4 ‘Faces of the Teacher’ awardees honored
What makes a teacher great? More than popularity or length of years in service, four outstanding educators were recently commended for exemplifying excellence in their profession and driving positive change in the lives of their students and their respective communities.
The announcement of this year’s honorees for the “The Many Faces of the Teacher” (TMFT) – an advocacy campaign that cites inspiring educators – was held late Friday afternoon at the Shangri-La the Fort in Bonifacio Global City.
TMFT is a search conducted by the Bato Balani Foundation Inc’s (BBFI) in partnership with Diwa Learning Systems Inc (Diwa). The BBFI – through the TMFT – honors “Filipino teachers who exemplify excellence in their profession and who drive positive change in the lives of their students and communities.”
Lord Jane Dordas One of them is Lord Jane Dordas, a teacher from the Panay Bukidnon tribe – an indigenous Visayan group in the Capiz-Lambunao mountains of Panay.
A culture advocate, Dordas documented their native games, songs, dances, instruments, tools, handicrafts, and food. Among her most notable works is the documentation of hinun-anon, a type of Panay Bukidnon oral literature. She has recorded around a hundred of these stories that were passed on to them orally by their forefathers.
Dordas also teaches indigenous peoples’ knowledge to her students at the Wright Elementary School in Tapaz, Capiz.
Dr. Aimee Lynn Dupo Another honoree is Dr. Aimee Lynn Dupo, a scientist, leader, and teacher who continues to enrich the perspective about the country’s biodiversity. She expands biodiversity work by conducting beginners’ training for hobbyists and interested students and faculty.
As the program chair of the University of the Philippines Los Baños Bee Program, Dupo spearheads out-of-thecampus seminars to train communities about beekeeping, pollinator studies, and livelihood programs using honey.
Ronaldo Reyes
Ronaldo Reyes, a chemistry teacher from Tabaco National High School who turns to science and technology to address socioeconomic and environmental issues, is also among this year’s honorees.
Reyes has been mobilizing students and teachers to promote science literacy to marginalized communities to help improve their livelihood and environmental programs through “ChemConnect.”
In 2012, Reyes also initiated a research on how to make bioethanol from a low-value crop called kaonayan. By adding kaonayan fuel to gasoline will half not only its harmful environmental effects – but also its price.
Dr. Bernadeth Gabor Last but not the least is Dr. Bernadeth Gabor, a teacher from Balanga City, Bataan who has been giving hope to a special set of learners.
In 2010, Gabor entered the Bataan District Jail (BDJ) to volunteer as an instructor. She was the first Bataan Peninsula State University educator who helped at BDJ to establish its certification courses. Several years later, the number of instructors has ballooned to 50 – which include faculty members and students.
For the past seven years, Gabor has established a training course for bread and pastry production, which gave birth to the pandesal business of BDJ. So far, the program has helped over 2,200 male residents and 200 female residents.