New DepEd Mantra Emphasizes Resilience, Integrity, Service, and Excellence

In a poignant address delivered during the Flag Raising Ceremony on January 29, 2024, at the Department of Education – National Capital Region (DepEd-NCR) Quadrangle, Regional Director Jocelyn DR Andaya emphasized the new mantra of the Region. With a blend of conviction and eloquence, RD Andaya articulated the core values that will shape the ethos of the regional education authority.

“Resilience isn’t just about bouncing back. It is also about looking at ways of improving our practices, our policies, and how we treat one another,” she declared, setting the tone for a discourse centered on growth and adaptability.

Integrity emerged as a cornerstone of RD Andaya’s address, as she underscored its paramount importance in the character of every employee. “It’s who you are even when no one is looking,” she affirmed, emphasizing the intrinsic nature of integrity as a guiding principle.

Service, as Andaya iterated, is not merely a duty but a mindset. “We always look at others in the context of serving them, especially our learners and teachers,” she emphasized, signaling a commitment to prioritize the needs of the educational community.

RD Andaya’s words resonated with a call for excellence, reminding all present that the reputation of the NCR is intrinsically tied to the quality of their collective efforts. “It should be us because we are NCR. It should reflect on the quality of our work,” she proclaimed, igniting a collective aspiration for excellence.

Amidst her impassioned discourse, RD Andaya invoked a timeless adage, “Manners make the man,” as she delved into the significance of courtesy and respect in interpersonal interactions. “Good morning,” “Good afternoon,” “Thank you,” “Excuse me” – these seemingly mundane phrases, she argued, carry profound implications for how individuals perceive and treat each other.

“It’s all about how we look at one another and how we deal with one another,” Andaya expounded, emphasizing the intrinsic worthiness of every individual to receive courtesy and respect. “Because this is another human being, and I would like to treat him as I would like to be treated.”

In encapsulating the essence of the new DepEd-NCR mantra, RD Andaya’s address not only delineated a framework for professional conduct but also reaffirmed the fundamental humanity that underpins every interaction within the educational sphere. As the regional office embarks on this transformative journey, RD Andaya’s words serve as a beacon, illuminating the path toward a more resilient, principled, and service-oriented educational community.