The real unsung heroes

As it is slowly turning out, the bright hope for some change infused in us when the present administration took over the reins of power is becoming dimmer and dimmer. It seems that we are back to square one again. As usual we honor and recognize politicians who perform their jobs through lip service using their glib tongues and “praise releases.” We look up to celebrities as our heroes and take for granted or even look down on the real heroes in our midst who carry out their jobs quietly, ably and excellently but without much fanfare. Obviously, it is due to this kind of wrong priorities prevailing in our society now that the changes we have been longing for are not realized.

Among these forgotten and unsung but real heroes in our midst, are our teachers who play a vital role in building and shaping up a strong well knit nation. Teaching is truly a profession entailing a lot of sacrifice and heroic acts. But it has been taken for granted and deprived of necessary attention and proper recognition because it is not as glamorous and lucrative as the other professions such as law, medicine, accounting, engineering and the like. Yet we all know that without teachers, there will be no lawyers, doctors, engineers or accountants.

Aside from our parents, no other persons have been instrumental in shaping and developing our intellectual, moral, cultural and social life as our teachers. Indeed we owe our teachers a lot for what we have become now in our chosen careers. Many of us have attained our goals and reached greater heights of success in our chosen fields of endeavors because of our teachers and mentors who persevered in doing their ordinary jobs extraordinarily well even under most trying circumstances particularly inadequate remuneration and adverse working conditions for those teaching in remote areas.

Most admirable about teachers is that they find more fulfillments in the triumphs and successes of their students. They measure their own success by the achievements of their students in all aspects of life. Teachers are truly the living embodiment of the truism that “success is measured not in what I have become but in what others have become because of me.”

The fact is that the kind of leaders and public officials we have depends largely on the teachers who molded them and guided them especially in their early schooling. Second only to the parents, the teachers are the main builders of character and traits of every citizen. They are indeed the vital cog in the running of our country’s various affairs whether in the public or private sector.

Thus it is good to know that we have not completely forgotten our teachers and we still honor them even at least once a year. In fact, since 1993, the United Nations Education and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) had fixed October 5 of every year as World Teacher’s Day. Here in the Philippines, a Teachers’ Month Campaign was launched in July 2008 “to contribute to the growth and development of the teaching profession in the country as well as to publicly express appreciation to mentors, both active and retired. The Teachers Month Campaign which starts every September 5 up to October 5 of every year, was conceived by the Metrobank Foundation Inc. (MBFI), De La Salle Philippines, Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) and Campaigns for Social Response (CSR) with the especial participation of the Department of Education (DepEd) and the support of key business institutions and major media partners. Most notable achievement of the campaign was the issuance of Presidential Proclamation 242 officially declaring the period from 05 September to 05 October of every year as “National Teachers Month (NTM).

It is really fortunate that there are still some well meaning people and institutions in this country who have not failed to recognize and appreciate the self sacrifice of our teachers. Foremost among them of course is the Metrobank Foundation Inc., the corporate social responsibility arm of the Metrobank group. For the past 27 years they have been conducting a “Search for Outstanding Teachers” aimed at recognizing our mentors who devote their lives to the development of the youth with exemplary competence and dedication. The foundation seeks out teachers and awards them for their outstanding contributions to the teaching profession, personal integrity and character, instructional competence, and professional and community involvement. Since 1985, a total of 306 Outstanding Teachers have been honored and given awards.

Thus last Wednesday, September 5, 2012, the awarding ceremonies for this year’s Outstanding Teachers were held on the occasion of Metrobank’s 50th anniversary celebration. Receiving the awards after long months of diligent selection process were four elementary, four secondary public school teachers and two professors from the higher education level.

The elementary competition winners are Dr. Roberto D. Santos Jr. of Santa Rita Elementary School (Capas, Tarlac); Nueva P Mangaong of Man-it Integrated School (Passi City); Rizal M. Vidallo of Anabu II Elementary School (Imus, Cavite); and Miriam B. Rivamonte of Santa Cruz South Central School (Santa Cruz, Marinduque).

Secondary competition winners are: Dr. Annie I. Rodriguez of the Philippine Science High School, Southern Mindanao Campus (Davao City); Bonifacio D. Caculitan Jr. of Ernesto Rondon High School (Quezon City); Marivi L. Castro of General Santos City SPED Integrated School; and Galcoso C. Alburo of Concepcion Integrated Secondary School (Marikina City).

Winners in the higher education category are Dr. Hilda C. Coronel of the West Visayas State University (Iloilo City) and Dr. Catherine P. Vistro-Yu of Ateneo de Manila University (Quezon City).

The outstanding teachers were conferred with gold medallions and given plaques and cash prize amounting to P350,000 each. As MBFI president Aniceto Sobrepena aptly said during the awarding ceremonies: “They embody the heart and soul of a Filipino educator, tirelessly committed to the pursuit of molding today’s generation. They were one in believing that there is indeed a glorious future for our nation which can be realized through education.”

And so despite the present discouraging situation in our country, the future looks bright for us.

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