Two Mindanawon teachers among PH’s best
Education Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro honored Dr. Annie I. Rodriguez of the Philippine Science High School-Southern Mindanao Campus in this city and Marivi L. Castro of the General Santos City SPED Integrated School in General Santos City as among the ten recipients of the 2012 Metrobank Foundation Search for Outstanding Teachers (SOT) plum.
In a press statement early this week, Luistro said that through the winners, the goal of the DepEd of providing quality education and producing competitive graduates and successful citizens of the country “has become even more real.”
“I would like to thank our ten outstanding teachers for your selflessness and for choosing this profession in the service of our country,” he added.
The winners were conferred with gold medallions, plaques and cash prizes, according to the Metrobank Foundation.[]
The SOT gives recognition to four outstanding teachers in elementary, four in secondary and two from higher education in a nationwide annual search.
Other winners in the secondary level were Bonifacio D.[]
Caculitan, Jr. of Ernesto Rondon High School (Quezon City) and Galcoso Alburo of Concepcion Integrated School (Marikina City).
Winners for the Elementary Competition were Dr. Roberto D. Santos, Jr. of Sta. Rita Elementary School (Capas, Tarlac); Nueva P. Mangaoang of Man-It Integrated School (Passi City, Iloilo); Rizal M. Vidallo of Anabu II Elementary School (Imus, Cavite); and Mariam B. Rivamonte of Santa Cruz South Central School (Santa Cruz, Marinduque).
Dr. Hilda C. Montaño of the West Visayas State University (Iloilo City) and Dr. Catherine P. Vistro-Yu of the Ateneo de Manila University (Quezon City) were the winners in the higher education category.
This year’s winners have joined the ranks of 306 Outstanding Teachers who have been honored by the Metrobank Foundation since 1985.
Metrobank Foundation president Aniceto Sobrepeña said these extraordinary educators proved that the passion to nurture and teach young minds lives on amidst the challenges each of them faces every day.
“They could have chosen a different path, and for this, we commend the educators for their selfless dedication to the Filipino youth. This year’s awardees are inspirational for they have become educational innovators in their respective communities,” said Sobrepeña in a statement posted at the Metrobank Foundation website.
“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,” he added.
Last year, two Mindanawons also received the same recognition in the elementary category. They were Lora E. Añar of Bukidnon State University in Malaybalay City and Djhoane C. Aguilar of Panabo Central Elementary School in Panabo City.
A total of 284 teachers were nominated to this year’s search. They were trimmed down to 139 provincial finalists through documents review and were then reduced to 40 regional finalists who underwent interviews and teaching demonstrations before the members of the preliminary board of judges identified for each category. Twenty of the regional finalists were then selected to become the national finalists.
The national finalists then faced the 2012 Final Board of Judges chaired by Sen. Ralph Recto with members Deputy Speaker and Zamboanga City Congresswoman Maria Isabelle Climaco; Secretary of socio-economic planning and NEDA director general Arsenio Balisacan; Indonesian Ambassador Yohanes Kristiarto Soeryo Legowo; Aboitiz Equity Ventures chairman Jon Ramon Aboitiz; De La Salle University president and chancellor Br. Ricardo Laguda, FSC; and GMA7 broadcast journalist Vicky Morales-Reyno. (Rico Biliran/MindaNews)