation extended its support to four other schools divisions in the Philippines such as Quezon Province and Navotas in Metr Manila.

– MBM with reports from Ceasar Lumaang

TUBA, Benguet—Municipal May-or Ignacio R. Rivera of this town wants his first 100 days in office as a crucial period for charting the proper directions of the municipal-ity even as he called for a harmoni-ous working relationship with the Sangguniang Bayan, the municipal employees, the barangays and the other different government agen-cies including the Department of Education.

During the oath taking of newly-elected officials of this town on June 29 at the Town Hall ground here, Mayor Rivera bared his plan for his first 100 days in office.

“As a servant leader, I advo-cate for good governance, trans-parency and accountability and

I call for cooperation and under-standing to attain this administra-tion’s objectives,” said the Mayor.

The mayor specifically men-tioned his program for education eliciting applause from the teach-ers and school administrators present.

“On education, this admin-istration plans to provide for feasible scholarship programs, promote health and nutrition of school children, support the An-ti-Bullying Act, improve learning facilities, encourage religious and sports activities in school and sup-ports programs and activities that will train and enhance the pupils, students, staff and administrators to become excellent,” Mayor Rive-ra declared. –Molly M. Ablaza

MANKAYAN, Benguet--About 500 residents of barangays Taneg, Pa-lasaan, Guinaoang and Bulalacao availed of the medical, surgical and dental services rendered by the University of Sto Tomas (UST) Medical Team sponsored by the Lepanto Mining Company under resident manager Engr. Thomas Consolacion through the Lepanto Hospital headed by Dr. Zerubabel Pateña. as part of the company’s community services.

As part of the company’s cor-porate responsibility, the medical services provided were on pediat-rics, OB-gyne, derma care, medi-cal attention and laboratories for those needing surgeries, minor and major operations, which were undertaken at the Lepanto Hos-pital. Most pupils availed of the dental services, including tooth extraction.

Municipal Councilor Juanito Labi, who is from the barangay,

expressed hope that medical mis-sion be conducted again as he rec-ommended that this be possibly programmed every six months “since many of our kakailyan of-ten neglect going for check-up or treatment even if they are suffer-ing from sickness due to lack of finances.”

He further commented that even if people are diagnosed with ailments they just bear their pains because they would rather use their money for family needs rather than buying expensive medicines.

The Lepanto Mines, in part-nership with the Far Southeast Gold Resources Inc., donated 240 bottles of paracetamol and Vita-min C for the school children. The school has been a venue for sim-ilar medical and dental missions such as the one conducted by Dr. Melchor Diclas and his team ear-lier this year. -Rosemarie D. Colas

NGO extends grants to 5 schools

Mayor bares plan for first 100 days

Bulalacao hosts health mission

Preparatory ...from page 1Other schools with large

number of Grade 11 enrolees are Mankayan NHS-181, Lepan-to NHS-173, Governor Bado Dangwa Agro Industrial Schoo-Main-154, and the Cordillera Re-gional SHS-102.

The schools with the least number of grade 11 enrolees are Sinipsip NHS-Natubleng Exten-sion, TSHI-Central Extension, Madaymen NHS and La Trinidad NHS. These schools were advised to track the whereabouts of all

their Grade 10 completers includ-ing the passers of the Alternative Learning System Accreditation and Equivalency Test (A & E) in order to accommodate them as possible.

There are also 1,620 Grade 11 enrolees in 11 private high schools in Benguet, mostly located in the capital town of La Trinidad. Kings College of the Philippines has the largest Grade 11 students with 1,100 students as of June 17.

– Mac Malanes with reports from Sammy Ayangdan

immediately to college. According to BALS, citing en-

closure no. 4 of DepEd Order No. 42, s. 2015, passers of CY 2015 ALS A&E test are the last to be given eligibility to proceed to college without neces-sarily undergoing senior high school this SY 2016-SY2017. However, they can still go through Grade 11 if they chose to do so.

