THESE are my favorite lines from Henry Ford: Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.
It talks about working as a team; about bringing people together to achieve a common goal. It also tackles about nurturing a relationship – that knowing a person is not enough but only the beginning.
Keeping each other is one thing; working on all issues is another thing.
So, Ford’s lines can be associated with how we are as social beings; how we need others in our lives; and how we need a team to create more.
I remember this line because this is what a department as big as DepEd needs. Luckily, the first directive of Regional Director (RD) Allan G. Farnazo when he came in as RD of Region 11 was to form a communications team. He shared his vision of making DepEd Davao Region unforgettable. He wanted everyone to feel its presence every day.
Indeed, it is a big challenge for someone in-charge of public affairs. But I know that we need to always be proactive especially in matters of public relations. And with the kind words and gestures of Assistant RD Maria Ines C. Asuncion, this task is not as hard as it seems.
DepEd has been working hard especially in this time of pandemic to continue education. Since the start of classes last October, DepEd has continued to improve its Learning Continuity Plan. This is a strategy to ensure that learners will not only continue to learn but to keep them interested and make them stay at home to be protected.
Yes, it is almost the end of the school year and these students have survived the absence of face-to-face interaction in the school. The teachers have survived the different tasks from the usual checking and feedbacking to the unconventional way of reaching out to students.
We heard about teachers making themselves available every time when learners or parents need some clarifications about the modules. We see teachers visiting houses not just to give academic interventions but to give some health kits and food. These are real experiences. And these are stories worth sharing.
I am happy that I can do all these – sharing stories and making people aware that DepEd has walked long, extra miles. With the creation of a communications team, the advocacy campaign and information drive will always be alive.
There are 11 divisions in DepEd Davao Region embodying the five provinces and six cities. The superintendents of each division designated two personnel to act as members and alternates. Their choices were just so right that the Communications Team, in just a matter of three months, has become so promising.
Located at the southwestern tip, the Division of Davao Occidental has two active supervisors - Raymond Aquino and Almer Davis - as members of the Communications Team. The neighboring province, Davao del Sur, has creative members in the likes of Ruben Asan and Lemuel Madulin.
The talented Division of Digos City, which, by the way, won the Diri sa DepEd Onse jingle and whose video reached almost 350K views, has the awesome tandem of Tito Endrina and Gervasio Salinas Jr. The Communications Team members of the highly urbanized City of Davao - Jonas Piore and May Ann Jumuad – being considered as hardworking personnel are always on the go.
Panabo City’s Neil Michael de Asis and Armando Aguilon Jr. are so gifted that you can always count on them when it comes to photography and hosting. Tagum City’s Anwar Maadel and Daisy Delfino have always had good stories to share about their division.
The Communications Team of Davao del Norte - Neil Edward Diaz and Grace Santa Daclan – are always known to excel in what they do. The Island Garden City of Samal’s Charizma Ambrona and Melanie del Campo are like waves coming at right timing. Davao de Oro’s Dennis Alcano and Jomar Dumopoy look like real gold ready to shine.
In the southeastern part is Davao Oriental with Nancy Sumagaysay and Mark Fil Tagsip who always contribute great stories showing the potentials in their province. Its capital, Mati City, has Leorysil Siarot and Gina Silvestre who are known as intellectuals.
With them as a team, what else can I ask for? DepEd will be playing one great symphony, sharing one great music.
The Communications Team of DepEd Davao Region is not just a team because we work together. We are a team because we appreciate, respect, and protect each other. We celebrate our commonalities.
We respect our uniqueness. We reconcile our differences.
If everyone is moving forward together, Ford said, then success takes care of itself. This is true with DepEd Davao Region. We are moving forward. We are our own success stories.