Christmas Cheers ’12 kicks-off in Catanduanes

By Edna A. Bagadiong

VIRAC, Catanduanes, Dec 19 (PIA) -- The annual Christmas Cheers- a yuletide entertainment fest in the municipality of Virac started on December 15—a day early than usual.

The activity kicked off with a parade around Virac Poblacion participated by officials of the town headed by the Municipal Mayor Jose Alberto II.

The event was primarily aimed to bring joy and entertainment to local folks as well as to showcase the talents of the students of the various private and public schools in Virac.

The schedule of daily performance is as follows: December 15 (Saturday) – CSU Hablon Dawani; Dec. 16 (Sunday) – CSU Laboratory Schools; Dec. 17 (Monday) – Juan M. Alberto Memorial Elementary School; Dec. 18 (Tuesday) – Taytay Elementary School; Dec. 19 (Wednesday) – Virac Pilot Elementary School; Dec. 20 (Thursday) - Catanduanes Colleges/Ville St. John School; Dec. 21 (Friday) – Catanduanes National High School; Dec. 22 (Saturday) – Palta Small & Big Elementary School/Buyo Integrated School; Dec. 23 (Sunday) – Virac Central E/S, Antipolo E/S and Igang E/S; Dec. 26 (Wednesday) – FICELCO; Dec. 27 (Thursday) – Neo Catechumenal Communities/Hablon Dawani Alumni; Dec. 28 (Friday) – Little Ms. Christmas Cheers 2012/Star Kids; Dec. 29 (Saturday) – Provincial Government; Dec. 30 (Sunday) – Congressional District Office; and Dec. 31 – Virac Municipal Government.

This year’s program coordinator is Efren Sorra co-chaired by Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) District Engineer Ignacio Odiaman.

The activity was sponsored by Immaculate Conception Cathedral Parish, Congressional Office, Provincial Government of Catanduanes, Municipal Government of Virac, DPWH Catanduanes Engineering District, Marriage Encounterers, Catanduanes Tribune, Catanduanes Contractors Association, Mountain Care & Hikers Association, Abuab Auto Supply, FICELCO, Catanduanes Tulungan Club, San Miguel Corporation and Rotaract Club. (MAL/EAB-PIA5 Catanduanes)


DepEd holds First National Conference on K-12 in Naga City

By Analiza S. Macatangay

NAGA CITY, Dec 19 (PIA) -- The Department of Education (DepEd) regional office in Bicol conducted a 3-day National Research Conference on K to 12 Education (NRCKE) from December 12 to 14 at Villa Caceres Hotel, here.

This is to acknowledge the significant contribution of research and related studies to the success of the Philippine educational program.

The president of the Bicol Association of Schools Superintendent Emma Cornejo, also DepEd School Division Superintendent of this city, said the event aims to provide a forum where participants can enhance their skills, share their thoughts and eventually come up with the best educational researches in the country.

Under the theme, “Nurturing a Culture of Research for effective K to 12 Education Outcomes, the event aims to recognize and eventually utilize best educational projects and researches and update stakeholders on the current innovations on studies concerning various educational issues.

Cornejo said that the concept of K to 12 came from the collaborative effort of the members of the steering committee composed of DepEd, Commision on Higher Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and other stakeholders. It is designed to develop a learner to have a solid moral and spiritual grounding. One of its main feature is the strengthening of early childhood education otherwise known as the universal kindergarten.

Topics raised and shared by the participants during the activity include Common Problems on the implementation of Grade Seven Component of K+12 program in Payatan HS and factors affecting teachers perception and attitude towards K+12 implementation at the Camarines Sur National High School. The two concerns were raised by DepEd Camarines Sur researchers Ronald P. Enciso and Liberato M. Dimaiwat respectively.

The activity was also supported by the Philippine Public School Teachers Association, Philippine School Teachers Association and the National Educators Academy of the Philippines.

The interfacing communes with Republic Act No. 10157 or the Kindergarten Educational Act which institutionalizes kindergarten as the part of the basic education system and as a prerequisite for admission to Grade 1.

Cooperating agencies for the event were the Association of DepEd Directors and the Bicol Association of Schools Superintendents has enjoined the participation of DepEd Bureau Directors, Directors of Services, Center and Heads of Units, Regional Directors, Schools Division/ City Superintendents, Heads of Public and Private Elementary and Secondary Schools, among others. (MAL/LSM-PIA5 Camarines Sur)