Smart Schools Program is otherwise known as Text 2622: A Smart Way to text DepEd. The program’s official site boasts that:
Dubbed DETxt 2622, the service lets public school faculty, staff, students, parents and the general public automatically receive advisories such as announcements on test schedules, press releases, holiday announcements, and cancellation of classes.
We knew, of course, that there was a typhoon in the Visayas and the inclement weather yesterday was its peripheral effect. Still, we did not entertain the possibility that classes would get suspended. At around midnight, Sam’s friend sent a text message from this 2622 service, as follows:
DepED News: No classes tomorrow in all levels in NCR, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal and areas covered by typhoon signal #2 and above. - Usec. Bacani
I checked the online news sites but there was nothing. BUT since I intended to go to bed shortly after that, I figured I might as well double check with the 2622 service instead of waiting for the news sites to update their headlines. I subscribed to the service and got the same message a few minutes later. To make a long story short, I did not thaw anything from the freezer thinking I wouldn’t be cooking the kids’ packed school lunches.
When I woke up, there was a new text massage on my cell phone:
DepEd Alert: Regular classes today in Metro Manila. - Usec. Bacani
The time stamp was 8.30 a.m. There was no mention of Rizal and other surrounding provinces.
Damn it, really, talk about an unreliable service and a total waste of money. By 8.30 a.m., students would have left for school. Of what use was such a late announcement? I got up and couldn’t find the girls. The househelp said they went to school. Then, I remembered.
Sometime early this morning — I don’t know the exact hour and minute since half my consciousness was still deeply enrenched in Dreamland — I heard the TV and my husband saying that, according to the morning programs, classes were not suspended. I sleepily told him to check my cell phone. You know, I thought that he was asking for curiosity’s sake. I was dead tired from fixing Pinoy Cook the whole of yesterday until halfway through the night. I had no idea that he roused the girls from sleep and that they actually made it in time for the arrival of the school bus. The househelp packed leftovers from last night’s dinner for their school lunch.
More checking led to the info that the Text 2622 service is an initiative of Smart and DepEd has nothing to do with it. Naturally, I have unsubscribed from the useless Text 2622 service.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Joe 12.13.06 at 7:51 am
Connie, hi ulit… nothing to comment on this post but just wanted to remind you about your link with thefoodsection.com. Your website titled RADICAL CHEF is kinda outdated and the link goes to http://cooking.houseonahill.net. Of course, like poppycok says it’s an orphaned site since it goes only to Aug. 06,2006(Fried Labahita). Hope you could update or communicate with that website’s administrator that you have replaced it with this title and website. If i’m not mistaken eh ikaw lang ang Pinoy/pinay na website doon. Kudos for that. Hope this helps.
Connie 12.13.06 at 11:15 am
Uy, thanks, Joe. Probably the best option is to re-direct Radical Chef to Pinoy Cook.