Gabay Guro organizer cited

MANILA, Philippines - As first vice president and comptroller of leading telecoms firm PLDT, June Cheryl Cabal-Revilla is a no-nonsense leader who exercises discipline and prudence in accounting for the company’s finances.

But her dedication does not end with numbers. She organized a comprehensive corporate social responsibility program with the support of the PLDT Managers’ Club Inc. and the PLDT Smart Foundation that aims to honor the country’s teachers – Gabay Guro (2G).

Since its inception in 2007, Gabay Guro has provided more than 700 scholarship grants to aspiring teachers and conducted trainings for more than 40,000 teachers nationwide. During the last Gabay Guro tribute to teachers, over 17,000 filled the Mall of Asia Area.

Under Cabal-Revilla’s leadership, new scholarship grants were given to 190 aspiring teachers last year, and also 39 scholars graduated with honors and special awards, including five magna cum laude and cum laude honors.

With such extensive reach and laudable projects, Cabal-Revilla was named one of The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) awardees for Community Service in 2013.

During the gala dinner for the honorees, Cabal-Revilla said: “I am fortunate to be part of a company that has a deep sense of service for the Filipino people and believes that we are here to change lives. Thus, when we organized Gabay Guro, the support was really there and this inspired us to pursue programs that will truly change the lives of those who changed ours – our teachers.”

Organized by the Junior Chambers International (JCI) Philippines, TOYM Foundation and Gerry Roxas Foundation, Cabal-Revilla received her TOYM 2013 Award from President Aquino in Malacañang last month.

President Aquino cited Cabal-Revilla’s accomplishments as the founder and chairman of Gabay Guro.

“With Gabay Guro’s motto of ‘Changing lives of those who changed ours,’ Cabal-Revilla has dedicated herself to providing continued support for our educators whether through education and training, or by simply paying tribute to the men and women who guided us in and out of the classroom, thus providing positive reinforcement to what is admittedly a difficult job,” President Aquino said.

Cabal-Revilla believes that improving the quality of life of one teacher creates positive ripple effects, and help in making them become a better teacher to hundreds of students who will become better citizens.

“Gabay Guro is all about recognizing the efforts of these men and women who have changed our lives and helped shape us to who we are now,” she said.

Gabay Guro recently constructed twin-classroom facilities in three sites in Bohol to replace those devastated by the earthquake and plans to build more classrooms in six additional sites.

“We are happy to be able to build the Bohol classroom facilities in less than two months after the earthquake. We were the first ones to put up permanent structures there with the cooperation of the DepEd and the LGUs,” Cabal-Revilla said.

In Cebu, Gabay Guro has built twin classrooms in Cordova and Lapu Lapu City which were able to withstand the earthquake and the recent Super Typhoon Yolanda.

Cabal-Revilla has also been selected as a member of the Financial Reporting Standards Council of the Philippines which is the accounting standards setters body in the country, similar to the International Accounting Standards Board in the US. She was also named 2008 Young Achievers Awardee for Commerce and Industry by the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA).

“Events like this remind me that there will never be a shortage of Filipinos who are willing to take on the task of nation-building – that, in fact, there are so many of us who are working to uplift and empower our fellow men. So every time I attend events like this and meet people who are as committed to helping other as you are, I know I am looking at these men and women who are working alongside us in building the future of this country – a future characterized by solidarity and genuine, meaningful progress – a future where no one is left behind,” President Aquino said.