NAKEM, on behalf of 3 students excluded from Laoag school, responds to Shah apology

The International Committee in Support of Bautista, Abadilla, and Respicio

c/o Nakem Conferences International

2540 Maile Way, Honolulu, HI 96822

T. 808-366-9000, nakemconferences@gmail.com

August 15, 2013 PST/August 16, 2013 PHLT 

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RESPONSE TO THE PUBLIC APOLOGY OF REV. DR. BRIAN SHAH

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Rev. Brian Shah

In his public apology, the Rev. Brian Shah conveys that he had already apologized to the parents of Carl Andrew A. Abadilla, Kleinee Xieriz Bautista, and Samuel G. Respicio, the three students he unjustly and unduly excluded from the Saviour’s Christian Academy (SCA) for violating its English-only policy.

While the apology may read sincere, it fell short of the more important aspect of a decent apology, i.e. the full recognition of all his misdeeds.

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DepEd, in spite of recent MLE initiatives, is slow to scuttle archaic English-only school policies

By Napoleon Imperial
Deputy Executive Director
Commission on Higher Education

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After the issuance of the DO 74 in 2009, I am not sure if DepEd ever issued any supporting order to forbid the English-only policy and the practice of imposing fines on learners speaking in their mother tongue.

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Dr. Napoleon B. Imperial

It’s August and the month of celebrating our Inang Wika. So I feel compelled to express my thoughts on the recent controversy of three students “expelled” by a supposed Christian school (Saviour’s Christian Academy) in Ilocos Norte. I feel saddened and regretful that something like this still has to happen among the country’s basic education schools at this stage of our educational history.

I don’t wish to defend that sectarian school and its owner/manager. But I am not surprised at all. I can see that we had it coming and that it is still bound to happen.

I can well recall that even before and after we successfully (at last) worked on the DepEd Order institutionalizing MLE (DO No.74 s.2009), many private schools openly prided themselves of implementing a Speak-English-only policy. This was even supported or re-enforced by some local government chief executives that made them re-electable. After the issuance of the DO in 2009, I am not sure if DepEd ever issued any supporting order to forbid the English-only policy and the practice of imposing fines on learners speaking in their mother tongue.

Enhanced K to 12: A Few Misgivings

After learning through the Senate of the Philippines website that Senate Bill No. 3286, otherwise known as the “ENHANCED BASIC EDUCATION ACT OF 2012″, was passed by both houses of Congress and that on April 4, 2013, enrolled copies of the consolidated version of SBN-3286 and HBN-6643, were sent to the House of Representatives for the signature of the Speaker and the Secretary General, I decided to watch the above video posted at the bottom of all the K to 12 guides published in the NCR website. As happens, I found some pronouncements by Dr. Marilyn D. Dimaano OIC, DepEd’s Bureau of Elementary Education, to wit: “We are introducing mother tongue as the medium of instruction in most of the subjects except English, of course, and Filipino, and we are having mother tongue as a subject…”  Now, now, where did Dr. Dimaano learn that? Didn’t she read DepEd Order No. 74, otherwise known as “INSTITUTIONALIZING MOTHER TONGUE-BASED MULTILINGUAL EDUCATION (MLE)” and its Enclosure 1 which directs those concerned re “The use of the learner’s First Language (L1) as the primary medium of instruction (MOI) from pre-school until, at least, grade three.  During such period, L1 shall be the main vehicle to teach understanding and mastery of all subject areas like Math, Science, Makabayan, and language subjects like Filipino and English.”  Assuming the kindergarten child is raised in a home where neither Filipino nor English was spoken, how in Lubuagan is the teacher going to teach the poor kid English or Filipino without using the child’s L1? Wasn’t that the reason we ditched the old bilingual system of using only English or Filipino as MOI (even levying fines in some instances on those students who spoke anything but English or Filipino in the classroom) because it definitely made life miserable for those starting without any English or Filipino background?

Enhanced Education Act & DepEd Usec. Vilma Labrador’s Passing

Usec. Vilma Labrador

Pres. Aquino

The following, reprinted from the Senate of the Philippines website, details the legislative history of Senate Bill No. 3286, otherwise known as the “ENHANCED BASIC EDUCATION ACT OF 2012”, filed on September 24, 2012 by Senators Ralph G. Recto, Loren B. Legarda, Edgardo J. Angara, and Franklin M. Drilon:

AN ACT ENHANCING THE PHILIPPINE BASIC EDUCATION SYSTEM BY STRENGTHENING ITS CURRICULUM AND INCREASING THE NUMBER OF YEARS FOR BASIC EDUCATION, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
[ THIRD REGULAR SESSION, 15TH CONGRESS ]
[ 2012 ]

DepEd USec Vilma Labrador dies

USec Vilma L. Labrador

Dr. Vilma L. Labrador, DepEd Undersecretary, as announced by Napoleon B. Imperial, Deputy Executive Director of the Commission on Higher Education, died at about 10 p.m. Friday, April 5, 2013 (The Feast Day of the Sacred Heart). The cause of death has not as yet been announced.

A brief glimpse into Dr. Labrador’s life can be found in her own Wiki page entitled simply “Vilma L. Labrador.”

“Dr. Vilma Logronio-Labrador – An Educator for Life“, a true inspirational success story which encapsulates Labrador’s life, travails and many accomplishments, was featured in the Feb. 7, 2009 issue of Asian Journal published in Los Angeles, CA.

• April 9, 2013 @ 5:30 p.m. — Necrological services at the Loyola Memorial Chapel Commonwealth, Quezon City, attended by current and previous DepEd officials

• April 11, 2013 — Internment at Heritage Memorial Park (Taguig) to follow 8:00 a.m. Mass at Loyola Memorial Chapel Commonwealth (Quezon City).
  

• NOTE: Those who wish to send their messages, please email them to CHED Deputy Executive Director Napoleon B. Imperial at nbimperial@bayanmail.net.ph or leave them as COMMENTS to this Multilingual Philippines post