Four 'Faces' of teaching honored in Pasay City

MANILA, Philippines - One is a German priest in awe of the Philippine culture and the other invites farm children into studying. A third one devices easy-to-follow steps in Math learning, and the fourth one is a young motorbike-riding mother yearning to nurture out-of-school youth. Though having different backgrounds and hailing from faraway places, these four individuals are bound together by one passion: the art of teaching. On Saturday, the four school teachers briefly left the four corners of their classrooms and were hurled into the spotlight as they were bestowed the top honors at the “Many Faces of the Teacher" Awards held in Pasay City. But the stars of the event were not exactly only the four awardees but the almost 10,000 mentors - according to organizers' estimate - from across the country who gathered at the SMX Convention Center in SM Mall of Asia. The annual event, organized by the Bato Balani Foundation Inc (BBFI) and the Diwa, gathered the “heroes" of the classrooms for an almost four-hour tribute. BBFI vice president Natalie Christine Jorge said their foundation has been recognizing for the last six years outstanding teachers who have been serving as role models both for their colleagues and students. “We want to send a message to all the teachers in the country that they are recognized as heroes. We appreciate all their work, commitment and passion for education," Jorge told GMANews.TV in an interview. The awardees, however, were chosen from among hundreds as the four individuals who could best represent the varying facets of school mentors in the Philippines. Mobile teacher Passion and commitment are the exact same reasons why “mobile teacher" Jenelyn Baylon, the first awardee, is staying on the profession, despite having to brave rugged roads on a motorcycle in her native Mindoro just to hold house-to-house class sessions. “Iyong mga kabataan na hindi na tinatanggap sa loob ng paaralan, iyon ang minamahal namin," said Baylon, whose “Alternative Learning System" curriculum ranges from solid waste management to the Indigenous Human Rights Act. (Those out-of-school youths are dear to us.) Being the youngest among this year’s awardees, Baylon, named at the event as “The Face of Patience," told GMANews.TV she was surprised she even got selected as a nominee, much less an honoree. “Kanina, noong tinawag ako sa taas. Parang totoo ba ito? Eh maraming napakatanda na dapat sila muna (When they called me out on stage, I couldn’t believe it. I am so young and there are veteran teachers who are more deserving)," Baylon said. However, she said she would use her recognition to encourage other “mobile teachers" to forgo plans to leave the profession. So much is her dedication to work that even her pregnancy did not deter Baylon, a mother of one, from extending education to out-of-school youths. “Hindi na sila tambay. Ngayon may iba sa kanila, nasa abroad na. Buhay at pagkatao ang aming naaayos (They are no longer idle. Some of them went abroad. We are helping them put their lives and well-being in order)," Baylon proudly said. Luring students Also achieving an equally impressive task of battling the odds, Margarita Gabriel, the second awardee, said her efforts were pivotal in fueling her former school into the summit of the 2007 National Achievement Test. Though having to cramp 197 students in just five classrooms, Gabriel and her colleagues at the Sindangan Elementary School in Southern Leyte had to haggle - for a time - farm boys and girls away from the fields and into a typical classroom setting. She shored up the parents' support by convincing them to assist in home schooling their children. Gabriel, named as “The Face of Commitment," would oftentimes give up her lunch breaks, her weekends and even her own money just to make sure pupils are getting ample time and materials in school. Meanwhile, for Mathematics teacher Leonida Bulalayao, having to lure her students into liking the most dreaded school subject ever formulated was her difficult homework. Instead of taking on the mold of traditional Math terror teachers, Bulalayao - “The Face of Fortitude" - devised a system wherein her students can learn numbers and apply these hands on. She even crossed over to teaching information communication technology and in no time, her school was able to produce the best pool of Math and ICT-inclined students. Her team virtually won every competition they entered. Selfless but under-appreciated The last recipient, though bereft of Filipino blood, was later considered Filipino by heart after spending almost four decades in the country, not only teaching but also empowering indigenous people like the Mangyans of Mindoro. German-born Ewald Hauck Dinter had helped established dozens of elementary and high schools in Oriental Mindoro that not only teach the “one plus one’s" but also educate natives on how to preserve their culture and identity. Dinter, being heralded as one the champions of Filipino culture, was named by the event organizers as “The Face of Compassion." The four, together with the thousands of participating teachers, were not only extolled by gust speakers but were also serenaded to their ears’ delight. Lending a couple of tunes for the “modern day heroes" were the world-renowned Madrigal Singers from the University of the Philippines, singing quarter The Angelos, and no less than the “Queen of Soul" Jaya. Also, Filipino teenager Gian Carlo Dapul, who snagged top honors at the last International Public Speaking Competition in London, showed up at the tribute ceremony to dedicate a message to all the educators in the country. Dapul attributed his victory at the international tilt in London - where he bested 60 participants from 35 countries – to the country’s educators. “These people sacrificed their time and effort. The teachers at this event stand out in their own special way. I want to give tribute to how different teachers have changed me," Dapul said. “I respect them because they have the strength to go on teaching even if they are overworked, underpaid, and under-appreciated. I love them because they are selfless," the public speaking champion added. - Mark Merueñas, GMANews.TV