2013 outstanding teachers named
THE METROBANK Foundation has announced the 10 winners of the 2013 Search for Outstanding Teachers.
They will be presented, with the 2013 awardees of COPS (Country’s Outstanding Policemen in Service) and TOPS (The Outstanding Philippine Soldiers), in formal ceremonies on Sept. 5 as the highlight of Metrobank’s 51st anniversary celebration.
Four elementary and four secondary public school teachers and two college professors will each get a gold medallion, plaque and cash prize of P350,000.
They join the ranks of 316 outstanding teachers honored by the foundation since 1985. The towns of Guagua, Pampanga; Bakun, Benguet, and Bacnotan, La Union are represented for the first time in the roster of winners.
This year’s outstanding elementary teachers are Fely A. Batiloy, Special Education Integrated School for Exceptional Children (Iloilo City); Dr. Mitchel V. Rodriguez, Odiongan Central School (Gingoog City); Cherry G. Vinluan, Guagua Elementary School (Guagua, Pampanga), and Rodel C. Sampang, Pedro Guevarra Elementary School (Manila).
High school winners are Dominique J. Maquiran, University of the Philippines High School-Iloilo ( Iloilo City); Dr. Maria Teresa M. Bautista, Bacnotan National High School (Bacnotan, La Union); Marcelo T. Otinguey, Ampusongan National High School (Bakun, Benguet), and Maria Lorna L. Garnace, Philippine Science High School, Eastern Visayas campus (Palo, Leyte).
Dr. Alfredo C. Robles Jr. of De La Salle University ( Manila) and Dr. Emilyn Q. Espiritu of Ateneo de Manila University ( Quezon City) are the winners for higher education.
A total of 367 teachers were nominated this year. Of the total, 167 were chosen provincial finalists and 40, regional finalists. Through interviews and teaching demonstrations, 19 were selected as national finalists.
The 10 outstanding teachers this year were chosen by a board of judges chaired by Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, with Supreme Court Associate Justice Estela M. Perlas-Bernabe as cochair and Manila 6th District Rep. Rosenda Ann M. Ocampo, vice chair. The other judges were Albay Gov. Jose Ma. Salceda, Professional Regulation Commission Chair Teresita R. Manzala, University of Santo Tomas rector Fr. Herminio V. Dagohoy, OP, and Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist Rina Jimenez-David.
Now on its 29th year, the annual search honors the teaching profession and recognizes those who exhibit competence, remarkable dedication to their work and effective educational leadership, as well as community involvement.
It is undertaken by the Metrobank Foundation with the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education. In 2010, it received the Grand Anvil, the highest recognition given by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines.
Established on Jan. 8, 1979, by George S. K. Ty, 16 years after he founded the Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., the Metrobank Foundation is engaged in social development projects in the Philippines and other parts of Asia. As the corporate social responsibility arm of the Metrobank Group, it implements various programs in education, visual arts and healthcare.