A true model of compassion and service, these six educators, just a few of the unsung many, continue to support those in need and lend a helping hand even outside the four walls of the classroom.
Normita Nugoy Liwag
While in quarantine period, Liwag decided to help the people in her community in Barangay San Vicent in Gapan City, Nueva Ecija in her own little way. She served pancit and pandesal to their community frontline workers, including barangay police officers, security guards, and soldiers. She also distributed snacks to the families residing along the railroad of Bagong Sikat in Gapan City.
Ma’am Normita is an Alternative Learning Systems (ALS) instructor who has been helping prisoners, physically disabled, female prostitutes, rebel returnees, prisoners, and out-of-school youths so they can rise above their circumstances.
Ronaldo Comploma Reyes
Together with Science teacher volunteers, Reyes conducted COVID-19 information drive in Barangays San Antonio, Bangkilingan, and Bacolod in Tabaco City, Albay, as part of his Sci-Connect or Science in the Community program. The program aims to help communities find practical applications of science in their daily lives.
Sir Ron also makes personal donations to the LGU through the Tabaco City COVID-19 Command Center for its quarantined Tabaqueños.
Darwin Tababa Tadifa
Together with other ALS teachers, Tadifa led the distribution of food packs to the frontliners of Tubungan, Iloilo. It benefited 88 barangay officials, barangay tanods, Rural Health Unit personnel, Philippine National Police officers, Tubungan responders, and barangay health workers.
He has been using his creativity to serve poor communities whose members would rather work to earn a living than to study. Through his passion for teaching and community service, he was able to encourage them to go back to school.
Elsie Caballero Padernal
Similarly, Padernal and her son have been sharing their blessings with others who have been severely affected by the lockdown. She packed and distributed relief goods composed of rice, milk, coffee, biscuits, noodles, and laundry soaps, among others.
A public school teacher, Ma’am Elsie has been devoting her life to teaching both the school-prescribed curriculum and the rich culture of her tribe, the Panay-Bukidnon Tribe of Calinog, Iloilo.
Nelfa Quinto Cepillo
Cepillo is both an ALS teacher and Army Reservist. She volunteered as one of the frontliners to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro. Manning checkpoints, she said she was aware of the threat of the disease, not to mention the added burden of leaving her family behind.
But serving the public is not new to her. She has been trekking the mountains of Oriental Mindoro to reach students, toiling to make learning accessible to Mangyans.
Dr. Bernadeth Bernalte Gabor
Under Dr. Gabor’s leadership, the Extension Services of the Bataan Peninsula State University (BPSU) has fed hundreds of frontliners in different hospitals, checkpoints, and other essential establishments like the BPSU campuses, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Services Office, and more.
Under Project Aruga, Dr. Gabor’s team has also distributed personal protective equipment to medical frontliners in Bataan hospitals. She also makes improvised face masks for frontliners.
Dr. Gabor is a college teacher who has been giving hope to a special set of learners. She first volunteered as an instructor at the Bataan District Jail. Then, she helped establish certification courses to give these learners a new lease in life.
This inspiring set of educators were all honorees of the annual recognition program “The Many Faces of the Teacher” by Bato Balani Foundation and Diwa Learning Systems Inc.