18/07/2026
More Than a Parade: Bridging Tradition and Education, Honoring Our Panata
For many decades, the annual Bicol Regional Military Parade and CTP/MAPEH/DRRM Parade Competition during the celebration of the Peรฑafrancia Fiesta has been more than just a parade. For generations of Bicolano students, it has become a cherished tradition, a symbol of discipline, camaraderie, service, and, above all, a heartfelt panata to Our Lady of Peรฑafrancia, the Mother of Bicolandia.
For three consecutive years after the pandemic, schools across the Bicol Region worked together to revive this meaningful tradition. Every year, thousands of students devote months of preparationโspending countless hours in training, practicing under the heat of the sun, strengthening teamwork, and learning the values of responsibility, commitment, and leadership. These experiences have become lasting memories that many Bicolano youth carry with pride.
It is with deep sadness that we learned of the cancellation of this year's Bicol Regional CTP/MAPEH/DRRM Parade Competition. During the recent coordination meeting held in Naga City, officials from the Schools Division of Camarines Sur and the DepEd Regional Office explained that the annual parade currently has no specific legal basis. It was also emphasized that there is no identified learning competency directly aligned with the activity and that if the objective is to teach discipline, such values can instead be integrated into classroom instruction across different learning areas. Furthermore, the implementation of the three-term academic calendar has also presented scheduling challenges that affected the conduct of this long-standing event.
As educators and learners, we fully recognize and respect the responsibility of the Department of Education to ensure that school activities remain aligned with policies and the academic calendar. We understand that these decisions are made with the welfare of learners and schools in mind.
However, we also believe that some traditions hold a value that extends beyond what can easily be measured by written competencies. The Bicol Regional Parade has never been merely about marching or competition. It has been a living expression of Bicolano identity, discipline, volunteerism, patriotism, and faith. For countless students, participating in the parade is not only a school activity but also a personal and collective offeringโa panata to Ina, deeply rooted in the culture and heritage of our region.
Today, we respectfully appeal to Sir RD Gilbert T. Sadsad and to the leadership of the DepEd Region V - Bicol. We humbly ask for your guidance and support in finding a way to bridge this treasured Bicolano tradition with the realities of the current academic calendar. We sincerely hope that possible mechanisms, policies, or future arrangements may be explored so that this meaningful tradition may continue while remaining fully compliant with DepEd guidelines and educational priorities.
Our appeal is not simply for the return of a parade. It is a plea to preserve a tradition that has inspired generations of Bicolano youth to serve with discipline, pride, faith, and unity. We hope that future students will still have the opportunity to experience what so many before them have proudly called one of the most meaningful moments of their student life.
May this appeal be heard with understanding, and may we continue working together to preserve the rich traditions that make us proudly Bicolano while ensuring that education remains responsive, relevant, and rooted in our shared culture.
Para sa kabataang Bikolano. Para sa ating kultura. Para sa ating panata.
