Valderrama: Diri sa DepEd Onse: A success story

Valderrama: Diri sa DepEd Onse: A success story

THE First Season of Diri sa DepEd Onse ended last Friday (July 9, 2021). It had 17 episodes and the 18th will be the start of Season 2.

This is the first regular online broadcast of the Department of Education (DepEd) Region XI (Davao Region). If it were not for Regional Director (RD) Allan G. Farnazo, who came in to serve as RD in Davao Region last February, Diri sa DepEd Onse would not have been created.

Yes, the credit goes to RD Farnazo who challenged the Public Affairs Unit (PAU) to come up with an online broadcast. The good thing about all this is that he guided us all the way; he gave us the leeway to produce episodes, and he became our number one cheerer.

I believe this all boils down to great leadership. If you can make people move, if you allow them to grow and develop, if you see and acknowledge the potential in each one, the road always leads to success. This is RD Farnazo in DepEd.

Diri sa DepEd Onse proves that we can bring people together through a program or a broadcast. Here, the viewers get to learn and appreciate the sacrifices of teachers, the perseverance of learners, the commitment of leaders.

They appreciate the commonalities. They discover their uniqueness. They recognize the differences.

The official social media Facebook (FB) page – DepEd Region XI – created in 2019 has more than 70K followers to date. In February, before RD Farnazo came in, we only had more than 20K followers after two years.

For me, it was already a good number. It wasn’t easy to get followers even if I managed to make it active by posting good stories. For RD Farnazo, the number was very low – just a speck in his expectations.

Almost every day then he would remind me to do something with the posts – probably more interesting and appealing stories to attract followers. Two weeks after his stint, he asked me if I can do an online broadcast like that of Region 12 where he came from.

In all DepEd regional offices, the regular online broadcast started in Region 12 as he initiated the production of programs using social broadcasting. We looked up to it as the model.

So, when he asked me, with the absence of equipment and a working team, if I could do an online broadcast, I took a deep breath. I heaved a sigh of relief. I saw it coming. This will bring a new face, a new delight, a new color to DepEd Region XI.

And I was right.

In just barely four months, the number of followers boomed to 70K. It must have been the Diri sa DepEd Onse broadcasts engagingly produced by the Regional Office and all the division offices. It must be the other webinars and programs live-streamed on the official FB page. It must be RD Farnazo’s leadership style.

The DepEd Davao Region Communications Team created in the time of RD Farnazo has been displaying notable potentials. Indeed, a new set of content creators and innovators were born.

Just recently, one of the episodes of Diri sa DepEd Onse caught the attention of the viewers after the plight of a learner, who only wished for “isa ka takos na bugas”, was featured. In the teaser alone, a good Samaritan pledged to help. After the full episode, we received another call from a generous heart that she would donate one sack of rice. The help then multiplied.

So, Diri sa DepEd Onse has captivated and tugged the heartstrings.

Assistant RD Maria Ines C. Asuncion is one important figure too in the success of Diri sa DepEd Onse. She has been so supportive from the start. Her encouraging words and welcoming gestures have made us move too to a higher level.

The posted stories have become more intensified. The influence of RD Farnazo stirred the minds of the young and old. PAU has been receiving inspiring stories from the ground – from learners to teachers to leaders to contributors outside DepEd.

The School of the Day which features schools in the region has drawn a big number of reach and engagements. One feature alone reaches more than 200K and draws more than 5K engagements.

Some stories are picked up by DepEd Philippines, the official FB account of DepEd Central Office, with a significant 4.3 million followers. The stories are featured too in some media outlets.

DepEd Davao Region now has a commonplace where great stories are found. Thanks to DepEd Region XI official page. Thanks to Diri sa DepEd Onse. Thanks to RD Farnazo. Above all, to God be the highest glory.

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