The Schools Division Office of Quezon City successfully conducted the Education Summit 2025 on August 11-12, 2025, at the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (M.I.C.E.) Center, Quezon City Hall Complex. The two-day convergence of the most important stakeholders in the education of the city’s close to half-a-million learners was made possible through the Division Office’s vibrant partnership with the Local Government of Quezon City, and the efficient planning and execution of the School Governance and Operations Division of SDOQC.The morning of Day 1, August 11, 2025, saw the attendance of approximately 500 student leaders from both public and secondary schools of the City. In the afternoon of the same day, it was the turn of the School Principals and Administrators of Private Schools to attend the Summit. The other two groups of stakeholders, the parents and the school heads of the public schools along with the chair of the barangay committees on education, participated in the Summit in the morning and in the afternoon of the second day respectively.
The highlight of all four segments of the summit was the launching of the SDOQC and LGUQC’s campaign against bullying and discrimination, in response to the rising cases of bullying and other forms of violence among the young people of Quezon City. Dubbed BAD ‘YAN, the launching was graced by the presence of no less than the City Mayor herself, Hon. Josefina “Joy” Belmonte.
The launching ceremony featured the first showing of a video from a series of advocacy films to be distributed to all schools in Quezon City; a talk from Schools Division Superintendent Ms. Carleen S. Sedilla on practical tips to apply the tagline of Magsalita, Makiaalam, Makiisa in the schools; the Pledge of Commitment against bullying and discrimination vowed by all participants; and the signing of the commitment boards by BAD ‘YAN champions.
Another special feature in all the four sessions was the presentation of the Kabataang QC Jingle, the winning composition of students of Krus na Ligas High School, brought to life with the dance interpretation of students from San Francisco High School. The catchy tune provided a spot of lightheartedness to the occasion.
SDS Sedilla took the opportunity to present to all stakeholders the five-point agenda of DepEd Secretary Edgardo “Sonny” Angara: an enabling learning environment, the welfare of teachers, the well-being of learners, efficient learning delivery in all forms, and a future-ready workforce. She further explained the outcomes to be targeted by the Department from 2025-2035. These outcomes are:
Outcome 1: High performing teachers delivering quality education
Outcome 2: Improved learning environment that safeguards students' physical and mental well-being
Outcome 3: Enhanced governance structures to ensure efficient and supportive education systems
Outcome 4: Improved education quality through upgraded curriculum, modernized assessment, and digitally enabled schools
Outcome 5: Empowered graduates fit for employment, entrepreneurship or higher education
The SDS then continued to explain that these 5 agenda on the national level are operationalized at the Regional level through NCR's priority areas - summed up through the acronym KICES, which stand for Keep school-aged children in school, Improve foundational skills of learners, Capacitate school heads and teachers, Ensure a child-friendly environment, and Strengthen governance. To end, the SDS emphasized that these goals can only be realized if and only if the whole of Quezon City becomes a Learning Community.
SDS also took the opportunity to talk about the suspension of classes, clarifying the process and appealing to to refrain from bashing and to encourage their children to value class days. She ended with an appeal to everyone to be part of the continuing efforts to provide quality education to the children of QC.
Aside from the common speakers and topics enjoyed by all participants, each sector also had a special resource speaker that catered to their group’s particular needs: the student leaders were blessed and challenged to become better leaders by Ma. Cassandra P. Austria, Former President, National Federation of Supreme Secondary Learner Government and now a student at the University of the Philippines Manila. She gave a talk on the five essentials that any leader should always have: Reason, Direction, Companionship, Rest, and a Bag full of patience, empathy, integrity, resilience, compromise.
The private school administrators, meanwhile, were provided with practical advice on the processes and requirements for the acquisition of new permits to operate or the renewal of certificates of recognition by Dr. Rowena S. Ongtangco, Education Porgram Supervisor, DepEd NCR. They were also given some very important information by a panel composed of officials from different units from City Hall, namely: Dr. Mulano from the Quezon City Health Department, Engr. Isagani R. Versoza Jr., City Building Official, Atty. Sherry R. Gonzalvo, City Assessor, and Ma. Margarita S. Mejia, DPA, Head, BPLD. City Administrator Mr. Michael Alimurung also spoke briefly, leaving the participants with a challenge to work with the City Government in ensuring good governance and transparency in transactions.
The parents, school heads, and chairs of barangay committees on education were blessed with an emotive and yet grounded talk on values development by Dr. Leah S. Corpuz, CEO and Lead Trainer of LASC Learning Solutions. She identified FEAR as the greatest hindrance to any child’s success, asserting that the fear carried by parents and teachers are felt by the learners. She also said that fear usually manifests as anger, the antidote to both of which is LOVE.
She then went on to give some insightful suggestions on how to develop the four core values of the Department of Education – Maka-Diyos, Makatao, Maka-kalikasan, at Maka-bansa – in our children. She inspired the audience to dream of having a Quezon City brand of citizens, easily identifiable by their respectful and kind behavior. She emphasized that his is possible only if there is an alignment of values between school and home, and if all stakeholders – the whole village – would work together to educate the children.
All in all, the Education Summit 2025 was true to its goal of bringing together the major stakeholders in education in Quezon City, ensuring that all are on one track in the Division’s continuing journey towards providing quality education for all the City’s learners.
