Luistro bows out of DepEd

MANILA, Philippines — Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Armin Luistro Thursday paid tribute to teachers, parents and other stakeholders as he officially stepped down as one of the longest-serving education agency chiefs in Philippine history.

 

“Everyone who has been with us in this journey will remember that it began with a simple dream to make a difference in the lives of our Filipino learners,” Luistro said in his farewell message.

 

“Six years is too short a time to see big results. The seeds we have planted need to be nurtured for years. We need patience and faith that underneath the dark loam, the seed is alive and is growing. We need to see it through before we can enjoy the fruits of our labor,” he added.

 

The only DepEd secretary to serve a full six-year term following the fall of the dictatorship, Luistro rallied behind major reforms in the country’s education system, including the highly-divisive K-12 program that introduced additional two years in basic education.

 

Recalling the challenges that he faced, the former president of the De La Salle University expressed gratitude to those who have contributed in realizing the initiatives that were introduced in the past six years.

 

“Throughout our six-year-long journey, our reform took on a life of its own—not without our share of critics and detractors. Yet, amidst all the challenges and controversies, it was your passion and optimism that kept me committed to run the race to the finish. Just as you believed in our students, you also believed in me, and you believed in what we were fighting for,” said the DepEd chief.

 

“We watched this reform evolve from a young vision, to a myriad of policies and programs that broke barriers and reached for the farthest stars. But we were more than watchers; we were the catalysts for its growth, and in the process we too grew with it. It has been our life for the past six years. As you have also been my life for the past six years,” he added.

Luistro said his unannounced visits to hundreds of schools, especially in far-flung areas, had been a source of inspiration in his time with the department.

 

READ: Purisima richest, Luistro poorest among Aquino Cabinet members

 

“You taught me that it is about caring for every student in class as though he or she were my own child, and as though he or she is the only one in the world,” he added.

 

He paid tribute to DepEd personnel who sacrificed a lot for their students, including a teacher who died after using her body as a human shield to protect the lives of her students from a deranged man who ran amok in her school.

 

He also recalled a principal who ignored injuries and prioritized her students in the aftermath of Typhoon Sendong and a teacher who negotiated with a police officer who threatened to pull the pin of a grenade inside a classroom.

 

“I thought my task was to inspire and encourage you but your commitment and true-to-life stories gave me the courage and inspiration to pursue with audacity the multiple and varied needs of every learner and stakeholder,” said Luistro.

 

“Providing classrooms and furniture, computers and equipment took on a whole new meaning. It was no longer just about filling the gaps and addressing the backlogs of the past. It was about knowing and touching the lives of 24 million learners and walking with them side by side to pursue their dreams. It was about taking care of my long-lost sister and my long-lost brother,” he added.

 

Luistro said he would return to a more private life with his Lasallian brother, but said he would never forget his experience in public service.

 

“I cannot bring myself to say goodbye to a family that I have learned to love and which has been my life the past six years. With you and for you, I have fallen deeply in love with the only country I know. For me as it is for you, one chapter ends but a new one is just about to begin. I am excited to see how much more you will be able to accomplish in the years to come,” he said.

 

“With everything that I hold dear in my heart, I will always remain, your brother,” ended the DepEd chief.

 

He is succeeded by former National Treasurer Leonor Briones.