Teacher slain while protecting pupils honored

MANILA, Philippines - A public school teacher slain as she tried to protect her students from a knife-wielding ex-convict has been named one of this year’s “Dangal ng Bayan” awardees.

Representing President Aquino, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa yesterday conferred the posthumous award on Lorna I. Pulalon, of Talisayan Elementary School in Zamboanga City.

Pulalon’s parents received the award in ceremonies at Malacañang, accompanied by Civil Service Commission (CSC) Region 9 director Macybel Alfaro-Sahi.

Sahi said the “Dangal ng Bayan” is the CSC’s highest award given to a government official or employee who has shown extraordinary excellence, professionalism and integrity in public service.

CSC liaison division chief Ma. Asuncion Tan told Department of Education (DepEd) Region 9 director Walter Albos that the young Muslim mentor died a hero as she gave up her life to protect her pupils from the frenzy of rape convict Felin Mateo in October last year. 

Pulalon, 22, died of multiple hack wounds as she tried to ward off the madman’s attack to shield her wards.

Ochoa hailed Pulalon along with 80 other public servants who were cited for their extraordinary contributions to good governance under the Honor Awards Program of the CSC.

He also echoed the President’s message to the awardees, urging the recipients of the Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award, Dangal ng Bayan Award, and Pag-asa Award to continue to serve as inspirations for the Filipino people, and expressed hope that other civil servants will emulate them.

The 2011 Outstanding Public Officials and Employees include Laguna Gov. Jeorge E.R. Ejercito Estregan, Sta. Rosa, Laguna Mayor Arlene Arcillas, Misamis Occidental Public Employment Service Office Manager Lucia Buaquiña, Special Science Teacher III Janeth Fuentes (Leyte), and Philippine Army (General Santos City) Col. Joselito Kakilala, Negros Occidental Solid Waste Management Team.

The awardees received either a gold-gilded medallion expertly crafted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas or a trophy designed by National Artist for Sculpture Napoleon Abueva, a plaque, and a cash prize.

Two Central Luzon residents were cited as among the recipients of the 2011 Outstanding Public Officials and Employees in line with the celebration of the 11th Philippine Civil Service anniversary, the CSC said.

Jesus Fabian, a bomb disposal technician of the Philippine Air Force in Clark Freeport, Pampanga, was named Presidential Lingkod Bayan Awardee while Joey Fernandez, an administrative assistant III of the San Jose del Monte City government in Bulacan was a “Dangal ng Bayan” awardee.

Fabian, an education supervisor at the Research and Development, Training, Flight, and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit of the 770 Special Operations Combat Support Group based in Clark, was cited for his bomb-related inventions.

Fernandez, on the other hand, was lauded for his bravery.

The CSC said that on Sept. 15, 2010, Fernandez and city treasurer Estelita Mendoza had just withdrawn P2 million from the Landbank of the Philippines branch in Tungkong Mangga when they were intercepted by four motorcycle-riding robbers. The suspects fired at their vehicle, hitting Mendoza in the process. Fernandez then sped off to the city hall, prompting the robbers to escape empty-handed. 

Fernandez rushed Mendoza to the hospital but she did not make it alive. - J. Antonio Rimando, Ding Cervantes