Bringing Colors in A Time of Pandemic

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Ever since the pandemic has begun, education is one of the areas that has been affected tremendously and detrimentally; education meaning specifically our heroes or our teachers. As firm believers and upholders of the power of educating one child at a time, teachers have been tirelessly working in bridging the learning gaps, improving the education system, and contributing to national development, especially in a time of pandemic. Hence, it is right and proper to recognize the hardwork of teachers and educators.

In accordance with National Teachers’ Month, SPARK! Philippines in partnership with Sunnies Face gave lipsticks to teachers in Quezon City. The first batch composed of 5,000 pieces were turned over by SPARK! Executive Director Maica Teves to Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, Quezon City Public School Teachers Association (QCPSTA) President Mr. Kristhean Navales, and Vice President Ms. Ruby Ana Bernardo.

“The efforts and hardwork the teachers put into at this time of a health crisis to continue the education of every child is exceptional and commendable. They may be reminded that although their students need their support and uplifting in reaching their full potential, moreso for them who give and bring colors to their students’ lives, and thus the reason for this activity.”, said Executive Director of SPARK! Philippines Maica Teves.

She added, “We thank Sunnies Face for being our partner in uplifting and recognizing the services and contributions of our teachers and educators, and most especially for sparking joy among them amid these challenging times.”

SPARK! Philippines promotes gender equality, women empowerment, and advances women’s economic roles. Its partners include government agencies, private sectors, embassies, civil society organizations, and academe. Its aim is for people to integrate gender issues into the mainstream, promote women’s rights, and be receptive and conducive to gender and development (GAD).

DepEd commends public school teachers for orderly, peaceful elections

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Department of Education Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC 

Department of Education Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC in a press briefing commended the public school teachers for their efficient and effective performance during the national and local elections.

“The teachers went out of their way to make this election generally peaceful and very orderly. Their transmission of the results is the fastest in my memory. They have proven that they can be trusted as they remained apolitical,” Luistro stressed.

He also expressed gratitude for their support, “Saludo ako at nagpapasalamat sa kaguruan. Sa palagay ko, ito na ang pinaka-successful, clean and very efficient election natin.”

Luistro reported that no untoward incidents had happened to any of the public school teachers nationwide who performed election duty.

“Ang napakagandang balita ay ang ating command center ay walang naitalang ulat ng any untoward incident especially with respect to our teachers. As of now, wala pa tayong natatalang death or injuries to our teachers,” Luistro said.

There are 409,392 DepEd personnel composed of Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs), Special Board of Election Inspectors (SBEIs), Boards of Canvassers (BOCs), support staff and DepEd supervisors who served during the national and local elections.

“60% of more than 685,000 DepEd employees were part of the elections, either as BEI member, support staff or supervisor,” Luistro said.

The Comelec grants the DepEd personnel with poll duties the allowance of P4,500 for the chairman and members of the BEI; P1,500 for BEI support staff; P3,000 for DepEd supervisors and P1,500 for other support staff.

Luistro said that the public school teachers with poll duties can get their honoraria after the elections.

Statement of DepEd on Election Poll Duties of Public School Teachers

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In less than 10 days, the nation will troop to the polls for the 2016 automated national and local elections. 

Once again, public school teachers will render service as members of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs), support staff, polling center supervisors and member of the board of canvassers. 

With this, the Department of Education (DepEd) is confident that our public school teachers will rise to the occasion and take on the responsibility--as they have done in the past--to serve the country.

DepEd reminds its teachers to stay neutral and non-partisan. The Department will work closely with local officials and law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety of public school teachers who will render their service during the polls. DepEd has also reactivated its Election Task Force (ETF) to assist those who will serve as BEIs. Also, the Department has partnered with the Public Assistant’s Office (PAO) through a Memorandum of Agreement to provide legal assistance to BEI members should there be election-related suits filed against them.

DepEd believes that our school teachers will give their best for an honest and clean national elections.

DepEd extends early registration for Senior High School

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The Department of Education (DepEd) has extended the early registration period for Senior High School (SHS) from October 19 to November 13, 2015 to ensure that incoming SHS students are enrolled in SHS come June 2016. 

Education Secretary Br. Armin Luistro FSC said that the extension will give all incoming SHS students ample time to decide on their choice of SHS track. “We want our students to be aware of the importance of choosing a track that suits their interest and matches job opportunities that await them,” he added.

The four major tracks in the SHS Program are Academic, Technical-Vocational Livelihood, Sports, and Arts and Design.

