President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday vowed to improve the teachers’ lives through the administration’s “Bagong Pilipinas” campaign.
In a Facebook post, Mr. Marcos paid tribute to the teachers, calling them the “heroes of children’s education”.
“As National Teachers’ Month comes to a close, we pay tribute to the heroes of children’s education! As we thank you for all that you do, we also continue to work harder to improve your lives,” the President stated in his post.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to enhance the country’s education system.
“The Marcos-Duterte administration will remain hard at work in addressing the needs of our schools, our teachers, and our students,” Marcos said.
President Marcos’ remarks came a day after he led another “Konsyerto sa Palasyo” dubbed “Para sa Mahal Nating Mga Guro” concert on Sunday to celebrate the country’s educators.
Various teachers expressed their gratitude to the President, citing the concert as a “morale booster” for the education sector.
Meanwhile, Vice President and concurrent Education Secretary Sara Duterte hailed the President’s action in giving importance to the teachers.
“We thank all the teachers for their service to our country and we extend our support to them to be strong in the challenge of teaching our learners well,”Duterte said.
She reassured that the government, especially the Department of Education, fully supports the
Marcos said he still calls female instructors “Ma’am” during his school visits even if he is now the Chief Executive.
“Until now, if I am talking to a teacher, I still call her ‘Ma’am’. I cannot kick that habit anymore,” Marcos said in a pre-recorded address aired on Sunday night during the third installment of the “Konsyerto sa Palasyo” (Concert at the Palace) at the Malacañang Palace grounds in Manila.
The President watched the concert with First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, Vice President Secretary Sara Duterte, and Senator Imee Marcos, among others.
The free concert was specially dedicated to teachers and a huge contingent of instructors graced the event as they were treated to musical entertainment and got a chance to see President Marcos up close.
Marcos vividly recalled the time he spent with one of his first teachers in school, a certain Miss Reyes.
“Noong Grade 1 hanggang Grade 2, may teacher na ako ang naging teacher’s pet niya. Lagi akong tinutulungan sa pag-aaral (From Grade 1 to Grade 1, I had a teacher who made me her teacher’s pet. She helped me a lot in my studies),” narrated Marcos, a La Salle Greenhills alumnus.
He said the mentorship he got from Miss Reyes went beyond the classroom.
“She was helping me when there was a need for a tutorial. She was also giving me groceries and prayer books. I will never forget her,” Marcos added.
He said Miss Reyes was his inspiration in the way he treated teachers until now.
“What impact did it have on my life? I learned to respect teachers,” Marcos said.
Duterte said the DepEd is grateful to President Marcos for giving importance to all teachers and thanked the organizers for a good show.
“Nagpapasalamat tayo sa lahat ng mga guro sa serbisyo nila sa bayan natin at nagpapa-abot tayo ng suporta sa kanila na maging matatag sila sa hamon ng pagpapa-aral ng mabuti sa ating mga learner (We thank all teachers for their services and we extend our support to them. We wish they will be strong in meeting the challenges of improving the quality of learning),” Duterte said, as quoted in a news release by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).
“At nandito lagi ang Department of Education at ang buong national government kasali ang mga local government unit natin na susuporta sa ating mga guro at mga paaralan (The Department of Education, entire national government and local government units will always support teachers and the schools),” she added.
Dr. Myra Borja Mangkabung, Schools Division superintendent of Basilan in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, said she felt her value with the simple gesture of Marcos in dedicating the concert to all teachers.
In her 50 years of teaching, Mangkabung said it was her first time to visit Malacañang.
“We are very happy now na may boses na tayo. Napapakinggan nila ang boses ng mga guro (that we have a voice. They listen to what teachers have to say). So, maraming salamat (thank you very much), President [Marcos],” Mangkabung told the PCO.
The free concert featured the rap trio MC Leandro of General Trias, Cavite; B.O.N (Bars Overcoming Negativity_ of Tanza, Cavite; Delicano Uno of Sta. Cruz, Manila; and vocalists Alex Dagaleam, Rommel Arellano, Bea Sacramento and Luke Dela Cruz.
Multi-awarded theater actors Gerald Santos, Shiela Valderrama-Martinez and Ima Castro headlined the musical performance, which was one of the culminating events marking National Teachers’ Month which will end Oct. 5, just in time for World Teachers’ Day.
