27/08/2025
An Educator's Last Lesson: Honoring Ma'am Elena A. Lucas
โNot all heroes die in battle; some pass on while in service of teaching.โ
Ms. Elena Andong Lucas, Teacher III of Namatec Elementary School, who served with compassion and dedication has departed from us after 20 years and 9 months of faithful service. And in recognition of her lifelong commitment to education,on this 14th day of August 2025, a ceremonial flag installation was held as a symbol of national honor and respect.
The ceremony was led by SGOD Chief Rosendo Cacap, together with EPS Howard Poking, PSDS W***y Domong-as, Sabangan School Heads, and other DepEd personnel. With deep reverence, the Philippine flag was laid on Ms. Lucasโ casketโan emblem of the sacrifice and devotion she embodied as a public servant and educator.
During the tribute, Mr. Cacap explained the essence of this custom, citing the Heraldic Code of the Philippines and a 2022 provincial ordinance that supports the practice of bestowing the national flag upon the caskets of Department of Education employees. โThe flag symbolizes the commitment, dedication, and sacrifice of a teacher,โ he stressed. He also emphasized that this honor is a mandatory recognition for both retired and active DepEd employees. While the responsibility lies with the highest DepEd official in the division, it may also be delegated to the next in authority, a school head, or even a colleague. Importantly, he noted, the ceremony proceeds only with the familyโs consent.
Following this explanation, EPS Howard Poking took charge of leading the proper rites. As the flag was carefully installed by Mr. Cacap, Ms. Evangeline Tomas led the singing of โAng Bayan Ko,โ filling the hall with solemn pride. The tribute concluded with the heartfelt rendition of the Sabangan Hymn, offered as the communityโs final farewell.
Through this ceremony, the Department of Education and the Namatec community honored not just the memory of Ms. Lucas, but the noble profession she represented. Indeed, teachers like her may not fall on the battlefield, yet they leave behind a legacy of service no less heroicโshaping lives, nurturing futures, and serving the nation with unwavering devotion with the cause of shaping the hope of the nation, our young people.