During this period, all Grade 10 students in all public and private high schools are encouraged to submit their choice of school and SHS track to their respective class advisers. The class advisers of Grade 10 in public schools are then tasked to register their students for SHS and submit learners’ preferences through the SHS registration module in the Learner Information System (LIS) of DepEd.

The SHS early registration is also open to high school graduates prior to the full implementation of the K to 12 Program, passers of the Philippine Educational Placement Test (PEPT) and Accreditation and Equivalency (A&E) Examination for Junior High School level. They may register in any of the schools offering SHS. 

For the list of Senior High Schools, visit http://www.deped.gov.ph/k-to-12/shs.

DepEd opens application for Senior High School teachers

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The Department of Education (DepEd) calls on interested teachers, professionals, practitioners, and experts to apply for full-time and part-time teaching positions for Grades 11 and 12 for the School Year (SY) 2016-2017.

Applicants must be interested in teaching the core curriculum and/or applied and specialized subjects under the four Senior High School (SHS) tracks. 

Interested applicants should be a Filipino citizen. Mandatory requirements for all applicants include letter of intent which shall indicate the statement of purpose or expression of interest, track(s)/stand(s)/subject(s) applying for, and preferred school(s), if any; CSC Form 212, revised 2005 (Personal Data Sheet) in two copies with the latest 2x2 ID picture; certified photocopy of certificates of relevant trainings, if any; certified copy of voter’s ID and/or any proof of residency; National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) clearance; and omnibus certification of authenticity and veracity of all documents submitted and signed by the applicant. 

Expression of intent should be submitted on or before October 30 to their local DepEd Schools Division Office (SDO) with all the mandatory requirements for all applicants and/or additional requirements for permanent full-time positions, for TVL, Arts and Design and Sports Tracks teacher-applicants, and additional requirements for HEI/TVI faculty. 

Expected salaries will range from P19,940 to P39,493. 

Candidates will be ranked according to the DepEd’s criteria for evaluation and selection process. DepEd will also follow general guidelines for the hiring and placement of successful applicants. 

For more information, visit http://www.deped.gov.ph/k-to-12/shs/bulletin.

DepEd celebrates teachers as living heroes, culminates World Teachers’ Day

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Recognizing the vital contribution of Filipino teachers in institutionalizing educational reforms in the country, the Department of Education (DepEd) and its partners celebrated this year’s World Teachers’ Day (WTD) at Araullo University in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija on October 5. 

Education Secretary Br. Armin Luistro FSC emphasized the great responsibility of every teacher in preparing the Filipino youth to be better equipped for the world. He said, “If all the teachers in the country start to move as one, we will start the biggest revolution in education.”

“The revolution in education is a revolution that will change the country and bring about all of the dreams and hopes of our young people... If you want to transform our country, we need living heroes,” he added.

Themed as “My Teacher, My Hero,” this year’s celebration highlighted the integral role of educators as prime movers and catalysts to extend the last mile efforts of DepEd and the K to 12 education reform for the delivery of quality education.

The event which gathered around 4,000 public school teachers from Regions I, II, III, and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) culminated the month-long celebration to express the education agency’s sincere gratitude for teachers’ important role in institutionalizing the reform efforts of the Department.

President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared September 5 to October 5 every year as National Teachers’ Month (NTM) through Presidential Proclamation 242 signed in 2011.

DepEd teachers, personnel to receive one-month PEI

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The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released PhP14 Billion for the Productivity Enhancement Incentive (PEI) to the Department of Education (DepEd). Eligible DepEd employees shall receive a one-time PEI equivalent to one month basic salary, pursuant to Executive Order 181, s. 2015.

DepEd has complied with all the conditions stipulated under Section 4 of EO 181, s. 2015. DBM has recently issued the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) to cover the release of funds for the grant of the PEI for fiscal year 2015. The said funds are being downloaded to DepEd regional offices. DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro FSC has directed its field offices to prepare the payroll of the qualified employees.

As stated in EO 181, s. 2015, qualified employees refer to those who “have (1) rendered at least a total or an aggregate of four (4) months of service as of May 31, 2015, including leaves of absence with pay, and who are still in the service as of May 31, 2015; and (2) obtained at least a satisfactory performance rating.” Employees who have rendered less than four months of satisfactory service as of May 31, 2015 may still be paid the full amount of the PEI upon completion of the four months and satisfactory service rating requirements before the end of FY 2015.

Teachers laud first Tboli SHS TSHS seen to promote global competence and cultural preservation

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Teachers of the recently-launched TSHS at Lake Sebu, South Cotabato said that this program will surely promote global competitiveness without compromising the cultural preservation of the indigenous peoples in the long run.

