The LEYTE

LIGHT

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF LEYTE DIVISION

Vol.1, No. 1

Candahug, Palo, Leyte, Region VIII January - March 2016

Inside
Issues
USAID turns over..p2

Gearing up
for K to 12 .. p4
Teaching for life ... p6

Leyte fetes outstanding educators

By Ronald O. Reyes

Gov. Leopoldo Dominico L. Petilla (4th from the left) receives a

plaque from Dr. Ronelo Al K. Firmo during the Pasidungog 2015.
PALO,
Leyte-The
Department of Education
(DepEd)Leyte Division has
awarded
selected
teachers and personnel who had brought
numerous
and
laudable
achievements to the province in 2015 through
this years Pasidungog
Awards.
The office just cannot let the year pass
without recognizing

the efforts of these

people who added
meaningful marks and
created milestones in
the history of our department, said Ronelo Al K. Firmo, DepEd
Leyte schools division superintendent.
Firmo said that 2015
was a victorious year
for Leyte due to the
various programs and
projects it successfully
implemented.
The numerous aca-

demic, sports and other endeavors it participated and conquered.

Our laurel is a
product of meritorious performances,
undying efforts and
dedication of our employees both teaching
and
non-teaching,
said Firmo, noting
how quite rough and
rocky the role played
by its workforce was
particularly in recovering themselves from

the aftermath of super typhoon Yolanda

in November 2013.
This is a special
event, a keepsakeI
am proud and deeply
honored to welcome
everyone to this years
historic recognition of
outstanding accomplishments, the Pasidungog, Firmo said in
his opening message
during the awarding
ceremony on Thursday, February 11.
As always, we are
continuously reminded that we are mere
vessels carrying precious cargoes with
the ultimate mission
of unloading these
in every port that we
may
have docked
such that they will be
consumed to make a
difference and effect
betterment in the lives
of others, he added.

By: Rodel L. Cabuhoc

Koronadal hosts NSPC 2016;
City Mayor assures participants safety P& Cleofe T. Pilande

THE GUESTS. DepEd Sec. Bro. Armin A. Luistro (3rd from the left) attentively listens the
Welcome Message of Mayor Peter B. Miguel.
Nearly 5,000 delegates from 17 regions of the country
attended the kick-off
ceremony of 2016 National Schools Press
Conference at the
City Hall grounds of

Koronadal City, South

Cotabato, Feb. 22.
In his welcome
message, Mayor Peter B. Miguel assured
the NSPC participants of their safety.
Koronadal is

Thai royalty visits

Yolanda
Projects in Leyte

By May Reah Carel

& Gemma Otivar
Princess of Thailand,
Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, paid Leyte a
visit to check on the
projects she has been
funding in Dagami,
Leyte, Jan. 19-20.
Princess Maha
was welcomed by
Provl Gov. Leopoldo
Dominico L. Petilla,
DepEd Regional Dir.
Luisa
Bautista-Yu,
Leyte Schools Division Superintendent
Ronelo Al K. Firmo,
Leyte Division SGOD
Chief Rhodelia G.
Orbino and the MatalomRondalla Band
at the Daniel Z. Romualdez
airport.
Her Highness
donated R8-millionworth school building
comprised of a classroom, principals office and school clinic
to replace the original building damaged
by super typhoon
Yolanda in Nov. 2013.
The Thai Princess also donated an
amount for the school
fish pond, and milk
and lunch program.

of 21st Century Campeaceful - not a warzone pus Journalists in Upplace as what most of holding Good Govthe Filipinos believed, ernance,
Leadership
Miguel
emphasized. and
Transparency.
He added that Koronadal is a promising city
for business ventures.
Keynote Speaker Kara Patria David
, GMA News Anchor ,
shared to the journalists her commitment to
live her profession more
than the conventional.
This years confer- HER HIGHNESS. Princess of Thailand Maha Chakri
ence is anchored on Sirindhorn (center) converses with Dir. Luisa Bautista-Yu
the theme, The Role during the ribbon-cutting ceremonies in Dagami, Leyte.

