End-of-Term Block

Hey, this fits just right.

Do you have kids? Younger brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces, or grandchildren still in school? This academic year, the DepEd implemented a major shift: a three-term calendar replacing the traditional four quarters. Integrated into this system are dedicated end-of-term blocks intended for student remediation, extracurricular activities, and rest.

The first end-of-term block runs from September 1 to 18, meaning students have no regular classes during this three-week period. It functions essentially as a mini-sembreak. In Naga City and neighboring towns across Bicol, the timing couldn't be more ideal: it coincides perfectly with the annual Peñafrancia Fiesta season.

Historically, regular classes during this month face inevitable disruption. Pupils and students spend weeks practicing for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts parades, drum and lyre corps competitions, Voyadores Festival dances, civic-military parades, and various school presentations. Since extracurricular activities disrupt formal instruction during this period anyway, setting regular coursework aside to focus entirely on local events makes practical sense.

Best of all, because this schedule is implemented nationwide, local students do not fall behind their peers in other regions. They can march, beat their drums, dance, and participate in community festivities without missing vital instruction. Eliminating standard classes from September 1 through the end of the fiesta custom-fits the official school calendar to local culture and long-standing tradition.

The real question, however, is whether students actually get to rest. Participants in band drills, dance troupes, and cadet units often practice long hours under the sun, which can prove far more physically demanding than sitting inside a classroom. If I were a student, I might prefer staying inside the classroom—though that might just be me.

DepEd’s core objective in adopting this term structure was to give teachers and students uninterrupted periods of academic focus, separated by clear breaks. Yet, speaking with local students reveals a different perspective. Many feel that interspersing extracurricular activities throughout the school year provides a necessary mental break from academic demands. Experiencing ten straight weeks of pure, uninterrupted instruction risks burnout. This insight highlights a key consideration, and DepEd would do well to evaluate the effectiveness and holistic impact of the calendar after completing its full cycle.

While students may not get complete physical rest, city vehicular traffic certainly enjoys a temporary reprieve. Driving down Liboton Street or passing through primary school zones early in the morning, traffic flows remarkably smoothly. Three weeks of light traffic on major thoroughfares is a refreshing change. However, that relief is short-lived. As the main fiesta events draw near, the surge of visitors, pilgrims, and vehicles will inevitably overwhelm local roads, leading to gridlock far heavier than usual. The initial quiet traffic may last only a few days before the festivities build it back up. Residents simply need to prepare, utilize alternate routes, or limit unnecessary travel—and appreciate the convenience of digital connectivity to stay updated from home.

In the meantime, local families look forward to gathering with friends and sharing traditional fiesta dishes, offering a brief, welcome respite from broader societal stresses. Outside our local celebrations, heavy issues continue to dominate public discussion.

Security concerns remain top of mind following reports of college students enduring long queues at campus gates due to strict bag inspections for weapons. School administrators have also been meeting to outline active shooter contingency protocols. One proposal suggested designating safe rooms where students and teachers could gather during an active threat. However, moving targets are inherently easier to hit in a tactical situation, which is why emergency protocols often emphasize lowering one's profile rather than grouping together. Gathering large numbers of people into a single space could inadvertently increase vulnerability.

Simultaneously, news headlines continue to focus on public accountability, specifically regarding the handling of confidential funds highlighted during legislative hearings and Senate inquiries. The misuse or lack of accounting for public resources remains a critical issue that deeply impacts public trust, particularly when historical patterns of corruption repeat themselves across different administrations. There has been so much talk about flood control; for weeks now, nature has reminded many provinces that maybe, flood isn’t something that we can control. The extent of deluge is simply unbelievable.

Beyond domestic concerns, global challenges linger in the background, from economic trade tensions to environmental hazards. Currently, transboundary haze from Indonesian forest fires, carried across the sea by seasonal monsoon winds, has reached parts of the Philippines, including the Bicol region. The fine particulate matter reduces sky clarity and impacts air quality, serving as a reminder of how environmental factors cross international borders.

Amidst academic calendar shifts, local traditions, security concerns, and environmental haze, the Peñafrancia season offers a momentary pause to reflect, reconnect with community, and navigate these everyday realities together.

So, what are you cooking for the fiesta?

Isaiah 40:30-31

“Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.”