The teachers perceived the program as a beneficial tool to boost the livelihood status of the Tbloli community since the TSHS offers technical-vocational tracks that are in line with the culture of the Tboli people. 

“Ang diwa ng kultura namin ay naisasalin at ang kaalaman ay made-develop pa kung kaya’t ilang henerasyon man ang magdaan, ang kultura namin ay buhay pa rin. Ang kaalaman at ang kasanayan ay nagmula mismo sa kanila [mag-aaral na Tboli] upang matuto na silang makihalubilo sa mundo,” said Benji Manuel, a Tboli teacher at Tboli Senior High School (TSHS).

This project of the Department of Education (DepEd), in collaboration with Ateneo de Davao, aims to produce graduates who are equipped with entrepreneurial and management skills and are capable of managing and improving their own resources and coming up with sustainable livelihood and opportunities for the Tboli community.

Manuel said that through the program, he now sees the teachers of TSHS as carriers of the plan of the Tboli elders.

“Sa tulong nito, nakikita namin ang aming sarili bilang tagapagdala ng plano ng elders ng pamayanan ng Tboli na dalhin ang indigenous knowledge, cultural and intellectual heritage sa loob ng classroom,” Manuel added.

Ateneo de Davao President Father Joel S. Tabora, SJ said that the Tboli SHS is “the most sophisticated, anthropological, pedagogical project in the country relative to Senior High School”.

"Davao entered into this program--to be able to help the K to 12 create a program that will not make the students foreigners to their own culture, but will make them imbibe the values and the cultural traditions of the tribe even in a global age, even in an age when the Tboli also want to be able to be world-class, to be able to enjoy the advantages of globalization and modernization. The Tboli, it has to be clear, also want first and foremost to preserve their own cultural traditions and their cultural identities. This is the reason why Ateneo de Davao has been really priveleged to be part of this program," Tabora said.

Through the help of Ateneo de Davao, the program commenced through a research wherein they consulted the Tboli community if they would want a program that is appropriate not only to their culture but also to the standards of DepEd. After the research, the Tboli community gave positive feedback, which means that they are willing to have the program being proposed to them.

TSHS will be initially lodged at Lake Sebu National High School and will be catering to approximately 45 students upon the first implementation of Grade 11 this coming school year 2015-2016.

"We are developing ourselves and we are achieving our goals and aspirations but we should not forget our culture. That is our intention," Manuel said.

PLDT Gabay Guro gives tribute to teachers in Grand Gathering 2014

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PLDT Gabay Guro (2G), the teacher advocacy group of the PLDT Smart Foundation (PSF) and PLDT Managers' Club Inc., organized a biggest  tribute to teachers as it celebrates National Teachers’ Month in this year’s Grand Gathering event at the SM Mall of Asia Arena last October 5.

Over 20,000 teachers from different parts of the country attended this spectacular celebration for free highlighted by a throwback concert featuring popular celebrities, including Ogie Alcasid, Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, Side A, The Voice Kids winners, Derek Ramsey, Jonalyn Viray, Dulce, Rachel Alejandro, Manilyn Reynes, Jessa, Dingdong Avanzado, Iya Villania, Alice Dixson, and many more.

2G has been supporting teachers and students who would like to take up the teaching profession for seven years now. 

All of 2G efforts are aligned with its pillars, which are: 

Teachers’ Training that presents new modules on Emotional Intelligence and IT Literacy and Sustainability; 

Housing and Educational Facilities; 

Livelihood Programs; 

Broadbanding and Computerization of Schools; 

Teachers’ Tribute, highlighted by the 2G Grand Gathering.

The Grand Gathering feature the biggest raffle draws, with substantial major prizes that include a house and lot from Camella Homes, a brand new HAIMA car from Laus Group of Companies, an APE Piaggo three-wing van from Auto Italia, 10 PLDT Home Cyberya Internet Café setups, Retailer Phone Kits and Sims from Smart and Sun, and cash prizes.

Among the other raffle prizes are laptops from PLDT HOME Bro, laptop and tablet in-one from Microsoft, electric fan with oven toaster package from Fujidenzo, gift packs from various sponsors, myPad3 from myPhone, Cignal prepaid kits, quad core polaroid platinum tablets from PLDT HOME Telpad, Samsung tab 7, a trip for two to Hongkong, tricycle from Honda Philippines Inc., and a motorcycle from PR Savings Bank.

2G has awarded around 1,000 scholarship grants to aspiring teachers. It has enabled more than 300 scholars to graduate from its 40 partner schools nationwide.

