SDO staff graduates from communication course
Twenty staff members of the Schools Division Office (SDO) San Juan City marched off to the graduation ceremonies to end the 15-session course on Office Communication Protocols on February 19, 2016 at the Division Conference Hall. This is part of the education program in the Learning Academy, the brainchild of the OIC-SDS then, Dr. Jenilyn Rose B. Corpuz, CESO VI, with the intention to include everyone in the Department leaving no one behind in pursuit of excellence. Acting Superintendent Dr. Joel T. Torrecampo, CESE continued the efforts on the merit of the course, to achieve the following objectives: 1) clarify the roles and functions of an Office Administrative Aide; 2) increase efficiency on clerical works by improving the communication skills of the participants; and 3) enhance confidence and loving relationships among the staff members. He saw to it that all logistical requirements would be ready and the attendance of all participants would be secured despite the overlapping of activities.
Curriculum Implementation Division (CID) Chief Dr. Lydia C. Abeja graced the affair and offered words of wisdom to the participants as she encouraged them to continue developing their skills for better service to the stakeholders. A video presentation, created by HR Assistant April Lyn G. Santos, was shown that chronicled a number of highlights, some side stories and snapshots of their outputs which spanned for seven months of schedule with at least two and a half hours each session that made it the longest-running series of seminar-training according to Dr. Abeja.
Two participants gave their impression of the program and how it impacted their growth as a person in the workplace. Francoise Marie C. Gubatan, Accounting Clerk, expressed his gratefulness for the opportunity to share his experiences to his colleagues as he narrated certain points in his life that made his communication skills mattered, especially when it concerned his relationship with his family. While it is true that office work requires technical knowledge for the expected deliverables, employees bring with them their respective histories and emotional whys in keeping afloat with their responsibilities. Having a clear understanding of where one is coming from allows respect and empathy to grow within the workplace to compensate for any shortcoming or differences there might be in the conduct of one’s duties. With this kind of social climate, it is deemed to yield positive results in the productivity of employees. Gubatan’s story proved to be a testimony of this claim.
Realeila A. Santos, Administrative Aide III, shared her insights as to how important their role is regardless of the positions they hold in the office. She compared themselves to a dot in a sentence that punctuates the quality of service that the DepEd San Juan family gives to its people. They are able to execute the branding that is needed to make a dent in the consciousness of the public. Their function as administrative aides completes the cycle as they help facilitate the frontline services offered, whether it be from the Human Resources, Accounting, Supplies, Records or in whatever divisions one is in the office. Her analogy for their work gave dignity to the value they add to the organization that goes beyond the dictates of the salary grades they have because they learn to humanize their relationship between and among themselves as they also deal with both the internal and external stakeholders at all times.
School Governance and Operations Division (SGOD) Chief Virgilio A. Santos, for his part, posed the challenge to everyone. He emphasized the need to realign oneself in the collective vision and mission of the Department. He saw the relevance to upgrade the communication skills of the staff both in the oral and written text but the effect is yet to be seen in the daily tour of duty after the graduation. “Knowledge is nothing when not applied to real-life context,” he said. And to this, Aida B. Luistro, Administrative Aide III, led the body in their commitment to uphold their resolve to accept the challenge in pursuit of personal and professional excellence.
The ceremony culminated with the awarding of certificates that indicated the number of hours clocked in by each of the participants and the recognition of some of them for their exemplary performance. Regina R. Mendoza and Mary Anne C. Theresa Caingat were awarded the Perfect Attendance citation completing the whole 40 hours requirement of the course. Annabel M. Braza and Mariane P. Roldan bagged the Best in Outputs Award for their creativity while Francoise Marie C. Gubatan and Realeila A. Santos got the Most Active Award for Male and Female Category, respectively.
The success of this program would not have been possible if not for the support of the pool of facilitators from the field who voluntarily extended their time and expertise. Acknowledgements were made for the following significant people: Imelda C. Ferrer (of SDO Makati for the development of the session guide and her session on the telephone protocols), Allan Eliezer M. Mal-in (for office protocols), Joven S. Noynay (for filing of common financial reports), Michael P. Rull (for tips on ICT presentation), Dr. Juphet A. Capuyan, Hernanda R. Santos, Ma. Lucila G. Anatalio, Ma. Elena C. Alunday, Virginia R. Lopez, and Domingo C. Bruno (for the grammar part of the program), and Marnelli A. Bautista (for the over-all design and conduct of the project). The evaluation is set to be taken along with the participants to study its impact and recommend actions for future improvements.
The pictures here are but some of the captured scenes that essayed the activities and lessons learned. Happy viewing!.
Article written by:
Marnelli A. Bautista
Education Program Supervisor (English/Journalism)
