Enabling Others To Be Able To Enable Others: Kim Robert C. de Leon
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marco medurandaEnabling Others To Be Able To Enable Others: Kim Robert C. de Leon
Uploaded by
marco medurandaEnabling Others to Be Able to Enable Others
An Essay Written for Dr. Maria Cristina Robles, nominee for
the Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua Gintong Parangal Para sa Edukasyon
Written by
Kim Robert C. De Leon
Assistant Secretary, Department of Budget and Management
Navotas National High School Alumnus
I am very fortunate to meet people in my life who have given me the opportunity to access
resources to develop my potential which led to me to the path that I am currently taking. As a
product of the public school system, I was able to meet and interact with numerous educators
but one of them has really etched a special mark in my life.
During my elementary days, there were times when I get to see Dr. Maria Cristina A. Robles in
science competitions when she was still Education Program Supervisor in Science for the
Division City Schools, Malabon and Navotas. Attending a Boy Scout event, I could vividly
remember when she represented the Schools Division Superintendent and delivered an
inspirational message for all of us who are in attendance and I did not expect that she will soon
become the principal of my alma mater – Navotas National High School.
In her early days as Principal, she made a surprising image – she would go to office early in the
morning, to inspect each corner of the school premises, to pick up the broom to sweep the
floor and yes, to check the restrooms where she noticed significant number of plastic cups in
between cubicles, window shutters and toilet bowls. These were her routines for her first few
months and as the Student Council President during that time, I thought of reaching out to this
Principal in order to help address this issue.
We launched a classroom campaign of avoiding the use of plastic cups in the school canteen by
bringing our reusable cups/mugs. And this simple classroom campaign gained traction and was
eventually noticed by the School Administration and I was fortunately to have been called to
the Principal’s office not for an offense but for a discussion on future steps and projects that
would be implemented by the Student Council. That was the time when project “Ang Batang
Navoteño ay Disiplinado” was conceptualized, which is an advocacy campaign aimed at going
back to the basic values that each student should possess like going to class on time, throwing
the trash in the proper bins, “keeping right” when walking along the corridors and hallways,
among others. Simple yet impactful steps that put order in the school.
With this project, Dr. Robles shared her expertise in project development, implementation and
management. As a student council officer, I was taught how to write project proposals for each
and every project that we would implement, and Dr. Robles had been very supportive in
mentoring us how to improve our proposals so that the paper-document itself would provide
all the details of the project even without us – the proponents – talking about the project.
I somehow mastered the formula and because of the continuous exposure that Dr. Robles had
given me not only for student council projects, I started to take part in higher level school
planning as student representative. I somehow enjoyed my involvement and I did not notice
how frequent I was spending my free time after the class going to the Principal’s office,
participating in school-based management planning and evaluation, school governing council
discussions, and in the preparation of documentation on how to showcase the best practices of
the school. Every time and all the time, Dr. Robles had been a consistent and persistent mentor
– talking about the processes extensively and encouraging everyone, even a student like me, to
take an active role in pushing forward the vision and mission of the school. Because of her trust,
I later became representative of the school in external affairs both a student and a Scout in the
Division and even at the Regional Level where I brought with me the values, discipline and
capacity to converse and share my view with others on how we can develop and implement
meaningful programs and initiatives.
This opened a wider horizon for me and inspired me to become more involved in public policy
formulation and development which led to the National College of Public Administration and
Governance. With the burning passion that was ignited and inspired by Dr. Robles, I was able to
advocate for the creation of the Navotas City Council for Youth Development (NCCYD) through
a City Ordinance, formulate the first Navotas City Comprehensive Youth Development Plan and
serve as NCCYD Coordinator even while still finishing college. Immediately upon graduation, I
went on serving as the City’s first Youth Development Officer and program and project
development would no longer a big challenge for I had with me all the learnings that I gained
not only from the classroom but also from Dr. Robles’ mentoring.
Fast forward, I am now Assistant Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management –
managing not only programs and projects for the Navoteño youth but the entire government
bureaucracy – and thanks to the extra-curricular training that I got from Dr. Robles, I am able to
handle critical assignments amid the stress and hustle because the basic values and discipline
were translated into work ethics recognized not only by the Department but also other
stakeholders.
Along the way, I always keep in mind that whatever I do should be able to empower others,
help others, because I know what it feels to have limited opportunities and had it not been with
the people that I met most especially Dr. Robles, I will not be able to reach this position. As I go
up to the ladder, I am always reminded of that inspirational message that Dr. Robles delivered
more than 10 years ago – as a true Scout, we should always be positive with the HIV (Honor,
Integrity and Valor) because this is what we will need not only to succeed but to pay it forward.
# KRCD