PAGE 2

January - March 2016

LEYTE LIGHT

Luistro braces NSPC16

Citing his reflection on what he has to

leave behind his 129
days in the Department of Education,
Secretary
Armin
Luistro graced the
kick-off
ceremony
of the 2016 National
Schools Press Conference at the Koronadal
City Hall, Feb. 22.
Anchored on the
theme The Role
of the 21st Century
Campus Journalist in
Upholding Good Gov-

ernance, Leadership,
and
Transparency,
the DepEd Secretary
spoke in front of 5,000
delegates the need for
them to be noble and
lead the world in the
quest for peace by
never allowing negative thinking onward.
Luistro emphasized the problems of the world,
the role of campus
journalist in nation
building
encouraging
everybody

NEWS

By Cesar Montano

their crucial role in

the coming election.
It was noted thatLuistro was the Former
President of Ateneo
De Manila University before he was
appointed as DepEd
Secretary by the Aquino
administration.
During histerm, he was the
prime mover of
the K to 12 curriculum
which
will be implemented this year.

Leyte tops RFOT, RSPC, EVRAA 15

By MC Vincoy

Becoming the
over-all
champion in the Regional
Festival of Talents
(RFOT,) Regional
Schools Press Conference
(RSPC),
and Eastern Visayas Regional Athletic
Association
(EVRAA) is both a
blessing and a clear
sign that DepEd
Leyte has already
risen from the ashes
of thecataclysmictyphoon Yolanda.

Dr. Ronelo Al K.
Firmo, DepEd Leyte
Schools Division Superintendent, declared
after Leyte Division
bested twelve other divisions, namely: Baybay City, Biliran City,
Borongan City,Calbayog City, Catbalogan City, Maasin City,
Ormoc City, Tacloban
City, Eastern Samar,
Northern Samar, Samar and Southern

Leyte during the RSPC

and RFOT 2015 both
held at the Hilongos
Central School and
Hilongos
National
Vocational School inHilongos, Leyte on
Nov.12-15 and the
EVRAA in Ormoc
City, Leyte on Jan.31Feb. 5, 2016.
Leyte emerged as
the over-all winner
in RFOT during the
awarding
ceremonies on Nov. 14 by
seizing a total of 818
points from the elementary and high
school competitions.
The key reason
to becoming declared
as the champion in
most of the various
skills competed is
solely through the collaborative efforts of
the Office of the Superintendent through
the Division Technolympics family headed
by Technolympics coordinator and his fellow officers, affirmed
Dr. Gil R. Esplanada

SDS Ronelo Al K. Firmo delivers his message during

the closing ceremony of RSPC and RFOT 2016

DepEd Sec. Bro. Armin A. Luistro in his

Jr., the Leyte Divi- opening message during the opening cersion Technolympics emony of NSPC 2016 at Koronadal City.
RFOT

coordinator.
Leyte also triumphed as the over-all
victor in the RSPC as
it ruled the stage both
in the elementary and
secondary journalistic
categories on Nov. 15.
Meanwhile, Leyte
emerged
as
the
EVRAA
champion for having garnered 13 gold, seven silver and four
bronze
medals.

Leyte Division Pasidungog Awardees

RO8 honors DepEd Leyte

Budget Office By MC Vincoy/Gemma Otivar

Leyte Division
Budget Office spearheaded by Budget
Officer Dominador
L. Lambonao nailed
the distinction Outstanding
Professional Performance
in the Submission of
Budgetary Reports
for C.Y. 2015 during
the Regional Seminar/Workshop on
the Preparation of
C.Y. 2015 Year-End
Financial Reports
last Jan. 18-21 at the
Sabin Resort Hotel,
Ormoc City, Leyte.
Lambonao shared
that his holding of
monthly
meetings

with the bookkeepers

of the eight autonomous schools of the
division and personally scrutinizing their
reports paved way
for the award which
is initiated by the
Alma Suyon, Chief
Budget and Finance
Division of RO8.
The triumphproves
to be so timely for
Lambonaos
recent
promotion from being
a Budget Officer Designate for 12 yearsto
becomingthe DepEd
Leyte Budget Officer.
Since the division is
the pioneering recipient of such an award,
Lambonao said that

it doesnt only prove

the efficiency of the
department in accomplishing its monthly
reports on top of Leyte
Divisions being the
biggest division in the
country but also serve
as a motivation to
sustain suchstanding
in the years to come.
To urge the autonomous
schools
to achieve accuracy and timeliness in
the submission of
their reports, I hope
that the organizers
would
incorporate
in the Pasidungog
the search for outstanding bookkeepers, says Lambonao.

