RCTQ pays tribute to former director Gonong
Dr Gonong and Dr. Pegg
As part of its tenth anniversary celebration on 18 November 2022, RCTQ paid tribute to former director Dr. Gina Gonong who assumed her new role as education undersecretary for curriculum and instruction this month.
A video of Dr. Gonong’s nine years at RCTQ was shown before Dr. John Pegg—Director of SiMERR National Research Centre of the University of New England and RCTQ co-director—honored the former RCTQ head with a heartwarming farewell message before the anniversary audience.
“We’re very sad to see Gina go, and I know it’s going to be a big hole to fill. But really, when you think about the work of RCTQ, it’s not about PNU, it’s not even about RCTQ, and it’s not about me or you. It’s really about the people in the Philippines—the students, the teachers,” said Dr. Pegg. “I am just very proud of what she has achieved.”
RCTQ’s loss with Dr. Gonong’s departure for the Department of Education will indeed be the country’s gain as Dr. Pegg shared insights on why the former RCTQ director makes the best person for this role at DepEd.
VP and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte swears in Dr. Gonong as Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction.
He recalled how RCTQ encountered challenges in pushing for the development of the Philippine Professional Standards for Teachers (PPST) and how Dr. Gonong demonstrated resilience “as she had to deal with difficult people.” Despite these challenges, the PPST was eventually signed as a DepEd policy through DepEd Order 42, s. 2017, making it one of the most important education reforms in recent times.
“I know there are real challenges in DepEd, and it needs someone with a great deal of courage to actually suggest the changes, build up the momentum, and carry through those changes,” Dr. Pegg added. “With her experience, I could not have thought of a better person to take on the curriculum role.”
Dr. Pegg also credited Dr. Gonong for her role as resource person during the series of Senate and House committee hearings for a piece of legislation that would later become the Excellence in Teacher Education Act or RA 11713.
Rallying support for the new undersecretary, Dr. Pegg said that “by supporting Gina in her new role, we are actually supporting Philippine students, Philippine teachers, Philippine leaders, and the Philippine nation to actually achieve the potential that this country has been denied.”
In her response, Dr. Gonong thanked the whole RCTQ team and Dr. Pegg “for the nine beautiful years” of her professional career.
“I would say that many of the happiest moments and the most fulfilling moments in my life happened in RCTQ, but I will also say that many of the most difficult and most challenging and most depressing moments happened in RCTQ,” Dr. Gonong said.
Both experiences, she said, contributed to her professional growth as a leader.
Dr. Gonong is succeeded by her former Deputy Director, Dr. Jennie Jocson, who took on the RCTQ director role in a concurrent capacity as Philippine Normal University’s Vice President for Academics. (RCTQ Comms)
https://www.ritq.ph/?p=4024NewsCelebrating RCTQ Partnerships,DepEd
