DepEd introduces EduKahon recovery kit to ensure learning continuity

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

ALBAY, 29 August 2025 — In line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to enhance disaster preparedness in education, the Department of Education (DepEd) has institutionalized EduKahon, a standardized and ready-to-deploy school recovery kit to ensure uninterrupted education for learners and teachers even during emergencies and disasters.

As part of its Learning Continuity strategy, the EduKahon was launched during Education Secretary Sonny Angara’s visit to Tabaco National High School in Albay on Thursday. The kits provide quick replacements for lost school supplies and learning materials, support teaching and learning in evacuation centers, temporary learning spaces, and strengthen DepEd’s disaster response.

“Ang ating mga mag-aaral at guro ang unang naaapektuhan tuwing may sakuna. Sa pamamagitan ng EduKahon, tinitiyak natin na tuloy ang pag-aaral ng mga bata at hindi mapuputol ang kanilang progreso sa kabila ng mga pangyayari,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara said.

The EduKahon will be distributed in three levels: the School Kit for immediate school recovery and temporary learning spaces, the Teacher Kit for instructional support and the Learner Kit for continued access to basic learning materials.

Each kit supports one teacher and 40 students and contains essential school supplies such as pencils, notebooks, rulers, erasers, scissors, laminated posters (alphabet, multiplication, number tables), books, hygiene kits, and first aid kits.

For learners like Arianne Chloe Velilla, a Grade 10 student from Tabaco National High School, the EduKahon brings hope by supporting her learning needs especially during emergencies. “Pinakanagustuhan ko po yung solar panel kit po kasi hindi lang po ito sa mga guro makakatulong kundi para rin sa estudyante. Alam naman natin sa panahon ngayon maraming nangyayaring kalamidad,” she shared.

To ensure relevance, the EduKahon kits will also be customized based on the type of recipient and the specific needs of affected schools.

“Itong lahat ng inisyatibo ni Secretary Angara, under the guidance of our President Ferdinand Marcos, ay para ito sa lahat ng estudyante at mga guro. It’s not just for the continuity of education but also for their safety. ‘Yan talaga yung number one na pinapahalagahan natin,” said DepEd Undersecretary Fatima Lipp Panontongan.

DepEd has allocated P4 million from the Basic Education Curriculum for its initial rollout. Meanwhile, the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service (DRRMS) will lead the distribution and monitoring of kits to calamity-affected public schools and community learning centers (CLCs) nationwide. To improve implementation, EduKahon will be integrated into the Adopt-a-School platform, giving partners and donors the opportunity to directly help in the preparation and deployment of the EduKahon kits.

“Muli, hinihikayat natin ang ating mga private partners na suportahan ang EduKahon. Pagtulungan po natin na mas mabilis makabalik sa pag-aaral at makabangon ang ating mga apektadong paaralan, mag-aaral, at guro,” Sec. Angara said.

"Walang Aray" Returns: A Daring Reworking of a Timeless Story

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Meanwhile, the stage is set for a powerful theatrical comeback as the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) restages its critically acclaimed musical, "Walang Aray," at the PETA Theater Center in Quezon City. This contemporary adaptation of Severino Reyes’ classic zarzuela Walang Sugat returns with sharper satire, deeper emotional stakes, and a bold new direction.

Running from August 29 to October 12, 2025, this revival is the flagship production of PETA’s 58th season, themed "Love and Power". The new version, directed by Ian Segarra, promises to be more comedic and subversive while retaining its heartwarming core. The creative team has refined the production, adding new songs by composer Vince Lim and revisiting old ones to ensure the story resonates with today's audience.

The most revolutionary element of this revival is its inclusive casting, a deliberate move by PETA to broaden representation and challenge traditional norms in Filipino theater. In a groundbreaking choice, multi-talented performer Lance Reblando takes on the central role of Julia, proving that love stories can indeed break the mold.

The production also boasts a star-studded cast, including new members like Rendell Sanchez as Miguel and Divine Aucina as Monica. Adding even more star power are Philippine pop culture icons Jolina Magdangal and Ice Seguerra, who join the cast as Doña Juana and Lucas, respectively.

With a reimagined staging, inclusive cast, and new musical surprises, "Walang Aray" is more than just a play; it’s an invitation to laugh, reflect, and experience a fierce love and revolution on stage. As PETA's new Artistic Director J-mee Katanyag puts it, the musical remains relevant for every Filipino "trying to live, love, learn, heal, and fight back in a world full of aray”.

From the dynamic world of pet care to the emotional power of a timeless musical, Manila's cultural scene is set to offer a rich and diverse experience this fall. These two events, though vastly different, both speak to a society that is evolving and embracing new ways of seeing the world, whether through the bond with a beloved pet or through the lens of a daring and inclusive theatrical production.

DepEd, Security Bank to strengthen principal mentoring, school building program

 

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

MAKATI CITY, 29 August 2025 —In line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call to uplift the quality of education, the Department of Education (DepEd) recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Security Bank Foundation, Inc. (SBFI) and Security Bank Corporation (SBC) to boost school leadership through the Mentoring Future Leaders for Nation-Building Program.

“Ang ating mga punong-guro at guro ang nagbibigay-buhay sa ating mga paaralan. Kung mas magiging mahusay ang kanilang pamumuno, mas magiging makabuluhan ang bawat aral, bawat klase, at bawat pangarap ng ating mga kabataan,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara said.

The initiative will be carried out in partnership with Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle Philippines, the University of Bristol in UK, and The HEAD Foundation in Singapore. This mix of local expertise and global perspective is expected to provide Filipino educators with advanced training and mentoring tools.

The three-year mentoring program is designed in phases with the first year focusing on personal and professional growth of school heads. The second and third year will expand to school-wide improvement and community engagement, respectively.

Angara underscored that while addressing the classroom shortage remains a priority of the Marcos administration, it is equally important to invest in the people who lead schools. “By raising the competence of our principals, we ensure that the massive investments in infrastructure and resources translate into better student outcomes,” he added.

SBFI, through its flagship Build a School, Build a Nation Program, has already constructed 845 classrooms in 145 schools across 86 cities and municipalities since 2011. It has also invested in repairing 449 classrooms, training over 36,000 teachers, and mentoring more than 170 school principals nationwide. In total, the bank has poured some ₱1.9 billion into education initiatives, including ₱237 million in 2024 alone.

SBFI Chairman Rafael F. Simpao Jr. emphasized that the new partnership represents a deepening of the bank’s commitment to nation-building.

Some 29 school principals from different regions of the country witnessed the ceremonial signing. They represent the 2025 batch of the program which began in 2023. Program beneficiaries mainly come from schools that have benefited from SBFI classroom donations. Additional educators may be included if slots are available.

Angara said the program echoes President Marcos’s directive to strengthen the education system through public-private partnerships (PPPs). “With partners like Security Bank, we are not only building classrooms but also building capacity. Hindi lang mga gusali ang ating itinatayo, kundi kinabukasan ng ating mga kabataan,” he said.