When news broke out that the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP-Iloilo) petitioned the ouster of Schools Division Superintendent (SDS) Ma. Luz de Los Reyes for being arrogant towards the mayors, I was surprised. Knowing de los Reyes and having worked with her in my capacity as a media person, its hard to believe the insinuation. After the retired and straight forward SDS Raymundo Lapating, de los Reyes is a jolly, “bugoy”, and easy to get along with SDS. She is a kind of person whose doctorate degree and position do not weigh above her head.

One time, I attended this gathering on Baliguian Island, Concepcion, Iloilo. A private group turned over their solar electrification project to an elementary school. Dr. Luz was there to accept the project. During lunch, when everybody was busy pushing themselves to sit with the guests and have a chance to talk with them, De los Reyes chose to sit on the table along with the parents and municipal councilors. I teased her to sit on the assigned VIP table, she answered me “pangpigado lang ta ya” with a hearty laugh.

After our lunch, she went to me and asked me if IMT can help her and if we can partner with the projects and programs of the department. Of course, I said yes. It’s rare that an SDS is not aloof with the media. Many SDS would not even care answering press calls. Dr. De los Reyes is different.

So when I heard about the news, I was tempted to call her. I did not. I’d rather observe how things unfold. Until she was relieved from her position and was transfered to Iloilo City. Last week, I texted her and as usual I got an immediate reply. “I’m good here” was her statement. I did not press further.

Dr. De los Reyes is the president of the Philippine Association of School Superintendents (PASS) Western Visayan and auditor of the National PASS.

Her service records include ASDS of Roxas City from 2008 to 2012, ASDS of Iloilo City 2012 to 2014, SDS of Escalante City 2014 to January 2016, SDS of Guimaras 2016 to 2019. She was SDS of Guimaras when it got the PRIME HRM Accreditation of the Civil Service Commission. She was SDS of Iloilo City during the COVID years until June 6, 2022. She was appointed SDS of Iloilo afterwards until she made history by being the first SDS to return to an old assignment last May 21, 2023. She is a Career Executive Service Officer V.

It’s hard to imagine a career officer who was appreciated and loved in all her prior assignments suddenly becoming arrogant and “maldita.” Suddenly it’s a choice of who to believe, a friend who is a career officer and has nothing but her credentials or a friend who is a politician with a patron. (to be continued)