Prior to the final administration of the test last April 16 for BJMP/BPJ and April 17 for BeNHS & LNHS, there were 3,007 test registrants for the elementary and secondary level test. These registrants were among the 6,381 multicultural and multileveled learners from all walks of life enrolled in the Continuing Education Pro-gram—Accreditation and Equivalen-cy (A&E) through the Balik Paaralan for Out of School Adults (BPOSA), Abot-Alam Program or Alternative Learning System (ALS).

However, of the 3,007 test regis-trants only 70% or 2,091 were able to take the exam for elemen-tary and secondary level. From these test takers, there were 1,170 passers in both levels or an equivalent of 55.95% overall passing rate for SDO-Benguet. This surpassed the 2014 passing rate of 50.23% by 5.72 %.

Non-passers and non-takers of the A and E test can still continue or re-enroll in their own locality’s ALS Programs at the different Commu-nity Learning Centers (CLCs) being managed by the ALS Learning Facili-tators. Minimum age requirement for drop-outs who wish to enroll in ALS is still 11 years old and 15 years old for elementary and secondary level respectively.

As of this date, there is no advi-sory yet from DepEd as to the trans-formation of ALS Curriculum in rela-tion to K12 implementation.

1,170 .....from page 3

News

18Vol. 6 No. 1 January - July 2016

90% of Benguet schools join 2nd Earthquake Drill Three hundred sixty nine (369) out of 425 public schools in Benguet joined the nation in performing ‘duck-cover-hold’ position during the 2nd National Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED), 9:00 A.M. of June 22.

A total of 119,298 school personnel and students increased their disaster-resiliency by ex-ecuting the repetitive reminder on what to do before, during and after an earthquake. Earthquake drill is part of DepEd’s disaster risk reduction measures through capacity-building of school per-sonnel and students, emphasizing on preparedness and mitigation.

Compared to only 126 schools participating during the 1st Quarter NSED last March, the significant increase of schools’ participation may be attributed to the improved advocacy cam-paign of the schools division of-fice (SDO), utilizing the social networking site, DepEd Benguet website and SMS to disseminate information faster, aside from

the conventional “pigeon hole scheme”.

Moreover, the Office also monitored compliance of schools by directing School Heads and/or designated School DRRM Coor-dinators to immediately text de-tailed report of the conduct of the drill to the Division DRRM Co-ordinator. An impressive total of 227 schools reported on the same day while the remaining schools submitted their text reports after 24 hours.

The Philippine National Po-lice (PNP), Bureau of Fire Pro-tection (BFP), Barangay DRRMC (BDRRMC), Municipal DRRMC (MDRRMC), Provincial DRRMC (PDRRMC), Department of Health (DOH), Barangay Health Workers, Rural Health Unit, vol-unteer groups, among others, ex-tended their infallible support to DepEd schools by providing assis-tance and providing feedbacks for further improvement.

Breakdown of schools with submitted text reports are pre-

sented by districts as follows: Atok – 21 elem, 2 HS; Bakun – 18 elem, 4 HS; Bokod – 23 elem, 3 HS; Buguias – 36 elem, 6 HS; Itogon I – 19 elem, 4 HS; Itogon II – 13 elem, 2 HS; Kabayan – 14 elem, 3 HS; Kapangan – 25 elem, 4HS; Kibungan – 21 elem, 3 HS; La Trinidad – 20 elem, 7 HS; Man-kayan – 32 elem, 9 HS; Sablan – 14 elem, 2 HS; Tuba – 32 elem, 6 HS; and Tublay – 19 elem, 2 HS.

It is also worth noting that four (4) private schools texted their report in compliance with the Di-vision Memorandum released on the earthquake drill. These are: Central Balili Wesleyan Acade-my of La Trinidad; Immaculate Conception of Bokod; Full Bright Preparatory School, San Jose High School and King’s College of the Philippines, of La Trinidad.

