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The Congressional Integrated High School (CIHS) of the City Schools Division of Dasmariñas City joined the annual celebration of the National Literacy Week on September 2-6, 2019, with the theme, “Literacy: Transcending Beyond the Classroom Setting”. This is pursuant to the Presidential Proclamation No. 239, s. 1993, entitled “Declaring the Period from September 2 to 8 of Every Year as Literacy Week,” and the UNESCO Proclamation in 1966 to celebrate every September 8 from 1966 onwards the International Literacy Day.

With an advocacy of having an active love for reading, the Principal of CIHS Mrs. Edna Laudato officially commenced the celebration with an opening message that encourages the value and importance of reading in the students’ education making good reading practices a part of daily life. Among the activities participated by the high school’s students and teachers were the Collage Making Contest, Impromptu Speaking Contest, Spoken Word Poetry Competition, Story Retelling, and a three-day Book Fair which was coordinated with Psicom Publishing Company. A Writing Seminar cum Workshop was also conducted on September 6 facilitated by writer Ms. Ma. Ana Theresa Cruzate, who already published eight (8) books under PSICOM Publishing House Inc., to promote literacy in terms of creating stories, develop critical thinking and evolve writing skills for interested future writers.

The successful week-long celebration concluded through awarding of certificates, medals and trophies to the winners of the aforementioned competitions and recognizing the contests’ facilitators and board of judges. Mrs. Irene M. Marcelo, Head Teacher III of the English Department, delivered an inspiring and challenging message while Mrs. Shalimar Flores, Librarian of the Senior High School Department, provided the send-off remarks encouraging students transcend literacy beyond the classroom setting. The event was celebrated aiming to eradicate illiteracy not only in the school setting but also in the community, and to promote literacy amongst students.

 

The CIHS students and teachers as they listen intently to the opening message of their Principal, Mrs. Edna Laudato.

 

Grade 9 and 10 students participating in the Collage Making Contest held in September 2, 2019.

 

The Board of Judges for the Story Retelling, to wit: English Head Teacher III, Mrs. Irene M. Marcelo; English Teacher (G10) Ms. Remedios E. Fabular; and English Teacher (G7) Ms. Jesseth D. Villanueva.

 

Three (3) out of 19 Grade 11 Senior High students who excellently delivered their speeches for the Impromptu Speaking Contest.

 

The top three winners of the Spoken Word Poetry Competition.

 

Congressionalians browse the wattpads made available by Psicom Publishing Company during the three-day Book Fair.

 

Ms. Ma. Ana Theresa Cruzate during her talk and workshop about the topic “Out of the Box: Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone in Writing.”

Mrs. Irene M. Marcelo challenges the audience to enrich their literacy in and out of the classroom setting.

 

The contests winners of the 2019 National Literacy Week Celebration receiving their medals and certificates.

 

The CIHS teachers of the English Department as they gather for a Photo Opportunity during the successful conclusion of the National Literacy Week.

 

 

A Special LCC Meeting was conducted on September 25, 2019 at E-Lounge, Pasig City Hall, Pasig City. LCC Chairperson Diosdado M. San Antonio, DepEd Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction, presided over the said meeting and discussed among others the updates on the 2019 National Literacy Conference, preparations for the Literacy Forum with a theme, “Championing Literacy; Sharing of Good Literacy Practices,” and approval of the revised LCC Roadmap. Also discussed during that special council meeting  were issues and concerns in the conduct of the Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS), National Achievement Test (NAT), Philippine Informal Reading Inventory (Phil-IRI), and Mother Tongue-Based Multi-lingual Education.

The said meeting was attended by Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Education, Arts and Culture; Congressman Roman T. Romulo, Chairperson of the Committee on Basic Education and Culture; Dr. Ma. Antoinette C. Montealegre, Academic Affairs Vice President of the Philippine Normal University (PNU); Ms. Anna Liza F. Bonagua, Bureau of Local Government Development Director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG); Ms. Melinda T. Quiñones, Assistant Division Chief of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA); Ms. Susan M. Carandang, Supervising Economic Development Specialist of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA); and Ms. Flora C. Arellano, President of the Education Network (E-Net) Philippines. Also present are other Council representatives and Technical Working Group members, including Social Development Statistics Division Chief Rosalinda M. Garcia of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and Ms. Dulce O. Santos of DepEd Pasig City as resource persons.

Congressman Romulo and Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, who also attended the meeting, hosted and sponsored the said event.

 

 

 

On September 23, 2019, the LCC Secretariat briefed Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian, the newly elected chair of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture on LCC. The said meeting was requested by the senator in preparation of the Special LCC Meeting which was held on September 25, 2019 at the Pasig City Hall.

During the briefing, the LCCS Chief shared with Sen. Gatchalian an overview of the Council, including its current initiatives and 3-year Roadmap on universalizing literacy in the country. The highlights of the discussion included the issue on the conduct of the Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS) as a measurement of Basic and Functional Literacy, seeing the Alternative Learning System (ALS) as the main vehicle to universalizing literacy, and the vital role of LGUs and localization of LCC in strengthening efforts to universalize literacy at the local levels.

The LCC Briefing was concluded with a Photo Op of the Secretariat with the Senator on Monday afternoon at the Senate of the Philippines in Pasay City.