LEYTE LIGHT

NEWS

January - March 2016

PAGE 3

DepEd Leyte mentors, studes rule natl tilts

By: Maria Celeste Vincoy

Dr. Gil Esplanada (left )with Dr. Daga of DepEd

Region VIII show their certificates of Recognition during the awarding ceremony of NFOT

Six DepEd Leyte

teachers and three
students
bagged
awards during the
13th National Science Quest, National Childrens Congress, and National

Festival of Talents.
LanieAstilla,
Akeem Joe Cabillan, Ismael Jordan
Posion, and RuelReataza, Grade 4, 5,
6, and -9 teachers,
seized 1st place in

their Strategic Intervention Material

(SIM) competitions
during the 13th
National
Science
Quest at the Teachers Camp, Baguio
City last Feb. 5-7.
Similarly, teachers
Edgar Cavito of Pitogo Elem. School,
Jaro II District and
Joyce BargayoCollanto of Luntad
Elem. School, Palo
I District ranked
3rd and 5th in SciArt
Competition
and in Strategic Intervention Material
(SIM), respectively.
And for student category, Kimberly Vera

Usaid turns over water facilities

to storm-hit Leyte schools

PALO,
Leyte-The
United States Agency for International
Development (USAID) has turned over
storm-resistant water
infrastructure facilities to two schools in
Palo town in Leyte
province as part of its
Be Secure Project
after the 2013 super
typhoon
Yolanda.
Access to clean
and adequate water is
critical, we continue to
work to better prepare
from natural disasters, said Dani Newcomb, division director, environment office
of USAID Philippines.
Joining Newcomb
during the ceremony was USAID-Be
Secure Project deputy chief of party
Lisa
Pagkalinawan.
Engr. Ariel Lapus,

water service team

leader of the project,
said Palo National
High school and Palo
I Central Elementary School along with
eight others are among
those identified and
selected by USAID-Be
Secure Project to
build back better.
These schools in
Leyte are Tanauan National High School,
Dulag National High
School, Dulag Elementary
School,
GranjaKalinawan
National High School,
Cassidy Elementary
School, Alang-alang
National High School,
Burauen
National
High School and Leyte
Provincial Hospital.
"USAID provided
cistern to store potable water coming from
the source, pump and

elevated tank to generate pressure. A whole

generation of piping
system to supply water system to all washing areas and classrooms, said Lapus
Cisterns and elevated tanks turned over
to Palo National High
School with its 2, 500
students and Palo Elementary School with
its around 2,000 students can provide 20
liters and 15 liters of
water per day for each
student, respectively.
The water facility
can withstand 300-kilometer per hour
wind, Lapus said.
USAID also trained
utility personnel on
water demand management to use the facilities wisely. In addition, the water system
of other schools and

Pedere, a Grade 7
student of Hilongos
National Vocational School (HNVS),
won
6th
place
in Math Quiz 7 .
Meanwhile, Daniel Stephen Canillas
Aguilos of Special
Science Elementary
School, Alangalang
I Central School led
the National Childrens Congress in
Laguna last Feb. by
nailing 1st place on
Science Journalism.
On the other hand,
Jeremiah R. Barrientos, Grade 10
student whos also
from HNVS, ranked
3rd in PC Assembly
with Configuration

and
Networking
during the NFOT
in
General Santos last Feb 22-25.
This years excellent
performances of teachers and
students boost the
morale of the division, Gina P. Diloy,
LeyteEducation
Program Supervisor in Math, said.
Diloy
challenged
the victors esp. the
winning
teachers
to not just sustain
their performances
but also and more
significantly, to really implement SIM
in their classrooms
to aid low performing
learners.

By Ronald O. Reyes

Access to clean and adequate

water is critical, we continue to work to
better prepare from natural disasters
health clinics across
Leyte province are also
being
rehabilitated
right now, he added.
Aside from constructing water facilities, USAID has also
continued
building
classrooms in the
Yolanda-affected areas in the province.
Palo students and
Leyte school officials
led by Palo I district supervisor Philip Teraza,
Palo Central Elementary School principal
Melfi Grace Sanchez,
Leyte division senior
education
program
specialist Marie Joy
Arias, Leyte division
project development
officer Karen Barril,
and Palo National

High School department head FidelinoJosol thanked USAID for the donation.
Words would not
be enough to express
our profound gratitude. Personally, when
Yolanda struck my first
impression was that
the big disaster would
cost a very long time
for recovery. I thought
its a wrath from God.
"But what struck us
here in Palo was a result
of a confluence of events.
The world learned that
there is Palo, they heard
us, and they came to
help. When Yolanda
came, you also came.
We thank the American people for their
generosity, said Josol.

Hail DepED Leyte. Our undying flame of hope!