-Nerissa Barbosa

Pupils of Yugo-Bantales Primary School in Bakun execute the duck-cover-hold position while the bell rings, signifying ground shaking, during the 2nd National Simultaneous Ear-htquake Drill on June 22, 2016. (photos credited to Yugo-Bantales PS)

Benguet Math Teachers trained on research based teaching strategies

CID advocates digital literacy

The Schools Division Office of Benguet conducted a training enti-tled “Training on Research-Based Strategies and Techniques in Teaching Mathematics 5 and 6” on June 1-3 at the Adivay Hall, Divi-sion Office, Wangal, La Trinidad, Benguet.

The training aimed to strengthen the teachers’ ability and skills as facilitators; enhance teachers’ proficiency in teaching mathematics using research-based approaches; and intensify teach-ers’ creativity in Mathematics. This is also to strengthen the K to 12 program by incorporating re-search-based studies.

The speakers and facilitators to this training were Oliver Cas-ing, a teacher of Tuba District and a recipient of the SEAMEO scholarship in Malaysia in 2013; Rayan Salamat, a teacher from Kapangan District who availed of Japanese Scholarship in 2014; the proponent of Making Modules in Mathematics Elementary, Gina Abanga, TIC/Master Teacher of Itogon I; Caridada Lacbawan,

TIII/TIC of Itogon 2; Elmerine Panagan, TIII of Balili Elementa-ry School, La Trinidad; Ellaine E. Besitan, Teacher III of Tublay; Wilfred Bagsao, Education Pro-gram Supervisor; and the selected officers of Division of Benguet As-sociation of Mathematics Teach-ers (DBAMT) headed by Moresto Angyatao and Joemar Soriano from Buguias and La Trinidad District, respectively.

There were 90 participating teachers, excluding the speakers and facilitators, from the 14 dis-tricts.

Based on the evaluation made by the Human Resource Develop-ment Office, the training attained its objectives. The summary of the indicators in the evaluation sheet with computed weighted mean is shown as follows: attainment of objectives- 4.57, excellent; at-tainment of expectations-4.54; selection, sequencing, organizing and scheduling -4.59, excellent; learning of participants-4.65; and physical arrangements-4.65.

-Wilfred Bagsao

In line with the continuous im-provement of learning resources, SDO- Benguet through the Cur-riculum Implementation Division (CID) conducted three batches of training on the preparation of dig-itized learning materials last April and May.

Attended by selected 250 ele-mentary and high school teachers

from the different districts, the training aimed to equip teachers with the knowledge, skills and techniques in developing digi-tized learning resources.

The trained teachers are tar-geted to join the core as Division Digitized Learning Resource De-velopers.

– Josan Sagantiyoc

News

19Vol. 6 No. 1 January - July 2016

Learners benefit from DepEd Feeding Program

Nutrition program in Benguet schools evaluated Topnotchers of proficiency test bared

SDO Benguet crafts Research Agenda

One hundred eighty seven un-dernourished pupils in Benguet benefitted from DepEd Benguet’s School Based Feeding Program (SBFP), which has a budget of P820, 706.00 during the SY 2015-2016.

The SBFP catered to 12 se-verely wasted and 175 wasted Kindergarten to Grade 6 pu-pils from 20 public elementary schools in Benguet. These schools were identified as: Banao ES and Bokod Central School in Bokod, Natubleng ES and Sinipsip ES of Buguias; Maximino F. Lopez ES, Pacalso ES and Ucab ES of Itogon I; Ampucao ES and Balatoc ES

of Itogon II; Beckel ES, Buyagan ES, Longlong ES of La Trinidad; Cabacab ES, Mankayan CS and Palatong ES of Mankayan; Camp 3 ES, San Pascual ES, Toybongan ES and Tuba Central School of Tuba; and Sto. Nino ES of Tublay.

The selection of beneficiaries was based on the baseline nutri-tional status report as of SY 2015-2016.

