Message from

Bro. Armin A. Luistro

Secretary, Department of Education
We are embarking on what is arguably the most comprehensive basic education
reform initiative ever done in the country since the establishment of the public
education system more than a century ago. The challenges are great and the task is
daunting, but I am confident that through all of you, the brave and selfless men and
women who have taken up the noble vocation of teaching, there is nothing we cannot
accomplish together.
And what is it exactly we aim to achieve? It is easy to fixate on the obvious with regard
to the K to 12 Basic Education Program. Yes, together we will make early childhood
education a reality for all Filipinos and not just for those who can afford to pay. Yes,
together we will fundamentally reform the basic education curriculum so that our
learners have true mastery of basic competencies, and have a more deliberate path to
the world of work and entrepreneurship or are better prepared for higher learning.
But beyond these lofty goals, we are all here to rebuild the basic education system that
Filipinos from every walk of life, background, and persuasion deserve. We are here to
make basic education work.
The impetus for meaningful education reform is clear: the realities of our modern
world require a different kind of Filipino. The Filipino must be a lifelong learner. The
Filipino must be holistically developed. The Filipino must be globally-oriented and
locally-grounded. Ang Bagong Pilipino higit sa pagiging maka-tao, maka-Diyos, makabayan, at maka-kalikasan ay kailangan magtaglay ng kasanayan at pananaw na
angkop sa 21st Century. Ito po ang layunin ng K to 12 Program, na mabigyan ng sapat
at pantay na pagkakataon tungo sa isang disente at marangal na buhay ang bawat
Pilipino.
I hope all of you are as excited and as fired up as I am, along with the countless others
who have painstakingly worked on every facet of the K to 12 Program, to see this
reform measure through. There will always be those who doubt our capacity and
question our sincerity. There will always be those who, while respectful of our
intentions, fundamentally disagree with the approaches we choose to take. This may
come as a surprise but I welcome the scrutiny and to a certain extent, even the
cynicism. Basic education should inspire passions or society writ large is simply
neglecting its responsibility of nurturing its members. But to everyone, those who
agree with us and especially to those who disagree, I have a simple message: the
Department is here to serve all of you. I genuinely believe that the K to 12 Program,
along with the broader basic education reform agenda of this government, will benefit
every Filipino.
Marami pong salamat sa walang sawa ninyong paglilingkod sa ating mga kabataan at
mag-aaral. Kadalasan po ay sadyang mahirap ang pagtugon sa tawag ng ating
katungkulan. The job may seem thankless and futile at times, but please keep the
faith.
Years and decades from now, we will all collectively look back at this period as a time
of immense flux and more importantly, of incredible courage and dedication. It is never
easy to reform a system as huge and as entrenched as basic education. But with all of
you in the frontlines, hindi lang po kakayanin kundi kayang-kaya natin!