 

On September 9, 2019, the LCC Secretariat (LCCS), together with the DepEd External Partnerships Service (DepEd-EPS) and DepEd Information and Communications Technology Service (DepEd-ICTS), awarded the Certificate of Appreciation and a “Thank You! Partner” Plaque to 88 Sites.com, Inc. for its sponsorship of the development and hosting of the LCC Website. The two-year Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Literacy Coordinating Council (LCC) and 88 Sites.com, Inc. will expire on October 2, 2019. Present to the Awarding Ceremony are the team from the LCC Secretariat headed by Mr. Enrico R. Mendoza, as well as the personnel from Deped-EPS Ms. Maria Carmel A. Rimpos  and DepEd-ICTS, headed by Engr. Ofelia L. Algo. Ms. Elsa A. Bautista and Mr. Clark S. Manalad received the said awards.

The hosting of the LCC Website shall now be taken over by the Department of Education. LCC would like to extend its appreciation to 88 Sites.com, Inc. for its unwavering support to the Council and its goal of universalizing literacy in the Philippines.

The said meeting was held at the 88 Sites.com, Inc. Office, now known as Strategist.PH, Pearl Drive, Ortigas Center, Pasig City.

 

The Literacy Coordinating Council Secretariat (LCCS) spearheaded the conduct of the Validation Workshop on the LCC Database Management System held at DepEd ECOTECH Center, Lahug, Cebu City on September 17-20, 2019. The workshop aimed to validate the data requirements of literacy implementers and stakeholders that will be contained in the system; and finalize the data requirements and elements of the National Literacy Information System (NLIS).

Participants from different DepEd Central Office (CO) Bureaus, LCC Council Members and Representatives, Technical Working Group Members, selected Local Government Units (LGUs) and Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) provided outputs on the Validation of the Database Structure which contains eight (8) modules, and Development of Data Tables. The modules validated for the NLIS Structure and provided templates for data tables include Basic Education, LGU, NGO, Research on Literacy and Good Literacy Practices. Mr. Marc Louie M. Almario of the Municipality of Rizal, Laguna; Mr. Dionesio A. Fuentes of the Municipality of Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte; Ms. May R. Cinco of Education Network (E-Net) Philippines; and Ms. Luchi C. Flores of Coalition for Better Education (CBE) also discussed their represented agencies’ Success and Challenges on their Gathering and Utilization of Literacy Data.

 

 

The LCC Secretariat, together with the Technical Working Group (TWG) Members and Council Members and Representatives, discussed the initial findings on the submitted entries for the “Re-opening of the Call for Papers” relative to the conduct of the 2019 National Literacy Conference (NLC) to be held on October 8-11, 2019 in Iloilo City.  Dr. Heidi B. Macahilig, PNU representative, presided over the LCC body on selecting qualified research papers which were submitted during the re-opening of the Call for Research on Literacy extended until September 4, 2019. These should be relevant to the conference’s theme, “Aligning 21^st Century Literacies to Industry 4.0 through Research” highlighting their policy recommendations. Updates on the Approved, For Consideration/ Revision, and Parked pre-selected research abstracts were also deliberated.

They also discussed the technicalities on the finalization of the NLC Program of Activities including the specifications on the Guide Questions for the Talk Show. Other topics discussed include the Revision of LCC Roadmap and Milestones for the fiscal years 2019 to 2022 and the conduct of the Validation Workshop on LCC Database Management System to be held on September 17-20, 2019 in Cebu City.

The said planning meeting was held on September 6, 2019 at the Administrative Conference Room, Alonzo Building, DepEd Central Office.

 

 

 

 

The Department of Education (DepEd) is conducting a series of focus group discussions on the implementation of the Mother Tongue-based – Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE). This activity aims to gather information from various stakeholders from different localities for the enhancement of the existing language policies of the Department. Led by the Bureau of Curriculum Development (BCD) headed by Director Joyce Andaya, the field work is participated in by representatives from the different bureaus of DepEd and some resource persons from various relevant institutions, including the Indigenous Peoples Education Office (IPsEO) and the LCC Secretariat. On August 27-30, 2019, the team headed to Zamboanga City, Zamboanga Del Norte, and Isabela City to conduct FGDs with school heads, teachers, learners, parents, and elders from indigenous peoples communities. The next leg of FGDs is scheduled next month in Benguet.

It may be recalled that MTB-MLE began its implementation in all public schools, specifically in Kindergarten, Grades 1, 2 and 3 as part of the K to 12 Basic Education Program, through DepEd Order no. 16, s. 2012.

 

 

LCC Chairperson Diosdado M. San Antonio, DepEd Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction, met the Council Members and Representatives and presided over the 139th Council Meeting on August 23, 2019 held at the Bureau of Curriculum Development (BCD) Conference Room, Bonifacio Building, DepEd Complex, Pasig City. The said quarterly LCC Meeting featured discussions on the updates for the conduct of the 2019 National Literacy Conference and Hall of Fame Award, as well as the 2019 LCC-NGO Forum to be held on October 8-11, 2019 and October 23-24, 2019, respectively. The result of the validation for the NLA Hall of Fame Award, and the revised LCC Roadmap and member agencies’ Key Performance Indicators (KPI) were also presented for the approval of the Council. Other highlights of the said meeting include the agreements for the future undertakings of the Council.

The said event was successfully concluded as the LCC Chairperson, Council Members including Hon. Congressman Roman T. Romulo, together with other Council Representatives and the LCC Secretariat posed together during the Photo Opportunity.