‘Filipinas’ no more: DepEd adopts the use of ‘Pilipinas’ in schools

JOJO RINOZA / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN

by Merlina Hernando-Malipot, Manila Bulletin

Following the decision Commission on the Filipino Language or Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF), the Department of Education (DepEd) directed public and private schools nationwide to stop using “Filipinas” in the teaching and learning process.

The DepEd Memorandum No. 74, s. 2022 signed by DepEd Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Epimaco Densing III dated Aug. 26 reaffirmed KWF’s decision to revoke Board of Commissioners Resolution No. 13-19.

Issued to bureau directors, directors of regions, superintendents of schools, and heads of public and private schools, the DM No. 74 s. of 2022 was DepEd’s response to the decision of KWF Chairman Arthur Casanova on the matter.

As per KWF’s decision, DepEd directed schools to bring back the use of “Pilipinas” in the teaching and learning process because the official name of the country is “Pilipinas” and not “Filipinas” as stated in the 1987 Constitution.

“Pilipino” should also be used when referring to the people and culture of the Philippines.

Despite this, DepEd said that there is no need to change the spelling — from “Filipinas” to “Pilipinas” — when it comes to printed materials such as books, Self-Learning Modules (SLMs), Weekly Home Learning Plans, Learning Activity Sheets, and other types before the release of the said memorandum.

“Iwasto na lamang ng mga guro at kawani habang ginagamit sa proseso ng pagtuturo (Teachers and personnel simply need to correct it while using it in the teaching process),” DepEd said.

Moreover, DepEd asked schools to use the correct spelling prescribed by KWF in instructional materials and correspondence that will be officially released.

In 2013, National Artist for Literature Virgilio Almario, who was then the chairman of KWF, pushed for the use of “Filipinas” as the international name of the country.

Davao de Oro Allots 7 Million Pesos to Support Schools on “Blended Learning”

NABUNTURAN, DAVAO DE ORO

 – The Provincial Local Schools Board (PLSB) of Davao de Oro led by Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy, allotted a total amount of ₱7,044,441.12 from its Special Education Fund (SEF) to the Department of Education-Davao de Oro (DepEd-DdO) to be used on its coming shift to the “blended learning” approach. This is in accordance with the directive from President Duterte that no face to face interactions shall take place on the opening of classes on August 24, 2020. 

The aforementioned amount will be used to buy essential tools for public schools such as external drives, WiFi modems, video cameras, transistor radios, learning materials, and workbooks for school levels kindergarten to senior high school.

The Schools Division of Davao de Oro through Dr. Eufemia Gamutin, its superintendent and concurrent Vice Chair of the PLSB, proposed these items to the school board. 

In a recent meeting with the eleven municipal mayors of Davao de Oro, Governor Tyron Uy encouraged everyone to support DepEd’s shift to blended learning. The province’s eleven mayors enthusiastically supported him in response. 

The governor further encouraged individuals and groups to join Brigada Eskwela. In his message, he quipped that this year’s opening of classes fall under extra-ordinary times, and that helping our schools brave through this crisis is of utmost importance. 

“We are all duty-bound to support our students. As they always say, it takes a village to educate a child. Let us be that village”. 

Earlier, the governor signed a partnership agreement with the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), to install free WiFi stations in the province’s schools. The provincial government’s official radio station will also be allotting an hour from Mondays to Fridays. Through Vice Governor Maricar Zamora’s initiative, Z Radio will also be allotting four hours a day to help DepEd’s alternative modes of instruction. 

DDO employees rendered Bayanihan services in Sitio Puting Bato

Davao de Oro --- The Provincial government of Davao de Oro through the Provincial Administrator’s Office - Information Division (PAO-ID) and Information Technology and Communication Development Division (PAO-ITCDD) rendered Bayanihan services in Sitio Puting Bato, Barangay Ngan, Compostela, Davao de Oro on February 21, 2020.

Among the services rendered are the school ground beautification and community-based feeding program.

Puting Bato in Ngan is one out of five beneficiary schools built in just 20 days through bayanihan way. It’s the farthest area in the province classified as Geographically isolated and Disadvantage area. The school is served as a path way in searching a quality and life-changing education to their upcoming future.

Michelle Ivory Mangco, Teacher 1 expressed her thanks and gratitude to the Provincial Government through the different projects and programs implemented to Sitio Puting Bato Elementary School. “It brings a great help when it comes to landscaping and school ground beautification,” she said.

She added that every Friday the children felt happy and excited as they perceived the sound of trucks coming to their school. A great gratitude also for being a role model and letting the children inspired as they continue in cultivating their golden future.

“This is definitely another major step towards a sustainable development and improvement not only in our province but also to our people,” Mangco added.

Pastora Myrna Mansige, shown her appreciation for the good governance towards the people such as providing materials needed in school beautification and expressed her gratitude for arming our children with good and quality education through Bayanihan Activity.

“Even if we’re in a far-flung area, the local government is still here to uplift and valued us by fulfilling our necessary needs” she added.

 (Rheafe Hortizano, ID Davao De Oro)

Another Bayanihan school in Comval opens

By Fe F Maestre

Pantukan, Compostela Valley – Grade 8 student, Jerry Kim Baltazar, goes to school everyday at 6 in the morning to walk about an hour and a half just tokan reach the nearest school in Sitio Sapanglubog, Barangay Tibagon in Pantukan. 

