The Department of Education is Mourning!

The Department of Education (DepEd) deeply mourns on the sudden and unexpected death of Undersecretary for Finance and Administration Francisco Varela who, many believe, was one of the greatest officials of the department.  He died last August 29, 2015 in an accident at Pililia, Rizal.

In my long years of stay at DepEd, I have noticed his advocacy on anti-graft and corruption and his relentless efforts on instituting educational reforms in the biggest public organization in the country. Not only that he possessed good looks envied by many, he was also a smart guy -- he graduated Magna Cum Laude in Mathematics at Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan and finished Master of Science in Industrial Economics at the Center for Research and Communication now known to be the University of Asia and the Pacific.

He is definitely a big loss to the department but a huge gain to heaven.

Flowers everywhere - DepEd
September 3, 2015
(Photo Credit:  Beth Soriao-Urbano)  

Farewell to Usec. Varela at Deped,  September 3, 2015
(Photo by the author)

DepEd employees and friends prior to releasing the white balloons
September 3, 2015
(Photo by the author)

DepEd officials
September 3, 2015
(Photo by the author)