by Lean Aquino

The Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Br. Armin Luistro spoke to an audience of approximately 200 at the Benitez Theater, UP College of Educaton, last 16 April 2015, for the talk entitled “InDept: A Close Look at the Presidential Cabinet.” Luistro talked about his time as the leader of DepEd as well as the situation of education sector in the Philippines. He enlightened the students and professors alike on the needs of our country and the challenges for educators and public servants amidst the implementation of the K-12 program. The event was organized by the National College of Public Administration and Governance (NCPAG) Student Council and the College of Education Student Council, in partnership with the UP Community of Reading Education Advocates, the UP Educators’ Circle, NCPAG-Umalohokan, and the League of NCPAG Organizations.

*Credits for photographs go to the NCPAG Student Council

The Teaching in the Early Grades Area of the College Education recently conducted a ten-day training on Teaching Preschoolers and Early Graders in the Context of the K to 12 Curriculum. The training from April 6 to 17, 2015 at the Benitez Training Center had 30 participants from twenty schools which include Miriam College, Saint Pedro Poveda College, and Westfields International School. Participants came from all over Metro Manila, one is from as far as Bicol, while some are from neighboring Pampanga, Cavite, Laguna, and Bulacan. The training was facilitated by current and retired professors at the TEG area: Dr. Leonor Diaz, Prof. Yvette Concepcion-Alcazar, and Dr. Felicitas Pado respectively.

Dr. Diaz and Dr. Pado (center, second row) together with the participants of the TEG training

by Shiela M. Odono

An Alternative Classroom Experience entitled ExSIGHTing 2.0 was held last March 26, 2015, Tuesday at Room 108, UP College Education. This ACLE about basic Braille and orientation and mobility was spearheaded by the Special Education Council- an advocacy organization promoting the rights of PWDs through programs and activities for individuals with special needs. Through these initiatives, they were able to spread awareness to the general public in believing that it is the ability and not the disability that counts.

College of Education students register for the event.

ExSIGHTing 2.0 gathered around 60 plus participants from different colleges including attendees from Joy Disability Missions Inc. and Resources for the Blind, Inc. (RBI). As one of the participating organizations, UPSEC invited Ms. Natalie C. Pigar to share her experiences as a teacher of children with visual impairment in RBI. The program also included Braille reading and writing, simulation on how an individual with visual impairment does his or her everyday activities through a sandwich-making activity, and finally an experience on walking around the campus blindfolded. Project heads Aldrin Parreño and Marjorie Guardiano ended the event with their closing remarks.

ACLE attendees experience sandwich while blindfolded

Attendees intently listen to the speaker.

Attendees experience walking blindfolded around UP.

On March 7, 2015, more than 170 high school and college students trooped to the Benitez Theatre to attend Why Teach?, a free forum that encouraged students to choose teaching as a profession. The forum that lasted from 9:00am to 12:00pm featured three speakers: Mr. Edson Alquizalas, a batch 2012 graduate of the College and currently a teacher at PAREF Southridge School; Bea Marinas, a BEEd SPED graduating student from the College of Education, and Prof. Maria Vanessa Lusung-Oyzon, the Secretary of the College of Education. The affair started with a charades game facilitated by the organizers, the College of Education Student Council. Participants eagerly listened to the talks and left with many answers to the question, Why Teach?, that the forum addressed.

UP CESC with student, Marga Banghulot, and College Secretary, Prof. Vanessa Lusung-Oyzon.

UPD College of Education College Secretary Prof. Oyzon gives her inspirational talk to future educators.

Mr. Edson Alquizalas, UP College of Education batch 2012 graduate talking about his experiences as a student and a teacher.

Bea Marinas gives a student-teacher point of view to the audience.

The audience enjoys listening to the speakers.

The audience sings UP Naming Mahal, ready to be future Guro ng Bayan.

The UP College of Education Student Council (CESC) organized an annual job fair at the ground floor corridors of the Benitez Hall last March 10-13 and 17-20. This event which aims to inform interested teachers or would-be teachers of vacancies and job requirements in several participating private schools, tutorial centers, and organization has been a much-anticipated event for job-seekers. Sixteen private educational institutions joined Ready, Set, Teach, the 2015 College of Education Job Fair. Among which are Saint Pedro Poveda College, Xavier School, Immaculate Concepcion Academy, Grace Christian School, St. Paul College Pasig, Wordlab School Inc., Reedley International School, The Raya School, School of St. Anthony, Galileo Enrichment Learning Program, Montessori de Manila, Abba’s Orchard, MatheMagis, Infant Jesus Academy, Affordable Private Education Center (APEC) Schools, and AHEAD Tutorial & Review Center. Participating in this year’s fair is the non-profit organization Teach for the Philippines which aims to recruit the best students/graduates to teach in public schools around the country for two years. Through this, the organization aims to transform teachers into “advocates for education equity.”

To facilitate the application process, the UP CESC also received emailed curriculum vitaes of interested applicants and facilitated the submission to schools. For interested schools that wish to participate in the next College of Education Job Fair, please contact the UP College of Education Student Council through the Facebook account: https://www.facebook.com/UPCESC.

In Celebration of Diliman Month, the Division of Educational Leadership and Professional Services (DELPS) of the UP College of Education organized DELPS Public Lecture 1 last February 28, 1:00-5:00 pm, at the Benitez Theatre of the College of Education. This free public symposium featured lectures by professors from the said Division. Dr. Jose Pedrajita of the Research and Evaluation Area lectured on Designing Action Research, Prof. Elenita Que of the Educational Technology Area talked about Designing Technology-Enhanced Instruction, Prof. Lorelei Vinluan of the Guidance and Counseling Area discussed Enhancing Students’ Adversity Quotient through Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT), while Dr. Jerome Buenviaje of the Educational Administration Area lectured on The Dynamics of Work Passion Among Educational Administrators.  The successful lecture series was attended by around 340 participants from various Teacher Education Institutions. In attendance too were other DELPS faculty members like Prof. Jaclyn Cauyan and Dr. Sherlyne Acosta.

DELPS faculty members occupy the front row of the theatre; L-R: Prof. Lorelei Vinluan, Dr. Sherlyne Acosta, Dr. Jerome Buenviaje, and Prof. Lenny Que

Speakers and organizers of the event pose for a picture; L-R: Dr. Sherlyne Acosta, Dr. Jose Pedrajita, Prof. Jaclyn Cauyan, Prof. Lenny Que, Dr. Jerome Buenviaje, and Prof. Lorelei Vinluan