Turo Turismo for Bohol (Teacher Immersion with BAHRR)

The partnership between the Bohol Association of Hotels, Resorts and Restaurants (BAHRR) and DepEd Bohol to conduct Teachers' Immersion in the Hospitality Industry as a way to prepare Senior High School Teachers for industry-relevant education follows and is consistent with the action plans of the Tourism SHS summit held at Panglao on May 20, 2015.

BAHRR President and Bellevue Hotel GM Rommel Gonzales took in teachers of Bohol for an immersion in actual resort operations, initial concept of 250 hours, to rotate through Food and Beverage, Housekeeping, and Front Office services. This immersion complements the TESDA-certification that teachers acquire as part of requisites for teachingtechnical/livelihood/entrepreneurial (TLE) courses in High School. The outcome is a contextualized approach to teaching Tourism-related tracks that increases opportunities for employability because of the relevance to actual operations.

Major Bohol resorts including Bellevue, Amorita,  Bluewater, Bohol Plaza, Bohol Beach Club, and South Palms participated. Their interest lies in improving the Human Resources for the Hospitality Industry. DEPED Bohol and BAHRR detailed the program with some technical assistance from CfC. The industry immersion will continue to be done over weekends, the sem break and summer.

In addition to this program, BAHRR is considering equipping and furnishing the tourism lab to be built at Lourdes Natl High School. The intent is to simulate the actual resort environment so students are aware and familiar prior to their immersion.

The innovative program is transformative because:

1) it is replicable and scalable: complete modules and Deped Administrative guidelines will be prepared which can be shared across divisions and adapted to other industries.

2) Sustainable: while the pilot will be supported by CfC, BAHRR will integrate it as an association service. One idea is to establish a Hospitality Industry Academy geared towards enabling SHS and HEI teachers to teach tourism courses better.

3) Impact: Food and Beverage and other tourism-related technical skills comprise the majority of preferred TechVoc track specializations in Region 7, a major tourism hub in the country.

The Coalitions for change (CfC) in Basic Education is an initiative of the Australian Embassy – The Asia Foundation Partnership in the Philippines, which aims to enhance local resources for basic education by focusing on improving local readiness for the Department of Education’s (DepEd) K – 12 Program, specifically Senior High School (SHS). Collaborating for SHS implementation is the overarching strategy for CFC.   SHS allows students to specialize in either academics, technical skills, and sports or arts, to increase opportunities for graduates to be gainfully employed, to start enterprises, or to be better-prepared for higher education.  This strategy is undertaken in two levels – city and province. In cities, CfC’s approach is through the development of a local government unit (LGU) investment strategy for SHS. In provinces,  CfC’s SHS strategy is to link with local industries: focused and sustained SHS implementation and collaboration and better quality investments in SHS from LGUs and industries.

CfC has worked in Bohol since 2013 starting with Abot alam, a program of DepEd on out-of-school youth. Then it led to the assistance on Tourism SHS through the endorsement of both the provincial government of Bohol and the municipal government of Panglao, given that both Panglao and the province, itself, is envisioning an eco-tourism image. This assistance led to the partnership of DepEd and Bohol Association of Hotels, Resorts and Restaurants (BAHRR) to further contextualize the curriculum related to tourism which will include teachers’ immersion in the different resorts.

A signing of Memorandum of Understanding or MOU between BAHRR  President Mr. Rommel Gonzales and DepEd Division of Bohol Superintendent Dr. Wilfreda Bongalos was done on October 16, 2015 at Egay’s Farm.  The orientation on teacher immersion was done on October 21, 2015 at the Metrocentre Hotel and facilitated by the Project Coordinator Ms. Vera Villocido.  The teacher immersion ran from October 21 – 30, 2015 where sixty (60) teachers were assigned in fifteen (15) participating resorts/establishments including:  Bohol Plaza, Amarela, Bohol Beach Club, South Palms,  Panglao Regents, Amorita, Henann, Bellevue, Be Grand, Bluewater, Metrocentre, Panda Tea Garden, Loboc River Resort, Rio Verde, East Coast White Sand Resort.  The continuing immersion program will be done during Christmas break and summer.

