Living the Mission
Article by Fei Huang
Photograph by Anya Espejo
The role of a school director encompasses significant responsibilities, as well as duties of leadership and guidance. A school is a sizable body of intellectual members that exchange knowledge while growing together, and a director carries its name, vision, mission, and goals on their shoulders.
Born in Kabacan, Cotabato, Ma’am Franelli Pableo rose to become all this at Davao Christian High School. In this place we call our second home, she has faithfully served for nearly 40 years.
As we take a trip down memory lane and reflect on her journey over the past decades, let us also acknowledge and appreciate how God has a plan for each of us to fulfill. Through Ma’am Frane’s story, let us recognize the mission that has been planted within us since our creation.
She grew up with nine siblings and studied with a commendable performance in her hometown until high school. Graduating from the Mindanao Institute of Technology (now University of Southern Mindanao) as third honorable mention, she left for college and studied at Silliman University from 1974 to 1979. A year after receiving her degree of Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Ma’am Frane stepped foot on Davao Christian High School, and her first work began.
She is efficient and versatile, being able to take multiple roles at the same time. Ma’am Frane worked as a high school Science teacher from SY 1980-1981 to SY 1990-1991. Concurrently, she was a school nurse until 1992, as well as officer-in-charge (O.I.C.) of the High School Department.
After the following events, Ma’am Frane briefly departed from DCHS and worked as a Volunteer Ward and ER nurse at Davao Medical Center from 1992 to 1993. She was also a Person-in-Mission of the Student Ministry and Primary Health Care at The United Methodist Church from 1992 to 1997.
Five years after Ma’am Frane’s departure, she returned to DCHS as the High School Principal from 1997 to 2007. Alongside dutifully working in her post, she pursued a new course at Ateneo de Davao University. She studied Educational Administration from 1998 to 2003 and received a Master of Arts in Education, equipped further for her service in DCHS.
Following this, she became the English Principal from 2007 to 2012 and moved into a substantial position of School Director from 2012 to 2015. Finally, Ma’am Frane stepped into the role as the V. Mapa Campus Director in 2015 when DCHS opened its second campus in C.P. Garcia. As the school founded its Senior High School department, she also served as the Senior High School Principal from 2016 to 2023.
Today, she continues to serve the school with her skill and leadership. As she dedicatedly works with DCHS, she is also a corporator of the Union Theological Seminary in Cavite, Treasurer of the Donato Bernardez Pableo Foundation, Board Chairperson of Harris Memorial Colleges in Rizal, and a Board Secretary of ACSCU-Accrediting Council.
Ma’am Frane enjoys reading, playing the piano, and collecting items such as stamps and coins. Her densely arranged and colorful magnets are hard to miss and a fascinating sight to see for students and staff passing by her office.
Her hard work and dedication are undeniable. Under her leadership, Davao Christian High School consistently strides toward growth and abundance. Ma’am Frane’s influence and commitment to God’s work have reached many, inspiring them and bringing Christ’s light into their path.
As our esteemed campus director, she exemplifies how individuals can utilize their skills and talents as instruments for God’s kingdom. From her youth, she presented her gifts as an offering to glorify God, allowing Him to lead her every step of the way. Her life is a voyage of constant self-development and eagerness to benefit others with her capabilities. While she devoted much of her life to serving in our school, she was also a blessing in numerous other ways, in different places, and through various vocations.
As Ma’am Frane’s story continues, I believe that God will continue to help and encourage her in this lifelong mission that all believers must take upon with great honor and anticipation. Her committed work and love produce rich fruits, evident in you, me, and every individual of DCHS. Her diligence, reliability, and gentle smiles will always remain pleasant in our impressions of her. May our school produce well-rounded individuals grounded in faith who serve as salt and light in the world so that many would be blessed without cease. May Davao Christian High School never stray from its mission and values in Christ and never erase the insights we gained from the story of our beloved campus director and role model—Ms. Franelli Cachola Pableo.