NEWS FEATURE|| September 9, 2026-𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘇𝗼: 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗮𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗻

SURIGAO CITY— 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵, 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗘𝗱 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗚. 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘇𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟰𝟮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗸-𝗕𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗷𝗮𝘄 𝗞𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗷𝗮𝘄 𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗮𝗼 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗮𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲.

Speaking before the festival audience, Farnazo identified faithfulness to the Almighty as one of the defining qualities of the Surigaonon, describing it as the “puso ng Surigaonon”; a deep faith that provides strength and direction amid life's challenges.

He also underscored the resourcefulness and resilience of the people of Surigao City, recalling how the community demonstrated courage and determination in the face of adversity, including the devastation brought by Typhoon Nita in 1994, the same year the Bonok-Bonok Festival began.

For Farnazo, the festival is therefore more than a celebration of culture. It is also a reflection of a people who have learned to rise from hardship, preserve their identity, and move forward together.

“Unity and moving forward” were among the central themes of his message as he challenged the community to continue building on its strengths and investing in its people.

Education as the Key to Moving Forward

Farnazo emphasized that one of the most powerful ways a community can rise, move forward, and become better is through education.

“We can rise, move, and become better through education,” he said, stressing the importance of building “isang matatag na edukasyon” as a foundation for a stronger community and a better future.

For the regional director, education is not the responsibility of teachers and schools alone.

“It takes a village to educate a learner,” he emphasized, underscoring the shared responsibility of families, schools, communities, local governments, and other stakeholders in shaping the lives and futures of learners.

He likewise highlighted the importance of understanding one's culture, noting that education must remain connected to the identity, history, traditions, and values of the community it serves.

Culture, Commitment, and Community

Farnazo's message placed the Bonok-Bonok Festival within a larger context: the preservation of culture must go hand in hand with the education and development of the next generation.

He called for continued commitment and hard work, emphasizing that progress is achieved not simply through celebration but through sustained collective effort.

He also expressed his appreciation to the City Government of Surigao and Mayor Pablo Yves L. Dumlao II for their continued support, particularly in efforts to nurture and provide opportunities for Surigaonon learners.

As Surigao City celebrates its heritage through the vibrant rhythms and traditions of Bonok-Bonok, Farnazo's message served as a reminder that the strength of a community lies not only in its ability to preserve where it came from, but also in its determination to educate its children and shape where it is going.

From faith comes strength. From unity comes resilience. And through education, a community can rise, move forward, and become better.

By: The Public Affairs Unit

DepEd Caraga

Violeta C. Nunez

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For more information, contact (085) 221-1151, 0961-737-0873, or 0915-808-4734. Website: www.caraga.deped.gov.ph; email: caraga@deped.gov.ph; pau_caraga@deped.gov.ph

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