(PR/Vera Villocido)

"Turo Turismo" Tourism Senior High School Summit

The Tourism Senior High School (SHS) Summit, dubbed, “Turo-Turismo” was held on May 20, 2015 at South Palms Resort in Panglao, Bohol by the Department of Education (DepEd) Bohol Division in partnership with the Provincial Government of Bohol and the Local Government Unit of Panglao supported by the Coalitions for Change Program in Basic Education of the Australian Embassy – The Asia Foundation Partnership in the Philippines. The said summit brought together different stakeholders from the province of Bohol and other divisions in Region VII to develop work-plans for curriculum contextualization and immersion policies for the Senior High School (SHS) program with Tourism as the focus industry.

In attendance were officials from DepEd Central Office, the Undersecretary for Regional Operations, Usec Rizalino Rivera and Assistant Secretary for Planning and Development, Asec Jesus Mateo Lorenzo as well as the Kto12 technical assistants. DepEd Region VII was represented by Dr. Luz Jandayan, the Education Program Supervisor of the Curriculum and Learning Management Division.  The biggest delegation was from DepEd Bohol led by Superintendent Dr. Wilfreda D. Bongalos together with the curriculum specialists and other division heads.  All the nineteen (19) divisions in Region VII attended the summit including Cebu Province, Negros Oriental Province, Siquijor Province, Cebu City, Naga, Mandaue, Lapulapu, Bogo, Talisay, Carcar, Toledo, Danao, Tanjay, Dumaguete City, Bayawan, Guihulngan, Siquijor, Tagbilaran City. Aside from the DepEd officials, The Asia Foundation was represented by Ms. Christine Bantug, Coalitions for Change Program Leader, and the Australian Embassy by Ms. Joji Abot-Camelon, Senior Program Officer. Representatives from the resorts and higher education institutions (HEI) were also well represented. 

 In her welcome message, Panglao Mayor Leonila Montero underscored the importance of tourism in Panglao and Bohol and how tourism is indeed a good laboratory to prepare the youth for quality employment and a better life.

 DepEd Usec for Regional Operations, Rizalino Rivera, could not have put it more aptly when he said he hopes participants will be able to look back years from now and realize how instrumental they have been in this major reform in education. Rivera shares how as consultant back in 1995 he was able to work with the dynamic duo of then Gov. Rene Relampagos and Vice Gov. and now Gov. Edgar Chatto when Bohol was shaping its direction towards development. He cites this most successful initiative, seeing what Bohol has become now, as an example for the rest of the country, that development is possible when you dream and want it enough. He relates this to making learning relevant through a conscious effort to involve industry experts, LGUs, and NGOs in terms of linking education towards global competitiveness.

The governor, for his part, reiterates commitment and support for educational reforms under the K-12 program of the DepEd, the Turo-Turismo, a multi-sector tourism senior high school summit, just one strand of the Tech Voc sector, but tourism as a major and a growing global industry.

Participants of Turo-Turismo did workshops on curriculum contextualization and immersion policy specific for tourism based Senior High School that led to the development of workplans which can be useful in the preparation for the full implementation of the Senior High School in 2016.

After the summit was the groundbreaking of the Tourism Senior High School facility at Lourdes National High School and turn-over of books from Books for Asia supported by the Australian Embassy - The Asia Foundation Partnership in the Philippines.

Groundbreaking of the Tourism Senior High School Facility in Panglao

The groundbreaking of the Tourism Senior High School (SHS) facility at Lourdes National High School was held on May 20, 2015 in Panglao, Bohol. It was led by Governor Edgar M. Chatto of the Province of Bohol, Usec Rizalino Rivera, Undersecretary for Regional Operations, Department of Education (DepEd), Dr. Wilfreda Bongalos, Superintendent of the DepEd Bohol Division, Ms. Christine Bantug, Coalitions for Change Program Leader, The Asia Foundation, Ms. Joji Abot-Camelon, Senior Program Officer, Australian Embassy and officials of the Local Government Unit of Panglao.  Also in attendance were officials from DepEd Central Office, the K to 12 technical assistants, DepEd Region 7 Dr. Luz Jandayan, the Education Program Supervisor of the Curriculum and Learning Management Division. 

 After the summit was the groundbreaking of the Tourism Senior High School facility at Lourdes National High School and turn-over of books from Books for Asia supported by the Australian Embassy - The Asia Foundation Partnership in the Philippines.

