Ilonggo recognized as finalist for global teacher prize
JESUS INSILADA, a teacher from Caninguan National High School in Lambunao, Iloilo, Philippines, has been named by philanthropist Bill Gates as one of the 10 best teachers in the world.
Mr. Insilada is one of the 10 finalists of the Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize 2018 and is in the running for $1-million award, which will go out to that one exceptional teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession as well as to shine a spotlight on the important role teachers play in society.
In the announcement video, Mr. Gates said: “Finalists were selected based on a rigorous set of criteria, including their proven effectiveness in inspiring students and helping them learn.”
Mr. Insilada is an English and Creative Writing teacher that uses culture-based approach in his instructions to make students become more engaged in their education and more appreciative of their Panay Bukidnon culture.
He and the other finalists have been selected from over 30,000 nominations and applications from 173 countries around the world. Fifty teachers became part of the shortlist, including another Filipino, Ryan Homan of San Jose Elementary School, Donsol West District.
Both Mr. Insilada and Homan are honorees of Bato Balani Foundation’s The Many Faces of the Teacher.
Mr. Insilada was recognized in 2013 Teachers together with Ramon Magsaysay awardee Randy Halasan, Dr. Teodora Balangcod of Baguio City, and Julieta Serrano of Iloilo. Dubbed by the program as the “instructional archivist,” Mr. Insilada shone for his passion in teaching and writing in Hiligaynon and Kinaray-a and for making the preservation of these local languages his bigger responsibility. Mr. Homan, on the other hand, was The Many Faces of the Teacher honoree in 2016. Mr. Insilada is also a multi-awarded Hiligaynon poet, a short story writer and a novelist, with four Palanca awards to boot. The winner of the Global Teacher Prize 2018 will be announced at the Global Education and Skills Forum in Dubai on March 18.