PAGE 4

January - March 2016

LEYTE LIGHT

EDITORIAL/OPINION

Gearing up for K to 12

abmendiola16

Roving Eyes
Sofia Losaynon

Whos
who?
Ituloy ang Daang Matuwid,

Walang Maiiwan sa Gobyernong may

Puso, Tapang at Malasakit, Gaganda
ang Buhay and Stupid is not forever
these are just few of the campaign slogans
which can be heard all over the nation.
Election is in the air from television to
radio, it can be felt by everyone and can
also be heard from the mouth of those
concerned. Now is the time for us to exercise our right to suffrage. However; the
question is: Do we really have the freewill to vote for what our hearts dictate or
we are dictated by the people around us
just because we are in the same color?
Everyone has the right to choose
the candidate whom he considers the
best. Through this right, we are entitled to give our own opinion regarding
the issues around us. Let us be guided by this adage: In every right there
is a corresponding responsibility. We
must remember that any comment
or reaction must be based from facts.
We cant just say something because
we have something to say but rather
we must say something because the
issue can affect our country in general and the Filipino people in particular.
Our vote can be an instrument of
changing the face of the government
and it lies in our hands as voters.
Vote for the benefit of the people.

Notwithstanding the criticisms received by the government from various sectors and even some lawmakers, the
Department of Education (DepEd) remains keen in pushing its new K to 12 curriculum nationwide by June 2016.

Signed into law by President Benigno Aquino III in
2013, students under K to 12 program will have mandatory
one year of kindergarten, six years of elementary schooling
(grades 1 to 6), four years of junior high school (grades 7 to
10), and two years of senior high school (grades 11 to 12).

Considering that the Philippines is one of the
three countries in the world and the only one in Asia that
still had only 10 years in basic education cycle, DepEd
assured K to 12 gives more opportunities for learners to
master basic academic skills and earn livelihood trainings, particularly to those who cannot enter college.

Leyte Division is verymuchreadyforthefullimplementation of the K to 12 curriculum come 2016, according
to the Schools Division Superintendent Ronelo Al Firmo.

In fact, we were able to successfully pilot the
senior high school program in Palo National High
School and Merida Vocational High School. You
could observe the impact that about 95 percent of
our graduates are now employed, Firmo earlier said.
K to 12 is viable, very helpful to
our students and their families, he added.

Firmo however admitted that many people are still
misinformed on the advantages of the K to 12 program.

On this note, classroom teacherswho are
the frontliners of the agencyare enjoined to gear
up for the efficient and effective introduction of
the curriculum come this years school opening.

The

LEYTE LIGHT Staff

Editor-in-Chief:
Cesar Montano
Associate Editor:
Cleofe Pilande
SECTION EDITORS
Gemma Otivar, Evangeline Mercado,
Estrellita Morano, Sofia Losaynon,
May Reah Carel, Ronald Reyes,
Maria Maida B. Flores, Joel Cramen,
Felix Asis, Arnulfo Mendiola, Rodel Cabuhoc
Lay-out Artist: Antonio B. Dacatimbang
Contributor
Maria Celeste L. Vincoy
CONSULTANTS
Dr. Arlita Labaclado
Mrs. Grace G. Villanueva
Ms. Verda Fabillo
Dr. Ronelo Al K. Firmo, CESO V
Schools Division Superintendent

EDITORIAL/OPINION
Secondary

Elementary

LEYTE LIGHT

January - March 2016

Leyte Division Pasidungog Awardees 2015

PAGE 5

PAGE 6

January - March 2016

LEYTE LIGHT

FEATURES

Teaching for Life

By: Cesar Montao

WHEN I was bestowed with the prestigious award as one of the Outstanding School Paper Advisers in the Philippines during the National
Schools Press Conference at Naga City, 2009, I said to myself, nothing more
shall I dream of, because the verve of feelings was unexplained and the accomplishment is what any other School Paper Advisers was aspiring for.
The honor I got will remain in the annals of history of my
school and will be a living testament in my life and family.
Before the Division Schools Press Conference in 1991 at Tanauan
School of Craftsmanship and Home Industries (TSCHI), our Principal,
Ms. Rebecca S. Pedrigal asked our English teachers who would like to be a
School Paper Adviser and come-up with a school paper. However, nobody
nod in affirmation. It was then the time when I accepted the challenge not
because I was one of the English teachers but because nobody else dared.
The first task of attending the DSSPC was not in vain for two
of my student writers Jonathan Galgata and Joy Navarette won
in Sports Writing (English), News Writing (English) who qualified us to participate in the Regional Schools Press Conference
and luckily qualified to participate for the first time in the National Secondary Schools Press Conference held at Tacloban City, 1991.

