Soulprints - Amyline Quien Ching

Inspiring Teacher Awards: Unmasking Today’s Silent Heroes

They may not have shed blood for the country but their perspiration quenched the thirst of the very people who have fought for the freedom of the country and those who are continuing to do so. They may not be beatified for the miracles that they perform everyday, but in the eyes of the children, whose lives they have changed for the better, they are earth angels.
Nothing could probably be nobler than the profession that lives and breathes to enrich the minds and souls of people. And if there is anyone who so richly deserves to be called hero, it is these teachers, who slaved the whole day, dedicating their whole lives in building a future not only for the children, not only for the community but for the whole country.
Cognizant of the significant role that teachers play in our society, MMPI’s Me Magazine launched the “Inspiring Teachers Awards.” “These people are the unsung heroes of the country. They have done so much and yet, they are the least recognized and the least affirmed. I think that it’s about time that their efforts are rewarded,” says its editor-in-chief Cathy Babao-Guballa.
Of the countless number of letters that were sent, the editorial team chose five teachers that have not only taught the basics of their subject matter but also the basics in life. Some of them were nominated by their students while others were nominated by their co-worker and even their superior.

DISCOVERING THE POTENTIALS WITHIN

“There are no dumb students. All children have their own intelligences. The task of the teacher is to discover these potentials and develop them,”

Grade five student Rochelle Sy-Ramos may be young but her age has not blinded her from the qualities that make her teacher, Marilyn Laureno, “the greatest teacher she ever had.” In the words of a child, she wrote, “Mrs. Laureno is a god-loving, kind, industrious and patient teacher. She is a role model for me and someday, I want to be like her.”
Going beyond the lessons in the textbooks, Marilyn teaches her students to appreciate and nurture their talents and special abilities. A subscriber of the theory, multiple intelligences, she frequently reminds her students that they have their own “smart,” be it word smart, body smart, picture smart, number smart, or people smart and that they should not despair if they can’t do what others can do.
Though the subject may not be part of the public elementary school curriculum, she feels that there are a lot more things that she could share with her young students. For being an effective teacher, for her, does not necessarily mean having students with the highest grades. Apart from their academics, they must also be able to apply the things that she has taught them in solving problems in their everyday lives.
Her innovative approach and willingness to go the extra-mile has earned her the respect and admiration of her peers and superiors. “She is such a dedicated teacher. All her students really learn from her because she makes sure that no one is left behind in their lessons,” Star Elementary School Principal Ernesto Mirabal.
And for all her efforts, all she wants as her reward is the knowledge that her students have learned from her. “Just hearing them say that they got it, that they understood the lesson, is more than enough for me to live by,” she reveals.

TURNING ROCKS INTO PRECIOUS STONES

“In essence, teachers are like gem cutters, they see through our rough façade and patiently bring out our vast potentials, turning rocks into precious gems.”

On the surface, Ma. Cristina Pargas Bawagan epitomizes the teacher stereotype, eye-glasses, serious demeanor, looks that could kill if you haven’t done your readings and assignments and yet… upon a close look, she is but a person who have chosen to dedicate her life in teaching students… and learning from them too.
“What really amazed me is her willingness to accept criticisms and change herself for the better. When she found out that some of her students did not like her teaching style, she asked her students to list down their complaints on a piece of paper. She then read each one, considered their observations and changed herself accordingly. I found it really inspiring for she is woman enough to accept our criticisms,” relates third year student Kirsten Anne Lopez of Philippine Science High School.
Ma’am Buwagan or just plain Tina, as she wants to be called, divulges that the greatest reward that teaching has ever given her is the realization that she was able to make a dent in her student’s life, not only academically but also psychologically and emotionally. There is, according to her, a feeling of fulfillment and joy in seeing them grow before your eyes, developing self-confidence and building dreams and hopes for the future.
“Most students do not really remember the subject that you teach. What they would remember are the times that you have encouraged them to be more than they thought they could be,” she discloses.

A LIGHT THAT SHINES BRIGHTER

Storms, floods are no match to the iron-clad dedication of Filipino teacher Araceli Cruz to her students in Malabon National High School. Dawn would find her already in her classroom, preparing for her lecture. She would painstakingly pore over her presentation, her visual aids, checking over the minutest details.
This determination and will to do her best was the one that has delivered her from the clutches of ignorance. Unlike those who had the luxury of studying in the best schools, she worked hard to finance her studies. After finishing elementary, she stopped for a while to help her parents raise money. She eventually went back to school, working in the school canteen part-time. It was only after so many years that she finally realized her dream to become a teacher.
Araceli believes that poverty should not stop people from dreaming, from believing that they can make something of themselves. Through hard work and patience, they too, can achieve something that they never thought they could do.

A SECOND MOTHER
There is more to school than textbook lessons and classroom lectures. This was what Gianello Cero discovered through his chemistry teacher Laura de Guzman in La Salle Greenhills.
“More than a teacher, she has become a friend and a mother. It might be so clichéd but she has become that. We really learned a lot from her and not just on chemical formulas,” says Gelo. That one time that they have accompanied their teacher to one of her weekly volunteer activities has turned into two and then three until they realized that they were hooked. “Not everything can be learned from the classroom. Sometimes, there are even more lessons that you can learn from these volunteer work, from then people that you encounter than in class. Not only do you learn, but you are also able to help them, share a part of yourself with them. I guess that is one of the things that I like about her. Being a student, for her, is not only brainwork, one should also go out and experience what the real world is all about,” he continues.
According to de Guzman, a teacher’s role in a child’s life is crucial because teachers are one of the primary influences in their formative years, where they develop their character and their puberty stage, where they develop their identity. “Teachers are really second mothers especially to the students who do not enjoy an open relationship with their parents or those who have parents that are always absent,” she maintains.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

To be a good teacher is not that difficult if one truly loves the profession and is willing to devote his or her entire self to the betterment of others. Marilou Cancio Goloya is one teacher who has committed her life to helping visually-impaired pupils in Sta Ana Elementary School. And though it may be twice as difficult as handling perhaps a normal class, the rewards are immeasurable. “It is a challenge to teach the handicapped. It is hard… yes but what joy you would feel to see them starting to progress when before they cannot do anything on their own,” she shares.
“For her to handle eight blind pupils is actually more than what is required of her as that is more than the prescribed number per class. Still, with her dedication and her natural love for her pupils, she is able to manage the class effectively,” states DepEd-NCR Education Supervisor Dr. Elvira Rocal.
A lady of innovations and great thirst for knowledge, she utilizes different teaching styles and attends seminars to learn more. Believing that education should be a continuous process, she sees to it that she upgrades her competencies in teaching the blind every time she finds an opportunity.
“One should not rest on one’s laurels. Education does not stop the minute you walk out of the classroom. Learn from everything that you see, from everything that you encounter. That is the only way for you to develop as a person,” she advises.

Having no medals of valor or sculpted images inside the church does not make them any less of a hero, any less of a saint than those who line up the pages of history books or the insides of the places of worships.
Each word of encouragement, each pat in the back may seem small but to the students, whose lives they have touched, its impact is immeasurable.

posted by Amyline Quien Ching @ 12:26 AM