DepEd Baguio nat’l local awardees cited

By Julie G. Fianza 

BAGUIO CITY – Dept. of Education teachers, students and non-teaching personnel who got local and national awards were cited here April 22 at city hall grounds.
    Said awards were mentioned during the division schools’ accomplishment report by OIC Assistant Schools Division Superintendent Cristopher Benigno after hall flag raising ceremony attended by Mayor Benjamin Magalong, members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, Schools Division Superintendent Carolyn Verano and staff, city hall department heads and employees.
    For the Read to Lead Regional Online Literary Contest; pupils of Baguio Central School Sophia Margrette Buen Gerardo won first place while Ralph Walter Cabutotan and Zelene Battad won second place, having Cherry Ann Malecdan as their coach. The students’ winning in their respective levels prove that there is continuity of learning regardless of the pandemic and that concepts learned in pre-pandemic times were used, Benigno said.
    For the Regional Math Investigation Competition, Charles John Dennis Diosan of Gibraltar Elementary School aced the individual category with the study Building Match Stick Sequence Using Regular Octagons with coach Jimmy Garcia, Jr; while Bakakeng ES’ Hajhezia Grace  Sumensin and Michael Go in the group category won second place with Reagan Decoran as coach. Sumensin and Go’s study is on Elementary Mathematics; formula in finding the area of an equilateral triangle with only a side given.  
    It is in this category that learners and coach improve their skills in solving math applications, and apply research and communication skills, Benigno further said. The category is for students in Key stage 2, or those in grades four to six.
    For those in Key stage 3 or grades 7 to 10 in the individual category, Richardyne Soralde of Pines City National High School (PCNHS) won 3rd place in for his investigative study: The Figures found in the Mandala lteration, with Estrella Baas as coach.
    For group category in the same grade level, Athena Karhylle Lazo and Mykhailla Jzemigma Abad of the Baguio City National High School (BCNHS) won 3rd place for their study: Nth Tetragrammation, with Andro Bilag as their coach.
    For those in grades 11 to 12 or Key Stage 4, individual category, Stephen de la Torre of BCNHS won top awards for his study “n-Pointed Shurikens,” with coach Laila Kiw-isen.
    The contests were conducted in January 2021.
    Meanwhile, in December 2020, Shine Dep-Ed CAR (Shine with Honor and Integrity Award and Incentive for Employees) awarded Mobile Teacher Khima Cino for being an outstanding Alternative Learning System (ALS) implementer; and Elaine Cabuag in the Outstanding non-teaching level. They are considered as model employees who could motivate other employees to improve performance and exceed expectations; and examples of integrity and wholesomeness; OIC ASDS Benigno said.
    In the National Music Competition for Young Artists (NAMCYA), National Rondalla Qualifiers John Sacley and Flickinger Auric Carias fom the BCHNS performed the piece Tingog Sa Paglaum (Sounds of Hope). They are part of the Special Program for the Arts which has produced nationally and internationally known and competitive musicians and artists.
    For the Civil Service Commission (CSC) Awards which positioned BCNHS principal Brenda Carino as an example or model of integrity and wholesomeness to fellow employees, the Dangal ng Bayan was given. The award is for the performance or an extraordinary act or public service and consistent demonstration of exemplary ethical behavior conforming to the Code of Conduct of Ethical Standards for Public Officials. This is part of CSC’s Honor Awards Program, including the Presidential Lingkod ng Bayan and Pag-asa awards; individual and group awards for exemplary public service.
    The Schools Division Office is also set to receive the Program to institutionalize Meritocracy and Excellence in Human Resource Management (PRIME-HRM) Bronze award – Maturity level II on April 26. The conferment entitles SDO Baguio authority to approve appointments and discounts for personnel training fees, subject to proper government rulings.
    In addition, Baguio was conferred the Best Schools Division Office 2020 by the Dep-Ed CAR with the conduct of the Regional Program on Awards and Incentives for Service Excellence (PRAISE), after rigorous paper assessment. Baguio SDO bested the divisions of Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Kalinga, Mt. Province and Ifugao.
    SDO Baguio also passed the ISO 9001: 2015 2nd surveillance audit for effective administrative management, efficient and economical accounting and budget services, ICT, delivery of in-house legal services, responsive curriculum, management and instruction, accessible basic education services, conducive learning environment, effective education research, accurate assessment results, competitive teaching and non-teaching personnel, 100% customer satisfaction and holistically developed learners with 21st century skills.
    The awards are results of concerted efforts from the Dep-Ed family, the community and support from the local government of Baguio.