I took all the efforts in bringing Javier National High
School to the center stage of Campus Journalism by holding special sessions on Saturdays and Sundays in school every time we were about to participate in press conferences.

I befriended veteran winning School Paper Advisers in the circulation like Paul Duavis, Robert Gudio, John Anthony Romagos and Vicente Martija hoping that they would
give me some tips on how to win in the press conferences.

Proved to my worth when Fernando Cultura won 7th Place
in Sports Writing (English) during the NSSPC 1996 at Tongob City.

We were overwhelmed with the feat considering that from a remote high school garnered a national win.

The pieces of advice and tips I got from my new experienced
friends paid off and I used that as my best practice in the school publication to hone my student writers in coming up with a school paper and winning in the Division, Regional, and National School Press Conferences.

I scouted potential students from June to July through a
competitive examination so I could choose staff writers as my part
of the school publication, I also conducted school-based or cluster-based Journalism Training for student writers who passed
the qualifying test with expert resource speakers in journalism.

I also pushed student writers to help me release the
maiden issue of our school paper.
For me, the best practices I learned from my advisers catapulted our school in bringing some national accolades in National Press Conferences:

A 5th Place win in Copyreading and Headline Writing (English) by Elmira Ybaez at Dagupan City NSSPC, 1998 and 7th Place
Winner in Feature Writing (Filipino) of Jovelyn Mantilla, NSSPC, 2003.

Best moments of my career were a second place win in Sports
Writing (Filipino) in 2006, at Kalibo, Aklan with my son Cesar S. Montao
II as the sports writer and was adjudged in the following year as one of the
Outstanding Campus Journalists in the Philippines at NSSPC, Baguio City.

Two 4th placers in News Writing (Filipino) Windy Alumbres and
Brendon Vivero Sports Writing(English) at Naga City, Camarines Sur, 2009.
I was also adjudged as Outstanding School Paper Adviser on that NSSPC.

A back to back win of JomilAbueva as 4th place in
Sports Writing (Filipino) at Puerto Princesa, Palawan 2012,
and Sports Writing (Filipino) 5th at Ormoc City NSPC, 2013.

Regie Rodriguez of Javier Central School was also 7th Place
win in Sports Writing (Filipino) in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, 2012.

Nova Mae Gandolfo was declared as Champion in Sports Writing
(Filipino) during the 2015 National Schools Press Conference at Taguig City.

Never in my mind should I expect of first place feat in such
a gathering of best pupils and students in the country but it was true.

Hardwork, perseverance, and determination were the strong points in betting deadlines for school paper and all
the while, thinking the possible topics to
be given in the coming press conferences.

Success! not yet because I still
want to prove more to the school, division, and region something which will be
remembered before I hang-up my pen.

I hope I can still conquer Luzon,
Visayas, and Mindanao with a national
win before I abdicate as school paper adviser to someone who is better than me.

That when I parked my pen as SPA,
I will be remembered that once there was
Cesar T. Montao, a Social Studies teacher who implanted legacy in Javier National High School in the field of journalism.

FEATURES

Causerie with

LEYTE LIGHT

January - March 2016

Ernani

PAGE 7

By: May Reah Pasayloon-Carel

Excellent. Responsible. Natural. Abreast. Noble. Inspiring. These are some
words that maybe attributed to this man. His name is based on the play Hernani
by Victor Hugo. Just like in a play where one is given time to show on stage, he
plays a protagonist in his own life story. He knows that every chapter counts.
How he portrays his role spells the difference. Moreover, he also knows the
value of time. Unlike in movies, a play does not have take twos. Thus, when
the spotlight is switched on, you must have the best action you could ever do.
Not all persons use their time wisely but at an early age, he spent his time doing profitable work to make more money. He did art work from Grade 5 to 2nd year
college. He worked as a tricycle driver when he was in 1st and 2nd year high school
and as a factory worker when he was in 3rd year high school. He was asked to design the bulletin boards of his teacher and out of the excess art materials, he made
personalized bookmarks. He charged one peso per letter so the longer the name
is the bigger is his income. He did all those because since then he is self-driven.
He unveiled that he wanted to buy things without asking money from his parents.

