THE OFFICE of the Schools Division Superintendent of Davao Oriental clarified on Wednesday that the context of the message delivered by Dr. Josephine L. Fadul, schools division superintendent, was a “light joke.”
In a statement, DepEd Davao Oriental Division said the harsh online criticisms and personal attacks directed at Fadul are “unfair, unwarranted, and uncalled for.”
“We urge the public to exercise prudence, responsibility, and sound judgment in posting comments and reactions on social media. The matter is already being addressed by the concerned personnel in the Office,” the statement said.
They explained that Fadul’s speech engaged with the athletes by asking them about Nike’s popular tagline, but when the students were unable to answer, “she briefly cracked a light joke to ease the atmosphere.”
Fadul faced backlash online after her remarks during the opening program of the 2025 Davao Oriental Provincial Athletic Meet on December 5, 2025.
In her speech, she asked the question: “Ano nga ang nike’s slogan? Ay mga bulok. Maayo ra mos dula ha.”
“The context and intent of her message have drawn attention online. While she did mention a line that is now being circulated, her intention was to inspire the athletes by emphasizing the importance of balancing academics and sports,” Deped Davao Oriental stressed.
It added that the message encouraged every young athlete to pursue excellence in both academics and sports.
Fadul, after the “dumbhead” remarks, said that winning is not everything and that character is still important.
“Dr. Josephine L. Fadul is a leader whose principles are deeply rooted in kindness, understanding, and respect. Her commitment to fair and humane treatment of all teaching and non-teaching personnel is the same level of respect she consistently extends to all learners,” Deped Davao Oriental added.
The division considered this as an isolated incident and assured that it does not diminish the commitment of the Schools Division Office.