Used to be made of a makeshift tent, the 18-year old student has the more reason to be excited in the morning of October 9, 2019 as this will be the first time they will have their classes inside the newly-built 1 unit-3 classroom building in the said sitio.

“Ok ra magbaktas kog layo, ang importante makahuman ko kay gusto ko mag-maestro ug makatabang nila ma’m puhon diri,” he said, referring to the only 4 teachers assigned in the area.    

Named the Gintong Pag-asa Integrated School, the school was built through Bayanihan sa Paaralan (BSP) initiated by the provincial government of Compostela Valley in partnership with the local governments, national agencies and private partners. The scheme  follows the bayanihan way and the whole of nation approach as a peace-building initiative as it reaches geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA) and conflict-affected areas (CAA) in the province.

“We want to see to it that the farthest communities will not be left behind, they deserve our attention more. Kadtong lisod ang dalan, kadtong wala pa naabot sa serbisyo sa gobyerno ang dapat tutukan. Wala’y lisod nga problema basta magtinabangay,” said Gov. Tyron Uy.

Also joining the turn-over ceremony were Pantukan Mayor Roberto Yugo,  Ltc Esteveyn E. Ducusin of 71^st IB, Cong. Ruwel Peter Gonzaga,  DepEd SDS Dr. Reynante Solitario,  and other local officials.

The school has a total of 55 Kinder to Grade 8 students according to Mellisa Quirol, Teacher in-charge. “Nagsugod mi ug tudlo diri paghunong gyud sa Salupungan aron dili madelatar ang pag-eskuwela sa mga bata. Katong makeshift pa lang among school, naglisud jud mi kay guut kaayo mao nga lipay kaayo mi nga dali kaayo nahuman ug conducive kaayo ang maong eskuwelahan,”  Quirol said.

This is the 3^rd series of newly-built schools that was turned over under the Bayanihan sa Paaralan project with the construction finished in just several weeks. Particularly, a 1 unit-2 classroom building each was turned over on October 3 in Purok 3, Brgy. Panansalan in Compostela and another on October 4 in Sitio Bongloy, Brgy. Pagsabangan, New Bataan.

At the end of this week, another 1 unit-2 classroom building will soon be turned over on October 12 at Side 4, Brgy. Mangayon in Compostela.  These four school sites kicked off the build just on September 20, 2019.

While the last school to be turned over will happen on October 13 at the remote Sitio Danawan, Brgy. Manurigao in New Bataan with its kick-off ceremony held just last September 29, 2019.

What’s more, aside from the classroom buildings, a teachers’ cottage to house the teachers who will be staying for the whole week due to distance, a Kusina ng Kalinga kitchen, and a Gulayan sa Paaralan vegetable garden were also put up as component to the Bayanihan sa Paaralan project.   

The BSP school sites were led by management teams from the different offices of the provincial government and partnered with Municipal and barangay LGUs, Department of Education and other national agencies, and other private partners.  The Provincial Agriculturists Office, Prov’l Veterinary Office, Prov’l Assessor’s Office, Prov’l Engineering Office, Comval Provincial Hospital-Pantukan, MLGU Pantukan, MLGU Mabini, DepEd Pantukan District, BLGU Tibagon, and 2^nd Dist. Congressional Office managed the said school build in the area. (fe maestre/ id comval)

TURN-OVER

Comval Governor Jayvee Tyron L. Uy together with Congressman Ruwel Peter Gonzaga, Pantukan Mayor Roberto M. Yugo and OIC-Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Reynante A. Solitario led the turnover  of the newly-built 1 unit-3 classroom building in Sitio Sapanglubog, Barangay Tibagon in Pantukan, Comval on October 9, 2019. (Photo by:M. Lasaca, ID Comval)

NAIA and Bus Terminals Jam-Packed as Pinoys Go Back to Work and School

Published January 4, 2016 8:28am

With the holiday season over, it's back to school and back to work for many Filipinos on Monday, a report on Unang Balita said.

Those who spent their vacation in provinces have flocked to bus terminals, while those who went to Manila for the holidays trooped to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport for flights back home.

In Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, bus trips were already fully booked on Monday, but this did not prevent people from hoping to be chance passengers.

Police were on the alert to provide security to passengers, the report said.

At terminals in Balanga City, Bataan, buses were full within five minutes due to the volume of people wanting to get a ride in time for the first day of work or school on Monday.

Meanwhile, at the Odiongan Port in Romblon, the queue was already long for tickets. Some passengers even camped out on Sunday night to be able to get in line first.

In Legazpi City, Albay, passengers who had their vacation in the city had difficulty getting tickets to Manila since the bus company does not accept reservations.

Passengers had no choice but wait in line.

The dispatchers however said there were enough buses going to Manila on Monday.

In Baguio, the situation was almost the same, with passengers coming in droves to get on buses going to Manila.

Bus companies had to field out more buses to accommodate all the passengers.

They also gave the assurance there were enough buses for those going back to Manila.

NAIA

Meanwhile, at NAIA, passengers themselves have already expected there will be more people at the airport on Monday.

Many of them were going back home to the provinces after spending the holidays in Manila.

Several passengers went to NAIA early enough for their domestic flights to avoid any inconvenience.

One balikbayan family was seen with their luggage wrapped in cling wrap, since they said they heard the news about the laglag-bala scam.

Authorities reminded passengers to be at NAIA at least two hours before their domestic flight, and three hours before their international flight to avoid any inconvenience. —KG, GMA News