He also spends his time investing in others to build better relationships and
creating high-quality memories. He sings love songs to his wife, lullabies to
his children, and godly hymns for God. As a teacher, he serves as an innovative teacher who advocates technology integration in education. No wonder, he Reah Carel: What motivated you to be a teacher?
was able to climb the pedestal because he knows how to use his time profitably. Ernani Fernandez: I am inspired by my teachers
to be one of them. I have seen how my teachers at
He does not use time merely for his own sake, he uses it for the Francisco P. Felix Memorial National High School in
good of his family, his students, the community and for Gods glory. Cainta, Rizal applied the best strategies in teaching.
This man is blessed with a golden voice, a golden heart, and a golden mind. He is one of the ten RC: What is your teaching philosophy?
2015MetrobankFoundationOutstandingTeacherofthePhilippines.HeisErnaniS.Fernandez. EF: My teaching philosophy is just the same with other teachers and that is to give quality education to
my students. I am a product of a public school system
and Ive never been enrolled in a private school from
elementary to college. But I am still very proud to be
a product of public schools and a state university.
RC: How would you like to be remembered as a teacher?
EF: I want to be remembered as the Innovative
Teacher of Palo National High School because I am
an advocate of technology integration in education.
RC: What was the greatest problem you faced as a teacher?
EF: The greatest problem I encountered is the
teachers who dont like change. Even if you give
them the facility materials and all the ideas for innovation they will still go back and look for possible problems instead of looking for solutions.
RC: What is the meaning of the Metrobank
Outstanding
Award
for
you?
EF: This award gives hope to my family, serves as inspiration to my fellow teachers, and offers an opportunity to the community.
RC: There are teachers who also deserve recognition. What is your message for them?
EF: The most important recognition is from our Almighty which is the blessings He always gives us.
If you really have the passion in education, the qualities of being an outstanding teacher will come
out. You also try to join the search. Be yourself.
Be natural. Let God be the center of all your plans.
Excellent. Responsible. Natural.
Abreast. Noble. Inspiring

The LEYTE

LIGHT

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF LEYTE DIVISION

Vol.1, No. 1

Candahug, Palo, Leyte, Region VIII January - March 2016

Leyte tribes find refuge in education

BATO, Leyte-A Badjao native from Jolo,
Sulu has been teaching high school students
for 17 years since his parents migrated to
Leyte province when he was still a child.
Jesus Menjani Esmani, 48, surveys the
span of his classroom and finds that it is good.
We are known for our nomadic life. Because of the education I got, I was able to
find my permanent place here in Leyte, says
Esmani, who also happened to be the first
professional among the over 600 Badjaos
residing in Barangay Dolho, in Bato, Leyte.
At present, he is a regular permanent teacher at Bato National High School in the town.
My life was very difficult then. Most
of my childhood days were spent at the
sea fishing with my father. I soon realized that I have to study so I can lift
myself from poverty, Esmani adds.
Education helps me overcome discrimination and hopelessness, he says.
Salvador Lampinigan, 38, the second
Badjao who got a college degree in Dolho,
also shares the sentiment of Esmani, believing that education will save our tribe.
While still reviewing to get his professional teachers license, Lampinigan also finds
time advocating the importance of education
to his fellow Badjaos in their community.
They are now more inclined of going to school instead of roaming around
begging or doing nothing, he adds.
Meanwhile, education officials in Leyte
have pushed for various literacy programs
for Badjaos and other indigenous people like
Mamanwa and Manobo who are not able
to enter formal schooling in the province.
From Bato to Isabel and Burauen in Leyte,
we have opened alternative learning system
to bring education at their doorstep, says
Roberto Mangaliman, chief of the Alternative Learning System (ALS) in the province.
We have 302 teachers both permanent and volunteers working for their education, says Mangaliman, adding that their
literacy program is a step to preserve and
promote the tribes culture and tradition.
Mangaliman says he is happy that their programs got all the support from Leyte Division Schools
Superintendent
Ronelo
Al
Firmo.
In Bato alone, there are 69 Badjaos attending
classes," says Maria Rita Salilin, ALS teacher.

By Ronald O. Reyes

We also made them sign a covenant that they will fully support the program, adds Rosemarie Guino, focal person for indigenous peoples in Eastern Visayas.
While tribal elders and parents are enrolled in ALS to learn
basic literacy and numeracy, their children and grandchildren are also attending formal schooling in their villages.
Some are slowly improving. Others are now learning,
like counting and computing numbers, says Jumar Orias,
the 29-year old AbotAlam-ALS volunteer teacher of the
Mamanwa tribe in barangay Kagbana, Burauen, Leyte.
It feels good to be in school. We learn a lot. This is important
so we won't feel ashamed of ourselves anymore, says 49-year old
Mamanwa parent Elma Banagbanag, in Waray, the local language.