Tapaz Schools Tour

There is no age limit for learning. If you have the willingness and the correct attitude to learn something, age becomes just a number.

In Philippines, there is one official department responsible for regulating the course of education in the Philippines. That is the Department of Education or DepEd (in Filipino: Kagawaran ng Edukasyon). This executive department of the Philippine government responsible for ensuring access to, promoting equity in, and improving the quality of basic education. Same with other government departments, DepEd is spread across all regions (DepEd Regional), province (DepEd Division), and Cities and Municipalities (DepEd District). So, in Capiz, they have DepEd - Division of Capiz, and also in Tapaz.

Tapaz is one of the municipalities in the Province of Capiz. Same with other cities and municipalities, education in public schools in Tapaz must follow the regulation of DepEd, such as buildings, classrooms, facilities and infrastructure, curriculum, education system, and so on.

With my campus mentors, Sir Merlito and Sir Rey and also my buddy, Reynante, we went to the first school in Tapaz that I have visited, Camburanan National High School. After we arrived there, they welcomed us. All of the students were standing on the school field facing Philippines flag because they were waiting for me to start the flag ceremony. I joined them for my first Philippines flag ceremony. I observed there were many differences between flag ceremonies in Indonesian Public Schools and those in the Philippines. Compared to flag ceremonies at public schools in Indonesia which have many activities/steps in the list of schedule, flag ceremonies at public schools in Philippines only consist of singing the Philippine National Anthem "Lupang Hinirang" while raising the Philippine flag, prayer, students promise, singing province hymn which is Capiz Hymn "O, Capiz", and singing city/municipality hymn which is Tapaz Hymn. In Philippines, each province, city and municipality has its own hymn, and they always sing those songs in formal event or activities, including flag ceremony.

After attended flag ceremony, I got short toured with teachers in Camburanan NHS, and we took photos together before I said goodbye to proceed to another school.

The next school that I visited was San Nicolas National High School. After I arrived there, I was greeted warmly by the teachers and staff there. I also got short toured by them around San Nicolas NHS. Here, I noticed that every school has their own gymnasium for big events that need big space. Same as before, I took photos with them before went to another school.

Next school was Candelaria National High School. Reynante, my buddy, was graduated from this school. So, when we arrived, all of the teachers and staff know Reynante already. There is nothing new that I could observe here because as what I said earlier, all of the public schools here are similar to each other due to DepEd regulation. So we just chitchatted, took photos and we went to last school for that day.

The last school that I visited on that day was the biggest public school in Tapaz, namely Tapaz National High School. The three schools that I have visited are based in barangay, namely Brgy. Camburanan, Brgy. San Nicolas, and Brgy. Candelaria, respectively. But, Tapaz National High School is based in the municipality. When I arrived there, I got welcomed and greeted by the Principal, Dr. Emmie G. Garbosa. She also gave me tour around Tapaz NHS. By looking at the school, I could tell that Tapaz NHS is the biggest one in Tapaz. Tapaz NHS has many buildings, classrooms, facilities, infrastructures, etc, and ofcourse, those things also based on DepEd regulation. After short tour, we took photos as well before ended schools tour that day.

The next day, we went to Roxas Farm School located in Brgy. Roxas, Tapaz. This school was made as a public secondary school that caters to the educational needs of the indigenous people (IP) learners. Tapaz is known for a small community of indigenous Panay-Bukidnon in Barangay Tacayan. And different with Roxas City which is known as the Seafood Capital of the Philippines, Tapaz is also known as their farm, especially corn farm. So, this is the reason why this school was built. Beside to provide education for IP about agriculture, they can also obtain formal education.

After we arrived at Roxas Farm School, they welcomed us with the cultural dance and tradition for welcoming visitors. They were kind and happy because visitor like me from other country visit them. After the dance, we got toured around the school. This school has a small museum to store and show Panay-Bukidnon artifacts, culture and history. The artifacts were familiar to me, the shape and the use. The tour guide explained to me that they believe that Panay island and Borneo island were once one island, and were later separated. He explained that's why Panay-Bukidnon artifacts look similar like Indonesian artifacts.

Then I went to observed classrooms. Nothing new because Roxas Farm School is also a public school under DepEd The difference is this school offers agricultural subject in addition to the usual formal subjects. There are also several crop fields for practicum purposes or just a farm.

The last school for Tapaz schools tour is Balay Turun-an. This is the school for any age. This school provides education for the people who are hampered by school due to costs, place or time. For them, there is no age limit for learning. If you have the willingness and the correct attitude to learn something, age becomes just a number.