TEACHERS’ DAY: HONORING THE POTTERS
Journalists deliver news, engineers plan and build structures, police protect the people, and doctors treat the sick but without educators, our society may lack professionals running the country.
Yesterday, some 5,000 teachers packed the Davao City National High School to celebrate the Division-wide World Teacher's Day with the theme "Gurong Pilipino: Turo Mo, Kinabukasan Ko".
A bazaar was also set up inside the school for the teachers to buy products made by the students as well as fruits, and refreshments.
Musical and dance numbers of fellow teachers and students entertain the crowd alongside the inspirational audio-visual presentations at the big screen.
Event's keynote speaker Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio thanked the dedication of the teachers and encouraged them to report any case of child abuse to the local government with the city's intensive campaign through the Kean Gabriel hotline.
The city mayor also recounted what her life was like with her mother being a former teacher. “Diba? Unsa may ginabuhat sa mga anak sa mga teacher? Mag check og papel (What do children of teachers do? Check test papers). I also remembered the answer key ng mga exams ni Mama sa iyang subject nga typing."
Mayor Sara also expressed her willingness to help the teachers to lobby their plea for an increased salary before the Congress to be included for the national budget as teachers from the Alliance of Concerned Teachers – Davao Chapter gave a proposal on the additional allowance of more than 10 thousand teachers in Davao City but Mayor Sara asked another proposal that is doable and something that the city government can shoulder.
Before the morning session ended, the local government of Davao gave P1,000 worth of gift certificates to all teachers present during yesterday's event so they could have something for themselves on their special day.
Happy faces and positive vibes from the teachers ended the morning program.
A day of recognition will not be enough to thank all the educators who gave their dedication and passion in teaching. Being a teacher is similar to being a potter, molding the students and bringing out their full potential.