 The groundbreaking coincided with the Tourism Senior High School Summit dubbed “Turo Turismo” held at the South Palms Resort earlier in the day which was participated in by all the nineteen (19) divisions in Region 7 attended the summit including Cebu Province, Negros Oriental Province, Siquijor Province, Cebu City, Naga, Mandaue, Lapulapu, Bogo, Talisay, Carcar, Toledo, Danao, Tanjay, Dumaguete City, Bayawan, Guihulngan, Siquijor, Tagbilaran City.   Participants of Turo-Turismo did workshops on curriculum contextualization and immersion policy specific for tourism based Senior High School that led to the development of workplans which can be useful in the preparation for the full implementation of the Senior High School in 2016.  The Tourism Senior High School Summit was supported by the Coalitions for Change Program in Basic Education of the Australian Embassy – The Asia Foundation Partnership in the Philippines.

I made it! Five years

June 26, 2010. A blast from the past. The day I arrived in the Philippines after a teaching stint in the US, as the first to exit from HNU, and just one of the few to come home. So many things have happened since that fateful day. I remember the first people I met at the NAIA Terminal 3 while waiting for the connecting flight home to Tagbilaran - Gov Edgar Chatto and Ma'amRosalinda Paredes.. perhaps a coincidence? the very bridges of my past to my present. I remember all the multi-faceted feelings then: of uncertainty and hope, of freedom from the "land of the free" (ironic isnt it?), of liberation and new life... and then home... to my nanay and siblings. The first order of the day was recovery - from CHF, cardiomyopathy, Hyperlipidemia etc etc. Five years later. And I am where I am now. I always thank the Lord for the gift of life and for all the countless blessings, all the people who have been with me in this journey, and all the opportunities to be relevant....

Panglao gears up for 2nd Education Summit

How time flies! the first Panglao Education Summit was on September 17, 2013 at Panglao Municipality SB Session Hall with me, Migs Dominguez Ernesto Perez Malvas facilitating from Synergeia... so much has happened since then - drafting of the district workplan for Synergeia, E O creating the Project Management Team or PMT, expansion and reinvention of the membership of the municipal school board,transparency in the SEF budget, EO on the creation of barangay school boards, orientation, training of barangay school boards and the PMT, MOA Signing with Synergeia, barangay education summits of all 10 barangays, summer remedial reading program, training of teachers in 
culture and arts with NCCA at HNU, support for Brigada Eskwela, Jollibee BLT Schoolfeeding program application, training, launch, orientation of schools and start of feeding, linkaging with Synergeia Foundation, Jollibee Group Foundation,Pusong Pinoy The Asia Foundation Books for Asia, Rotary Clubs worldwide, etc., participation in the Bohol Education Convergence Summit, participation in the Bohol Abot Alam Convergence Summit - after conducting an inventory/mapping of ALL out of school youth per purok with their preferred tracks in education, livelihood and skills training, validation of inventory by purok. Now, gearing up for the 2nd education summit, the biggest convergence of stakeholders in education reforms in Panglao, set on Tuesday, September 23, at the Panglao Cultural Center. 

Abot Alam: Call for Convergence of Boholanos

Governor Edgar Chatto called for convergence of Boholanos on Abot Alam, the national program for Out-of-School Youth (OSY) which was successfully jumpstarted in the Province of Bohol leading to

the Abot Alam Convergence Summit held on Friday, August 29, 2014 at the Metrocentre Hotel in Tagbilaran City.  In his call for convergence, Governor Chatto urged ALL the Local Chief Executives, DepEd officials, Government Agencies and other stakeholders to ensure ZERO OSY in each purok in the province starting 2014.  A tall order but he pointed out that Bohol has the unique system through the purok which can successfully identify the out of school youth who can be assisted either to go back to school, be provided with skills training, or livelihood. Also, with zero OSY, the problems on drugs, illegal gambling, etc, will be addressed. He also issued an Executive Order enjoining ALL LCEs to implement the Abot Alam Program consistent  with the DILG Memorandum dated May 28, 2014, creating the office that will oversee the Abot Alam implementation in Bohol as well as the corresponding personnel required.

