Philippine Schools Overseas Hold Annual Conference in Manila

OWWA Dir. Andrelyn R. Gregorio, DepEd Usec. Lorna Dig – Dino, CFO Usec. Astravel Pimentel – Naik, DOLE Usec. Claro A. Arellano (seated third from the left to third from the right) with the participants of the 16th Conference of Philippine Schools Overseas

As part of its efforts to provide quality assistance to overseas Filipinos and their children, the Inter-Agency Committee on Philippine Schools Overseas (IACPSO) conducted the 16th Conference of Philippine Schools Overseas. With the theme “Philippine Schools Overseas: Achieving Excellence in the Changing World,” the conference aimed to highlight the need to promote excellence in teaching and learning to produce graduates equipped with necessary knowledge, skills and values responsive to the challenges of globalization.

The event was held on June 19-22, 2018 at the Diamond Hotel in Manila and was attended by sixty-nine representatives from 33 Philippine Schools in Bahrain, Greece, China, East Timor, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Libya, Oman, Qatar, and United Arab Emirates (UAE). The upcoming and newly-established schools in Thailand, Italy and UAE also attended as observers.

The conference was formally opened by the members of the IACPSO represented by Undersecretary Lorna Dig – Dino of the Department of Education (DepEd), Undersecretary Claro A. Arellano of the Department of Labor and Employment, Undersecretary Astravel Pimentel – Naik of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), and Director Andrelyn R. Gregorio of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.

In her keynote speech, Usec. Dino said that she envisions all Philippine schools overseas to become model of excellence and challenged the participants to continuously strive for excellence. She stressed that achieving excellence is a collaborative effort between the school managers, teachers, students and the community, combined with the school’s strategic planning for progress.

The first plenary session began with the discussion of the “K to 12 Updates: DepEd New Issuances Affecting the K to 12 Implementation” by Usec. Dino of the DepEd’s Office of Curriculum and Instruction. Usec. Dino shared with the participants the DepEd’s three (3) core messages which are, Alignment of Teaching – Learning to the Big Picture, Inclusive Education: the Core Principle and Curriculum Goals and Exits. She reminded the teachers to strengthen the classroom instruction that is aligned with the curriculum and continuously teach with love and passion to develop the students’ full potential.

Dr. Rosita L. Navarro, Chairperson of the PRC Board of Professional Teachers,   enlightened the participants on the “Continuing Professional Development.” She encouraged the participants to design, prioritize and implement the faculty development program in each PSO to continuously improve the delivery of quality education in their respective schools.

The first day ended with the presentation of Atty. Rhoan G.L. Orebia of the DepEd’s Legal Service on “Addressing Legal and Ethical Issues in Teaching.” Atty Orebia discussed the relevant legal and ethical issues in teaching and ways to protect the rights of children in school, as well.

The conference inputs on the second day focused on leadership and management as well as teaching techniques for digital learners. During the split sessions, Dr. Perla U.S. Bernardo talked about “Leading to Learn: Strengthening School Leadership and Management Styles” and “Developing a Team Player: Enhancing Staff Motivation and Commitment for Better School Environment” to the PSO administrators and principals. While, Mr. Jason N. de Villa of University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) and Ms. Ivy P. Mejia of the UP-NISMED discussed “Managing a 21st Century Classroom” and “Teaching Thinking, Creativity and Other 21st Century Skills in the Classroom,” respectively to the PSO teachers.

In the afternoon, Mr. Jed Loma of UA&P discussed “Digital Learning” and Ms. Josephine S. Feliciano of the Department of Science and Technology talked about the “DOST-SEI Courseware for Science and Mathematics” which is a Filipino-developed, all original, highly interactive, multimedia, educational resource packages in science and mathematics.

On the third day of the conference, Ms. Maria Concepcion Beltran – Montenegro of the Ateneo de Manila University reviewed the concepts, issues, and practices in teaching writing with her talk on “Engaging Students in Writing through Research.” Mr. Floyd D. Batongbakal of the UA&P talked about “Stress Management for PSO Teachers” and gave some tips on how the teachers can effectively deal with stress.

Dr. Carolyn I. Sobritchea of the University of the Philippines recommended some ways on how can PSOs apply national laws and norms on promoting gender equality through her lecture on “Making Philippine Schools Overseas Gender-Responsive in the Midst of Foreign Culture.’

Capping the 3-day conference is the Association Philippine Schools Overseas (APSO) hour to discuss the plans, updates and activities of the organization. Dr. Geronimo R. Salem, Jr., School Principal of the Philippine School Bahrain and adviser of the APSO was also given posthumous tribute and award for his valuable contribution as the first elected President of the APSO.

The closing ceremonies included the awarding of certificates of attendance and the USBs containing the conference materials to the participants and sponsors.

Participants from the Philippine School Oman received their Certificates of Attendance handed over by Mr. Rodrigo R. Garcia, Jr., Head of the CFO’s Policy, Planning and Research Division (rightmost) during the conference’s closing ceremonies.

The conference was made possible through the sponsorship of the F & J De Jesus, Inc, Rex Bookstore International, Inc. (RBSII), Phoenix Educational Systems, Inc., Phoenix Publishing House, Inc., Central Books Supply, Inc., Jo-Es Publishing House, Inc., Abiva Publishing House, Inc., C & E Publishing, Inc., De La Salle – College of St. Benilde, University of Asia and the Pacific, H & D Information Technology, Inc., Jemma, Inc., De La Salle University – Health Sciences Institute, Diwa Learning Systems, Inc., Meridian International (Mint) College, WCC Aeronautical And Technological College, Inc., Enderun Colleges, Vicarish Publications and Trading, Inc., Pag-Ibig Fund (HDMF) and Philhealth.In behalf of the participants, Ms. Miracle Tapado, School Principal of the International Philippine School in Jeddah, thanked and commended the organizers for the successful conduct of the conference. She also took the challenge to achieve excellence in PSOs by innovating and upgrading the teaching-learning process and using technology in the classroom to its advantage.