Championing ethics in social media

DIRECTOR'S Cut: "I am your team leader and you are my teammates; together, let us work as a team." - DepED 11 Regional Director Gloria D. Benigno, CESO IV.

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The Regional Secondary and Elementary Schools Press Conferences 2012-2013 were held simultaneously for the first time just recently with the Division of Panabo City headed by Superintendent Ma. Ines Asuncion hosting the event.

After a long dry spell in their trip to the top, the Division of Davao del Norte halted the domination of perennial champion Davao City in the summary of individual events in the secondary level. They also got the highest point in English while Compostela Valley got the highest in Filipino.

In the elementary level, Davao City Division dominated both the English and Filipino categories besting the nine other schools divisions of Davao Region. The top three winners in the individual events and the first place winners of the group events will represent the region in the National Schools Press Conference in Ormoc City in April 2013.

The most memorable award received by a division was given to the Division of Island Garden City of Samal, the Most Behaved/Disciplined Delegation.

During the Opening Program, Assistant Director Nenita E. Lumaad read the message of Regional Director Gloria D. Benigno. This is the gist of her message:

My warmest greetings to the campus journalists, school paper advisers, education program supervisors handling the Division Campus Journalism Program and the DepED key officials of ten divisions for the active participation during the Regional Schools Press Conference for School Year 2012 - 2013 on January 24-26, 2013 in Panabo City Division.

The challenges we face recently in Region 11 due to typhoon Pablo poses unprecedented and unremitting demands for high quality of action and reporting of which right and accurate data are vital. This is what we want the campus journalists to be aware of and develop. Your skills in journalism and positive attitude will make you more responsible and responsive to the call of time. Most importantly, we want you to develop your capacity to link in order to make innovations and attain changes in your respective communities.

This year's theme, "Campus Journalists: Championing Ethics in Social Media," should inspire each participant to be in the frontline of mobilizing resources and talents for the common good. By now, the name of the game is strengthening public and private partnerships or inter-linking of agencies in the bigger perspective to realize aspirations of our people. This gesture was experienced by us through the concerted efforts done by concerned organizations, local, national and international, when two divisions of Region XI were hit by typhoon Pablo. In this context, I would like each journalist to appreciate the use of social media which can be excellent tools to expedite report and provide appropriate response to immediate needs and concerns.

We hope this gathering will teach and motivate students to take part of the demands of time and be aware of their accountability and responsibility as information agents. We need new breed of honest, respectful, and just writers, be it online or offline.

The directorate of Region 11 would like to underscore its wholehearted gratitude to Panabo City Division for hosting this prestigious competition for journalism in both public and private elementary and secondary schools, the Regional Schools Press Conference (RSPC). We hope this big event will serve as another milestone to remember for the host division and schools.

The activity will not be possible without the leadership of the Director and Assistant Director, the Chiefs of the Elementary and Secondary Education Divisions, Dr. Minerva T. Fabros and Dr. Luzminda O. Onor respectively with Dr. Janette Veloso and this writer for secondary and Carmencita Diamante and Mary Jeanne Aldeguer for elementary. They were ably supported by Roy Enriquez, Mary Ann Daria, Ingrid Juanday, Evelyn Maitem, Ping Virtucio, Allan Cose and Lee Lambojon. Our heartfelt thanks also goes to Ms. Memia Infiesto, principal of Panabo NHS and District Supervisor Nenita Prior of Panabo Central District wih their staff and the tandem of Division Supervisors Elvira Obeso and Azucena Bendijo. A big thanks also goes to Mayor Jose Silvosa and all the local officials for all the support.

See in Ormoc guys!
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You can access DepED Updates, latest issuances and other relevant information through our website: region11.deped.gov.ph. and our official Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/deped.regionxi For comments, suggestions and/or contributions, email depedregion11@gmail.com. For queries, complains and other concerns, call DepED Region 11 at (082) 227-9342 or fax to (082) 227-1102 and (082) 221-6147.