This year’s SBFP rehabilitated 100% of the severely wasted and 98% of the wasted beneficiaries to normal nutritional status after 120 feeding days.

The program aimed to give school children hot meals based

on recommended malunggay rec-ipes and 20-day cycle menus us-ing locally grown produce, assur-ing the beneficiaries of additional 300 calories to address their nutri-tional deficiencies.

In support to the program, the Gulayan sa Paaralan, contrib-uted variety of vegetables locally grown in the school gardens, de-creasing expenses and commod-ity fatigue. The school canteens were also tapped in the imple-mentation of the program.

Because the program also aimed to impart positive health promoting values, daily tooth brushing and hand washing were

conducted while toothbrushes, soaps and Iron Supplements were distributed to the beneficiaries.

Among the best practices ob-served in the schools that conduct-ed the program included behavio-ral change as it became a venue for application & observance of table manners and discipline. Pu-pils also became more responsible in helping such as setting the table and dishwashing after the feeding. Parents also became aware of the importance of good nutrition of their growing up children as most of them helped in the preparation of meals.

-Kristine Valerie Madalang

The DepEd-Schools Division of Ben-guet joined the Provincial Nutrition Council (PNC) in conducting the Annual Monitoring and Evaluation of Local Level Plan Implementation (MELPPI) on nutrition programs from April 19- May 27, 2016.

This annual activity aims to showcase the municipalities with the best practices in implementing nutrition programs in their com-munities.

MELLPI is a system used to assess the nutritional progress and the implementation of nutrition programs of the community and the schools. The nutritional status (NS) determines the impact of how the local government units and dif-ferent member agencies implement programs to support nutrition. MELLPI identifies strengths and weaknesses in implementing the program, as well as the achievement of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN).

At the municipal level, the nutrition committees (MNC) were assessed on how they implement-

ed their Nutrition Action Plans by looking into the nutritional status and actual visitations of identified malnourished children. A sample of preschoolers were weighed to vali-date the nutritional status.

At the Barangay level, projects such as livelihood, communal and demo gardens, waste management projects were evaluated.

For both levels, interviews were conducted to Nutrition Com-mittee members and allotted budg-ets for nutrition programs.

In the schools, the nutritional status of the school children and the appropriate interventions in com-bating malnutrition were evaluat-ed. The significant decrease in the number of severely wasted, wast-ed, overweight and obese school children is one of the criteria being measured by MELLPI.

This year’s MELLPI revealed the following: the provincial nu-tritional status of school children both for under nutrition and over nutrition has improved; the provin-cial prevalence of the undernour-

ished is below the national preva-lence; more intervention programs should be given to further lessen the prevalence of overweight and obesity which was observed to be increasing in certain municipalities; the nutrition committees should give more focus on improving the status of school children, and the collaborative efforts of the school health personnel and of a Barangay Nutrition Scholar, is a must as they are the frontlines in the implemen-tation of the nutrition impact pro-grams in their assigned areas.

This year’s monitoring team consisted of Ms. Amelia Cayap, Provincial Nutrition Action Officer & Ms. Joynalyn Tadifa, Registered Nutritionist II of the Provincial Health Office; Ms. Lanelyn Atim-paw, Agricultural Technologist of the Provincial Agriculture Office; Ms. Desemia Caweng, Social Wel-fare Assistant of the Provincial So-cial Welfare Office, and Ms. Kristine Madalang, Nurse II of the Depart-ment of Education.

-Kristine Valerie Madalang

Pursuant to D.O. 39, s.2016 on the Adoption of the Basic Education Research Agenda that would guide DepED and its stakeholders in the conduct of education research and in the utilization of research results, Benguet division conducted a train-ing on basic research for 59 SDO per-sonnel who have Key Result Areas (KRA) on research last June 21-22 and June 24 that led to the crafting of a division of research agenda.

With the release of this DepEd order and DepED Order 43 s.2015 which provides for a Basic Educa-tion Research Fund (BERF), each division office is encouraged to con-

textualize research agenda that will suit the local setting. The latter or-der provides the format and fund-ing for research.