Five of the 2G scholars have continued their quest for higher learning and received Master’s Degree scholarships from the Philippine Women’s University.

2G and PLDT Hong Kong launched last June this year, a scholarship program for Overseas Filipino Workers’ (OFW) children and dependents. They also sponsored 110 OFW teacher-candidates in their review and venue fees for the Licensure Examination for teachers.

2G and its partners have also donated some 28 classrooms to various public schools in the country, especially those that are located in the calamity-ravaged areas. It was the first organization to build permanent structures in the form of sturdy classrooms after the 7.2-magnitude earthquake that devastated Bohol in 2013. It was likewise one of the first responders in the rehabilitation of typhoon-damaged Leyte.

Jollibee celebrates World Teachers’ Day with exclusive treats

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In celebration of 2014 World Teacher’s Day, Jollibee lets students pay tribute to their second parents with specially-designed appreciation cards that entitle teachers to exclusive Jollibee treats.

Say ‘Thank you, teacher’ with Jollibee Langhap Sarap Meals.

A teacher’s dedication and hard work go a long way in shaping the future of every student. And there’s probably no better person to thank them for all their efforts than the students themselves.

Jollibee lets students pay tribute to their mentors with an exclusive treat. From October 1 to 10, students will get free specially-designed postcards which they can use to greet their teachers and let them avail of special discounts and freebies. In celebration of World Teacher’s Day, the postcard entitles teachers to a P9 discount on the 1-pc. Chickenjoy Super Value meal, and 3 pieces Peach Mango Pies, free, with every purchase of the 6-pc. Chickenjoy Bucket Favorites!

Students can also thank their teachers, past or present, via an online promo. Simply follow @jollibee on Instagram, take a selfie with their favorite teacher and upload the photo along with their personal thank you message. 

They can tag @jollibee and use the hashtag #Thankfie for a chance to receive surprise treats.

This Teacher’s Day, express your gratitude to the educators who have taught valuable lessons on and off the classroom, and who have treated you like their own. 

Visit any Jollibee store nationwide or follow @jollibee on Instagram.

DepEd, Land Bank ink deal for accessible loans for teachers and employees

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Department of Education (DepEd) gearing up for the benefits of the teachers and employees to avail loans through the Land Bank of the Philippines’ (LBP) Livelihood Loan Facility.

Education Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC said that this as an excellent opportunity for teachers and other DepEd Employees to improve their financial welfare by availing of low interest rates offered by LBP.

The Livelihood Loan Facility has a fixed interest rate of 10.5% per annum. Employees can borrow the equivalent of up to 8 months of their gross pay but not exceeding five hundred thousand pesos (PhP 500,000) for qualified rank- and- file employees and one million pesos (PhP 1,000,000) for qualified Department Officials. 

The rate offered by LBP is much lower than the rates offered by most private lenders who are accredited under DepEd’s salary deduction program. For a starting teacher borrowing at the maximum amount, the savings in amortization is approximately one thousand pesos (PhP 1,000) per month which goes a long way in increasing the net take home pay of teachers.

DepEd already has a standing agreement with the LBP where the latter facilitates the release of monthly salaries of DepEd employees through Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards. With this agreement, employees who avail of the Livelihood Loan Facility can receive their loans through their bank accounts. Monthly amortizations towards payment of the loan could be made over-the-counter through salary deductions. 

The DepEd acknowledged that personal loan requirements in most lending institutions, such as necessary collateral and security, have made loans inaccessible. LBP has agreed that these loans shall be secured by the borrower’s assignment of funds such as salaries, allowances, leave credits and other monetary deliverables to the borrower’s bank account. 

To qualify for a loan, borrowers must be regular/ permanent employees of DepEd, between 18 and 62 years of age, and have been in service for at least one year. Because of the nature of the loan it is expected that employees maintain an LBP ATM Payroll account. There are restrictions however. Borrowers should not have any pending criminal or administrative cases against them, must have no pending applications for retirement or due for retirement within the term of the loan. Borrowers must also have a monthly net take home pay of at least three thousand pesos (PhP 3,000). Monthly Net take-home pay refers to the amount after considering all deductions and amortizations of all existing loans including the livelihood loan applied for. 

Aside from Secretary Luistro, other officials present during the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing were LBP President Gilda. E. Pico, LBP Senior Vice President OIC Branch Banking Sector Marilyn M. Tiongson, Department of Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima, DOF Undersecretary Jeremias N. Paul, Jr., DepEd Undersecretary for Finance and Administration Francisco M. Varela, and DepEd Regional Directors and Finance Officers from Regions IV-A, IV-B, and NCR.