Life is a change. A constant change. In our lives alone, change happens every second. Plans, schedules, programs and routinary activities, change. In the Department of Education particularly, changes happen.
In my 14-years as a classroom teacher, adviser and coach, I have been under three curricula, Basic Education Curriculum (BEC), Restructured Basic Education Curriculum (RBEC) and the latest, the K to 12 Basic Education Curriculum(K to 12). When I entered the service, there were changes as well with its programs and projects. BEC had its last phase of implementation of the Third Elementary Education Project (TEEP) and initial phase of Secondary Education Development and Improvement Project(SEDIP). I was also a witness to the implementation of the Bridge Program to first year students, with focus on English, Science and Mathematics. Unfortunately, it was just implemented for one school year. I felt then, that I was part of its failure despite being a third and fourth year teacher because numerous products of that program became my students in Chemistry and Physics. As a result, my advisee class had 90+ students and produced 84 graduates, as they were either retained in first year or promoted in second year, collecting more students per year, without remarkable change in academic performance. I was even hospitalized in a private hospital, a week before graduation and even cried for the first time in school, looking at my advisee class during their graduation processional.
As a school head, I have been one of the first set of leaders who prepared our school in SY 2015-2016 for the implementation of the SHS program under the K to 12 and implemented the program, in SY 2016-2017. Currently, our school is offering horticulture (NCII)-Agri fishery arts under the Tech Voc track and plans to open the ICT/ Media and Information Literacy in the coming years.
Deped secretaries are no exemptions to change, as I have been under five secretaries. Among them, Jesli A. Lapus is considered the secretary with the most programs and projects in the department and bro. Armin A. Luistro with the most controversial curriculum, the K to 12, and the most significant change and a milestone in the Philippine educational system. At the helm in Deped is our Secretary, Leonor M. Briones since the assumption of our president in 2016.
I am never a strong advocate of change, the truth to the matter is, I have a phobia of change, especially in my heyday. I was never adaptive and flexible. But I was a strong advocate of its outcomes; this is what matters to me. These questions linger in my mind: will there be benefits? Who will be benefitted and affected of such change? Who will be directly involved? Will they be positive and supportive? Will it consume more time, effort, expertise, money, space and other resources? Is it well-thought, well-planned and
Well-executed? If Deped is committed to its objectives, will it reach the target and gain positively? Will it change the lives of their clientele and their families and improve communities and society in general?
I am never an expert educator or an expert in education. I am not even an expert school planner, more so a curriculum planner to be an authority to discuss these important matters. I will just leave this to my colleagues in the department, whom I draw inspiration from, whom I take true humility from, whom I hope to have shared with just a pinch or if blessed, dose of their abilities and potentialities. And hoping someday, I may follow their footsteps (wishful thinking!) And be a great public servant!
I am a prayerful person. Prayers help my spirituality grow each day. I consistently pray not only for my own family but for my school. In reality, prayers are powerful and can really move mountains, as our school improves over the years with the following:
Principal’s office, school fence and gate, concreted stairs, plant boxes, benches, , rock garden, stage grounds, extended stage grounds, pathways, roads, and pavement leading to the entrance gate (Sen. Risa Hontiveros’ fund through the City LGU) and exit gates, a 2-storey 4-classroom senior high school building, near completed 2 room- SHS workshop building, farm equipment storage and garage, FFS greenhouse garden and SHS gardens, gulayan sa paaralan trellis project, water deep well, incoming construction of 2-4 room workshop, ICT and science buildings, first it complete laboratory, student i.t. hub and mini clinic-teenage center (converted old office), learning resource center, conference hall/teachers’ lounge, guidance center, financial aid from city councilors, donated farm tools, construction materials, reading materials and office supplies, incoming computer units from PAGCOR, sponsored school directory and agriculture trainings from private individuals and the Department of Agriculture-Masbate /City Agriculture Office, inclusion in the free farm schooling (with free seedlings, materials and tools and technical assistance) of DA-Masbate, and consistent 1st-5th place winnings in both academic and non-academic contests in Deped, LGU, and other government agencies.
God is good. God is in charge. All the time!

Published and owned by: Noreen M. Espenida-Abenir- School Head, Bayombon High School