Filipino teachers are more than just plain civil servants. They are mentors and guidance counselors, second parents and friends. They hold in their hands the minds, attitudes and values of future generations.
Though we put so much importance on the quality and standard of education in our country, it seems that an education degree is less desirable compared to other more sought-after college courses. This is a challenge by itself, and every year many NGOs and foundations seek to inspire more students to go into the teaching profession and encourage more teachers to undergo the training that is needed to improve their skills through various programs.
One such activity is “The Many Faces of the Teacher.” It is a search for the teacher that best represents the nobility of the teaching profession and who garners the inspiration not only of his students but also of each person and life that he encounters.
The search and the careful selection of each year’s nominees and finalists have become a major program of Bato Balani Foundation Inc. (BBFI), which launched its advocacy campaign for the “Many Faces of the Teacher” in 2003.
This year’s 12 finalists are some of the most inspiring teachers that we have today. They are all exemplary: Through their passion and commitment to their profession, they routinely go beyond what is expected.
The panel of judges or the Advocacy Review Board for this year is composed of: TMFT Honoree for 2004 Dr. Onofre Pagsanghan; Dr. Maria Lim Ayuyao, president of the Foundation for Worldwide People Power; Peter Perfecto of the Philippine Business for Education; former undersecretary of education Juan Miguel Luz; and BBFI chairman Saturnino G. Belen Jr.
The 12 finalists are:
• Virgina Amanon, a multi-awarded Special Education Division (SPED) teacher from Midsayap, Cotabato. She has dedicated her life to teaching “children of a lesser god.”
• Jenelyn Baylon, a mobile teacher from Naujan, Oriental Mindoro. She travels distances to reach her students and as with all mobile teachers, she handles multi-level and multi-grade students and classes.
• Leonides Bulalayao, a high school teacher from Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija. A consistent honor student from elementary to college, she has been the recipient of numerous awards for her innovative teaching programs.
• Simon Chua is a principal/school administrator from Zamboanga. The author of numerous books on Mathematics, he is also a sought-after speaker and lecturer. His experience and affiliations extend to international as well as local organizations. He is also the first Filipino to be given the Pail Erdos Award by the World Federation of National Mathematics Competitions.
• Fr. Ewald Dinter from Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro. He has devoted 40 years of his life to education and development in Mindoro. He has lived among the Mangyan tribal people, who see him as their mentor and father figure. He travels as much as 19 hours, sometimes on foot, to reach his Mangyan students.
• Margarita Gabriel from Macrohon, Southern Leyte. Through her guidance and tutelage, the Amparo Elementary School was one of the schools to top the National Achievement Tests.
• Carmelito Lauron, a high school teacher from Consolacion, Cebu. He integrated the use of information and communications technology (ICT) in teaching and created innovative ICT programs for both teachers and students.
• Enrico Morilla, a mobile teacher from Bataan. He has been repeatedly cited for his innovative teaching methods and inspiring work with Bataan’s out-of-school youth and indigenous youth in the Aeta community.
• Marcelo Otinguey, a high school teacher from La Trinidad, Benguet. He focuses most of his time to youth development and cultural integration, and has been recognized by various government agencies for his work. He was also a finalist for the Gawad Genny Lopez Award.
• Marjorie Palomo, officer in charge of the Antonio Llamas Elementary School in Bataan. She has been cited as Most Outstanding Teacher in the Philippines by the Philippine Public School Teachers Association. She has also consistently maintained high rankings for their school in the National Achievement Tests.
• Armando Salarza, who has dedicated over 20 years of his life to music through the Las Piñas Boys Choir and the St. Joseph’s Academy Bamboo Organ Foundation Inc. He studied music and the performing arts in Vienna, Austria, and has committed his profession to educating the youth and pushing for excellence in music and the arts.
• Concepcion Tababa, a mobile teacher from Tubungan, Iloilo. A multi-awarded teacher, she has worked with various NGOs and LGUs to promote the causes of the underprivileged.
Four of these 12 amazing individuals will become the final four honorees. They will be presented to the public on Sept. 27, 2008 at the SMEX during the “Tribute to Teachers,” an annual event that brings together the biggest gathering of teachers for a day of togetherness, inspiration and unity for the teaching profession.
Ching Jorge is director for programs and research of Bato Balani Foundation Inc., a non-profit organization focused on uplifting the quality of education in the country. For more information you may log on to www.batobalani.wordpress.com or email bbfi@diwamail.com.
Copyright 2008 Philippine Daily Inquirer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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