DepEd musical chairs: Division superintendents trade places again

Pastor

Aribuabo

By Dominic B. dela Cruz

Staff Reporter

THE DEPARTMENT of Education (DepEd) superintendents in Ilocos Norte and Laoag City have traded places again. In effect, it placed both to their former places five years ago.

Ms. Araceli Pastor and Dr. Cecilia P. Aribuabo have returned to their old posts—Pastor at the Ilocos Norte division and Aribuabo at the Laoag City division—as the five-year reshuffling process for division superintendents took effect.

Aribuabo has served for eight years at the Laoag division, bridging the terms of former Laoag Mayors Roger C. Fariñas and Michael V. Fariñas. A reshuffle five years ago brought her to the Ilocos Norte division as Pastor took her place.

In a staff meeting last month, Pastor expressed her gratitude to Laoag City government for giving the opportunity to work with them in what was an emotional farewell for the education superintendent.

She disclosed that her stay in Laoag was like a homecoming since she is from the city and her transfer to the provincial division would also be like returning to her old home.

Pastor also attended a regular session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod to bid the council farewell, especially to Laoag Vice Mayor Michael V. Fariñas, who was the mayor during most of Pastor’s term as superintendent.

Meanwhile, Laoag Mayor Chevylle V. Fariñas welcomed Aribuabo back to the city’s fold as she expressed hopes for a better Laoag education state.

Aribuabo thanked the city government for welcoming back as she said she missed working for the city division as she spent eight years there.

She vowed to cooperate with the city government to further improve the education system here in Laoag.

She also clarified that her reassignment is not a demotion but only the scope of her work has changed as she would now handle a smaller area compared to the province-wide coverage she had before.