The first two days of the train-ing intended to capacitate the divi-sion office personnel, teaching re-lated and non- related, on the basics of action research. This provided them the confidence of review-ing researches from the field while this encouraged them to carry out researches as reflected in their key result areas.

Professor Janet Lyn Monte-mayor from BSU and Dr. Felina Es-pique, Dean of the College of Teach-

er Education of SLU, imparted their expertise regarding research.

During the third day, the CID, SGOD and the Office of the Schools Division Superintendent group presented and defended their con-textualized research agenda. Glenn Duguis, Susan Dawang, Rizalyn Guznian and Lucio Alawas facilitat-ed the brainstorming on the contex-tualization of the research agenda.

The participants also agreed to revise the previous division guide-lines on research to conform to the two DepED orders, hence, a divi-sion memo on this will soon be re-leased. -Sharon B. Angupa

OUT of the 616 grade 5 and 6 teachers in Benguet who took the English Pro-ficiency Test (EPT) conducted by the National Education Testing and Re-search Center (NETRC) last September 20, 2015, 21 teachers scored 80% and above Mean Percentage Score (MPS) while 22 of them obtained at least 80% MPS in the Process Skills Test (PST) for Math and Science.

The EPT and the PST, now on its 3rd year of implementation nation-wide by DepEd through the NETRC, meant to identify baseline informa-tion on the training needs of teach-ers in the implementation of the K to 12 Program especially on the use of English as a medium of instruction in teaching the major subjects. The need to look at the process skills is also im-portant for the onset of integrating Science and Math in the Grades 5 and 6 levels.

In the EPT, Agustina A. Menes of Tublay and Ruth B. Wakit of Itogon 2 emerged as topnotchers with MPS of 87.78 % followed by Sandra N. Bombe of Tuba with 86.67%. The cov-erage of the test are (a) Structure, (b) Written Expression, and (c) Reading Comprehension. Written expression has the lowest overall MPS of 48.79% while reading comprehension has the highest overall MPS of 72.84%.

On the other hand, Joyce W. Carpio of Itogon topped the PST in Math and Science with an MPS of 87.50% followed by Joanne P. Bau-cas of Kibungan, Edralyn D. Danio of Kapangan and Clanora P. Somyden of Atok who all obtained 85% MPS.

The coverage of PST are as fol-lows: a)Observing, b) Classifying c) Inferring d) Predicting e) Measuring/Quantifying f) Communicating g) In-terpreting data h) Analyzing Data i) Evaluating j) Experimenting k) Mak-ing Conclusions l) Making Models, and m) Defining Operationally.

From these skills tested, Turn to page 15

News

20Vol. 6 No. 1 January - July 2016

THE SDO-Benguet ushered the first quarter of this year with two cham-pionship crowns after it retained the overall championship in the Region-al Schools Press Conference held in Lagawe, Ifugao on January 17-21 and the Regional Skills Technolymoics held January 31 to February 2 at the Governor Bado Dangwa Agro-Indus-trial School, Kapangan.

Benguet outranked Bagu-io City for the overall title for the fourth time in a row.

During the regional tech-nolympics, Benguet bested Apayao for the overall championship while Baguio settled for third place.

Schools Division Superinten-dent Federico P. Martin lauded the students and teachers for these remarkable achievements while

acknowledging that these became possible with the all-out support of the Provincial Government of Ben-guet and the municipal local gov-ernment units.

In related development, Mil-dred Sepulchre of Tuba Central National High School was crowned the Outstanding Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE) and Tech-Voc Education (TVE) teacher during the Regional Techno.

Regional TLE supervisor Saba-do Oayet explained that the Search for Outstanding TLE/TVE Teachers was organized in recognition to the support of the tech-voc teachers in developing the skills of learners.