The convergence summit was attended by more than half of the Local Chief Executives of Bohol themselves, the rest represented by other LGU officials, as well as DepEd officials from the Central Office, Division of Bohol and Tagbilaran City Division. In the panel discussion were representatives of government agencies with programs for OSY specifically TESDA, DTI, DOLE, BISU, DILG, OPSWD, OPA, OPV, DOST and DA who talked about the programs available, the access policy, and financing or demand side. 

Assisted by The Asia Foundation, Bohol jumpstarted the Abot Alam Program through: (a) the Generation of a Provincial Database on Out of School Youth when Governor Edgar M. Chatto issued an Executive Order to all Municipal Mayor and Barangay Captains  to generate  data on the OSY’s per purok per barangay. This involved mapping, validation, then needs assessment; and (b) Engaging Agencies with Programs for Out-of-School Youth through a triangulation of Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and  a questionnaire.

During the summit, each LCE had a copy of the list of OSY which included specific names, addresses from each LGU which they matched with the available program from the government agencies.  They were also able to interact with the agencies themselves. Governor Chatto stressed the need to validate that data of OSY per purok so that no OSY is left behind.

Also in attendance during the summit were Ms. Gina Estipona, the Abot Alam National Program Manager from the DepEd Central Office as well as representatives from The Asia Foundation namely Ms. Maribel Buenaobra, the Director for Programs and Mr. Henry Grageda, Senior Program Officer of The Asia Foundation Coalitions for Change in Education.

The planning workshop for Abot Alam Implementation facilitated by Ms. Vera Villocido asked each of the LCEs assisted by their coordinating principals to identify what programs can be adopted by the LGU, what resources are needed, what are the budgetary considerations, the sources of funds as well as what agencies can be tapped.

Bohol, being identified as the model of the Abot Alam Program implementation, is set to be the host of the National Launch scheduled on September 30, 2014 which will gather cabinet secretaries of the agencies which signed the Memorandum of Understanding or MOU on the Abot Alam Program. (PR/vav)

Remembering 9/11

I was a brand new Exchange Teacher in a foreign land (FOB or Fresh off the Boat, so to speak!), having arrived in July that year. I thought I was prepared for anything, with about 11 years teaching experience behind me, teaching high school and college biology back home in the Philippines. Not to mention all that training in the USAID/GOLD project on Technology of Participation or ToP, SWS polling in the Bohol Polls, research methodology in various research projects. After two weeks intensive training in teaching science at theEast Side Union High School District, I was ready. And started teaching on August 28 at the East Side Cadet Academy, an alternative school of ESUHSD, housed at the Cathedral of Faith in Canoas Garden. I was the Science teacher to about 100 cadets, teaching with Marx Advincula, the Math Teacher, Luis Rodriguez, English Teacher, Rob Suhr, Social Studies teacher, two (2) California National Guards: Sgt. Haislip and Sgt. Hunter who were the military/leadership instructors, Jennie Lopez (+) of the California Youth Outreach, Ms. Sherrie LeBeau the secretary, and 3 administrators: Jackie Guevara, Dot Westerhoff and Mr. Rick Esparza. The schoolyear started with a big bang.

Then 9/11. I was totally unprepared for it! I guess none of us were. It was a crazy day, which started with one of the students, Jonathan Santacruz, telling us at the bus stop what he saw on CNN. At ESCA, there was panic among the cadets who we gathered together, with students fainting when there was a big crash on the roof of the Cathedral of Faith. All the networks carried the news and footages of the World Trade Center. We spent the whole day watching as the story unfold.

Everything changed after that. The California National Guards were pulled out to be ready for deployment to Afghanistan. We had to maintain stability in a school where many of the students were coping with keeping their credits up and coping with the emotions brought about by 9/11. The teachers took turns in handling the classes of the military, when daily military instructors cannot come. The male teachers handled the PE classes while I took care of the homeroom classes, Mr. Robert Suhr creating the basketball team. I myself was coping with the desire to be an effective and efficient teacher in a foreign land, while missing home and family and maintaining an aura of self-confidence.

Questions came to mind at that time - about staying, or packing my bags and going home, safe to my family and friends. The rest is history after all of that! And I look back with pride at all the Cadets who have graduated with us and all the People of ESCA that I have worked with and with whom I said with pride and conviction: "I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."