23/07/2026
MORE THAN JUST PLASTIC: The Symbolism in an ID Held High
A (school) ID card is often viewed as mere laminated plastic. Yet, during the visit of Regional Director Dr. Allan G. Farnazo, CESO III, to Tandag Pilot Elementary School, a shared moment with our very own Principal III, Ma'am Marilou Serrano Saranza transformed that everyday badge into a powerful symbol.
* Pride in Service: It represents belonging to a dedicated community of public educators.
* Accountability: Holding the ID high signifies professional integrity and commitment to duty.
* Shared Leadership: The moment highlights a strong alignment between regional leadership and school-level administration.
More than identification, it stands for purpose, dedication, and service to Filipino learners... to TANDAGANON LEARNERS.
Feature Story|July 23, 2026
๐ ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ง๐ต๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฃ๐น๐ฎ๐๐๐ถ๐ฐ: ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐๐บ๐ฏ๐ผ๐น๐ถ๐๐บ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ฑ ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ต
On July 22, 2026, the quiet schools in Tandag City and Bislig City, Surigao del Sur, were alive with anticipation. DepEd Caraga Regional Director Allan G. Farnazo, known for his hands-on leadership, was making rounds, visiting the frontline heroes of the Department of Education; the teachers, personnel, and learners.
These visits were, as expected, a whirlwind of engagement: classroom walk-throughs, earnest conversations, and, inevitability, many requests for photographs.
Yet, amid the standard poses and polite handshakes, a distinct pattern emerged during these photo-ops that captured the attention and imagination of everyone present. It wasn't a rehearsed handshake or a simple wave. Instead, it was RD Farnazo's unique and profound gesture of taking the standard DepEd ID card of a Principal, and holding it high, prominently in the center of the frame, for everyone to see.
This gesture captured perfectly Director Farnazoโs message: The ID card is more than just plastic; it is a profound essay of professional honor in a single frame. Its deeper symbolisms resonate far beyond the surface of a casual Facebook photo.
๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐๐, ๐ถ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฎ ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ณ๐๐น ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฎ๐ณ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป
In many organizations, especially one as large as DepEd, individual contributions can feel lost in the machinery. By taking a personnelโs ID placing it front and center, RD Farnazo is performing an act of individual affirmation. He isn't just taking a picture with the Principal; he is validating her identity and specific role. It is a loud declaration that says, "I see you. You are not a number. You are Marilou S. Saraza, and your presence is acknowledged and essential."
This affirmation fuels professional dignity, a core component of a healthy workplace culture.
๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ฑ, ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ฎ ๐๐๐บ๐ฏ๐ผ๐น ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ, ๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ต๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐
The physical position of the hand is incredibly telling. While one person is a Regional Director and the other is a dedicated Principal, the hand holding the same piece of plastic while still being worn by the other person breaks down hierarchical distance. Itโs not a superior looking down; it is two pillars of the educational system standing together.
The ID held high becomes a symbol of shared dedication and partnership. The message is that the success of DepEd Caraga belongs to both, working in sync. The director is lifting their identity, which in turn lifts the entire team.
๐ง๐ต๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฑ, ๐ถ๐ ๐บ๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ป๐๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ
Often, leaders get the recognition. By elevating the ID of a teacher or personnel, Director Farnazo is making a conscious effort to lift up the frontline. He is deliberately making the Principal, and by extension, the entire teaching and support force, the star of the photo.
The gesture is an expression of deep respect for the daily sacrifices made in the classroom and in administration. It communicates that the regionโs greatest asset is not its offices or protocols, but its people.
๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐๐ต, ๐ถ๐ ๐ต๐๐บ๐ฎ๐ป๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐๐ฒ๐บ
The simple act of paying attention to the ID of the person beside him shows an authentic and humanized leadership. It moves beyond standard administrative duties into genuine, personal engagement.
This small gesture transforms the image of a 'boss' into a leader who deeply connects. The ID itself, with its red header and clear name, represents the official 'system.' By holding it with such respect, Farnazo is humanizing the entire bureaucratic process, showing that behind the policies are human faces and dedicated souls.
๐๐ถ๐ณ๐๐ต, ๐ถ๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ฎ ๐บ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ณ๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐๐
The ID card is the formal indicator of one's profession. Elevating it tells the wearer, and everyone watching, that one's educational identity is a source of immense pride. It is a quiet reminder to all educators that their professional calling is not only noble but recognized at the highest levels of the region. The photo is a portable award, an enduring reminder of one's significance in the great educational project.
Director Farnazoโs choice of gesture is a masterclass in symbolic leadership. In a single, brief moment during a routine photo op, he converted what could have been a forgotten snapshot into a powerful testament to the value of human connection, respect, and shared mission.
The simple, deliberate act of holding an ID high was a language understood instantly by everyone present. It said what words often cannot: Your identity is essential. Your contribution is vital. We are in this together. That held-up piece of plastic became a symbol of a region that not only instructs but honors its own.
By: The Public Affairs Unit
DepEd Caraga
END
๐๐ต. ๐โ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐โ๐๐๐, ๐๐๐-๐ก๐๐๐โ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ , ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐ , ๐๐๐ ๐๐กโ๐๐ ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐โ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐ โ๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐๐ , ๐๐๐ค๐ , ๐๐๐๐ก๐ข๐๐๐ , ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ , ๐๐๐๐๐ , ๐๐๐ ๐๐กโ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ท๐๐๐ธ๐ ๐ถ๐๐๐๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ . ๐ด๐๐ก๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก ๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐ก๐ก๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ก (๐ค๐๐กโ ๐๐๐๐ก๐ข๐๐๐ ) ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ก ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ (๐๐) โ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ก ๐๐๐ข_๐๐๐๐๐๐@๐๐๐๐๐.๐๐๐ฃ.๐โ