–Mac Malanes & Sammy Ayangdan

OVERALL MEDAL TALLY

2016 CARAA MEET Division G S B Baguio City

Benguet

Ifugao

Mt. Province

Kalinga-Tabuk

Abra

Apayao

212

43

20

19

17

16

8

91

93

34

36

27

31

22

79

87

59

70

44

34

40

Benguet improves performance in 2016 CARAA Meet BENGUET Province hauled a total of 43 gold, 93 silver and 87 bronze medals to maintain its overall first runner-up honors during the 2016 Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (CARAA) Meet held February 6-10 hosted by the City of Baguio.

The Benguet athletes fought with a heart to surpass the 42 gold harvest the province garnered dur-ing last year’s CARAA Meet but could not withstand the overall dominance of the well-equipped and well-trained athletes of the City of Baguio who capped insurmount-able medal outputs of 212 gold, 91 silver and 79 bronze medals to re-tain the overall championship in this biggest sporting event in the region.

Benguet’s secondary athletes garnered 23 gold medals as com-pared to 14 gold medals last year

while their elementary counter-parts chipped in 20 gold medals, down from the 28 gold medal-haul last year.

Gold medals from the ele-mentary came from the following events: gymnastics-8, athletics-4, boys’ taekwondo-2, girls’ taekwon-do-1, girls’swimming-1, football-1, Arnis boys-1, volleyball boys-1 and sepak takraw-1.

In the secondary level, the 23 gold medal harvest came from: wushu boys-4, taekwondo boys-2, girls’ swimming-2, sepak takraw-2, girls’ athletics-2, boys’ athletics-2, table tennis-2, boys swimming-1, archery boys-1, badminton boys-1, chess girls-1, volleyball boys-1, wrestling girls-1 and taekwondo girls-1.

While Baguio had not been se-riously threatened in its overall title, Benguet also emerged as hard to

beat by the other divisions in CAR who fought tooth and nail for the third to seventh places in the over-all ranking.

Ifugao, whose provincial gov-ernment embarked on a rigid train-ing for its athletes, came a far third overall with 20-34-59 gold-silver-bronze medal output followed by Mt. Province as fourth overall with 19-36-70 gold-silver-bronze med-als.

Kalinga, which included Tabuk City, landed fifth overall with 17-27-44 gold-silver-bronze medals while Abra settled for 6th place with 16 gold-31 silver and 34 bronze med-als. Erstwhile runner up challenger Apayao settled for 7th place with 8 gold-22 silver-40 bronze medals.

–Mac Malanes with reports from Ceasar Lumaang

Benguet students shine in NFOT, NSPC THE SCHOOLS Division of Ben-guet made a name in the national arena when its student contestants won major awards during the Na-tional Festival of Talents (NFOT) and the National Schools Press Conference (NSPC) held simulta-neously in General Santos City and in Koronadal, South Cotabato on February 22-26.

Dennie Faye Gayao of Sablan National High School bested the best writers from the other re-gions of the country for the first place award in the Essay Writing Contest during the NFOT. She was coached and mentored by her teacher Rizza Dellias and by Ed-ucation Supervisor Sasha Joseph Daganos.

Complementing this feat in the NFOT, Wayne Amayag of Kibungan National High School hit the 7th place in Feature writ-ing-Filipino during the NSPC. Her coach is Martes Calasan.

The team of pupils from Camp 6 Elementary School, coached by Jocelyn Bumanghat and Jovelyn Tomilas, also brought home the fifth place award in English radio broadcasting-info-mercial.

Meanwhile, Soujee Man-gapac and Marites Sharon De Vera from the Cordillera Regional Science High School were award-ed as among the Most Outstand-ing Secondary Campus journal-ists and Most Outstanding School Paper Advisers, respectively dur-ing the NSPC. Both were chosen as the Cordillera Administrative Region’s entries to the national awards.

These winners were among the contestants from Benguet that joined the Cordillera Administra-tive region’s contingent in these prestigious national competitions.

-MBM

Crowns in RSPC, Techno retained