CDO Schools Celebrate Teachers’ Dayby: Pearl Therese S. Aton

Various schools in Cagayan de Oro City celebrated Teacher’s Day on October 4, 2013.

Jessa Iniego, a student from Sacred Heart Academy of Bugo said that for their Teacher’s Day celebration, they paid tribute to their teachers through giving gifts. She said, “We also gave thank-you messages to them.” Capitol University Basic Education Department (CUBED) also gave tribute to their teachers. Glee Ann Grafil, a grade seven student from the said institution, said, “The students gave gifts to the teachers and there were production numbers from students too.” Karla Romero, a student from CUBED shared how important is celebrating Teacher’s Day. She said, “Teachers don’t just teach us the major and minor subjects, they also teach us the right conducts to be better person. They mold and recreate the face and mind of the

society, might be young or the young at heart. It is important to celebrate teacher’s day to give thanks to their efforts in molding us.” Students from Philippine Southfield School (PSS) started their teacher’s day celebration with a holy mass and a program after. Maybelle Aton, a grade five student from PSS shared how they celebrated the event in her schoold, “Ang mga students kay naghatag ug cards, chocolates ug flowers sa ilang mga teachers.” The World Teacher’s Day is organized by UNESCO and is being celebrated by millions of schools worldwide. According to the World Teacher’s Day website, “it is a day devoted to appreciating, assessing, and improving the educators of the world.” ē

Teachers from various institutions express their support towards DepEd’s Alternative Learning System (ALS) on

October 4, 2013. Cyndy Bañares, an English teacher at Corpus Christi School, strongly supports the program. She said, “As for me, ALS will surely help those marginalized individuals who can’t afford to be enrolled in any colleges or universities. We can’t deny the fact that everybody is not rich that’s why i commend Deped for their initiative in putting up this

program. Through this action of DepEd, it manifests that they are concerned for the educational attainment of the Filipino people.” “ALS really is a great venue to those individuals having this great interest in learning as well as viable life. Since this is for free and encompasses both skills and knowledge, this may be one of the reasons or solution abating unemployment. It promotes self- efficacy that will really cater day to day living,” said RJ

CDO teachers support DepEd’s Alternative Learning System

by: Pearl Therese S. Aton

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The mind is man’s greatest tool for various cognitive capabilities. It is the central operating unit that shapes a person’s virtues and character. Tiny as it may be compared with the other human organs, it is capable of storing knowledge that is beyond compare. A fragile piece that requires great compassion and influence in the form of education in order to be designed in its finest form.

This is the responsibility that is carried on daily by our unsung heroes, our beloved educators. To be martyrs in the name of knowledge. Dedicating a lifetime of service in order to bring influence that would shape a student’s mind.

The low salary compensations was never a hindrance for these heroes to pursue the desire to educate. Instead, it fueled their passion and brought out ever more encouragement into the lives of their students.

As the world celebrates the sacrifices that our educators are doing in order to elevate the intellectual and emotional capacities of students like us. We, the body of ēdūcō, salutes the hardships and endeavor of every educator. Not just here in Cagayan de Oro but into the whole world as well.

We acknowledge the fact that we can never achieve anything without the compassion and guidance from our educators.

We thank you for being the spark that ignited us and lead us into the burning light of knowledge.

Jus like what the late Henry Adams said; “A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.”

Saludo kami sa inyo ma’am at sir. ē

No one expected the tragedy that happened; a smart and enthusiastic 16 year old freshmen student from the

University of the Philippines, Manila found dead on a cold Friday night. Kristel Tejada, consumed by all the desolation around her, decides to take a shortcut and commits suicide.A tragic fate brought by her own hands. An untimely demised that factored from a reason that could have been prevented. The depression due to her failure in complying her academic fees. This problem was never a new issue for us. We have always been hearing about how poverty hinders a person’s right for proper education. As unfortunate as it may sound, this problem has become so real for us Filipinos and has somehow became a part of our modern culture. But what makes it more tragic is that despite of being a “iskolar ng bayan”, a student whose academic fees are subsidised by the citizen’s taxes, Kristel still failed to enjoy such privilege. These sentiments are now starting to get mutual for the recent Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scholars as the Supreme Court just released a temporary restraining order, holding the pork barrel budget for politicians and their constituents, which greatly affects the allocated funds for these scholars. Though the budget is on hold, the school year still continues, and finals week is fast approaching. This leads to the requirement of every student, including these scholars, to comply and pay their matriculation fees.

Arnel Jade A. Evangelista IIBSDC 2

Student Columnist

Temporary Restrained Education

A problem that is not supposed to be minded by these scholars, but is unfortunately felt after the twist and turn of events. Where will all these series of unfortunate events lead? Another forced leave of absence from a scholar? Another desolated and depressed soul? Another tragedy like Kristel’s? All these problems could have been prevented if the government made a more coherent procedures regarding the issues on education, specifically on scholarship programs.First of all, instead of giving a portion of the budget into the hands of a public official and have the official choose scholars of his own, why not directly give the budget to the state universities? In such way, these scholars will get their privileges directly from these academic institutions. This will not just make the life of the scholar easier, but it also saves us citizens from the unnecessary vanity that we normally get from these politicians. It abolishes the “Thank me because I’ve made the Mr. Congressman

Scholarship Program” that we usually hear from these officials. Making it as if they were really the one who paid for all the fees. Aren’t they forgetting that this budget is from the people’s taxes? And regarding the on-going TRO vs PDAF issue that affects the current PDAF scholars. Will the government really allow an innocent student to suffer from the crimes of made by these irresponsible officials? Won’t it be easier if they allow the release for the budget on education and healthcare, and just hold the budget for the NGOs and other affairs, since that was the main cause of the whole pork barrel scam? For the officials who claimed and promised good education during the campaign period, are they really willing to sacrifice for their constituents? Why not use a little from your own cash banks while the whole TRO vs PDAF is on its peak and save the students. This just shows the real intentions of politicians; that they are just after the budget kick-backs and not on the service that they will render. May the story of Kristel be a lesson for the government and its official. Yes there might be more factors on why she committed suicide, but one main factor was sure and that was because she lost hope. She lost hope on the thing that she valued the most, and that is her chance in education.That same value for education is also shared by these PDAF scholars. They value their education, seeing it as a hope that someday through it they can elevate their lifestyle. And it is the government’s responsibility to guard and protect these dreams. ē

Dumalag, an elementary teacher at Rosevale School. A professor of Xavier University, Evans Yonson said, “It’s a good alternative for those who missed going to school for reasons like access, finances, among other things.” Also, a third-year BEED student from Xavier University expressed her support for the

program. Nathalie said, “Makatabang kaayu ang ALS sa DepEd kay gawas sa crisis na, nga as in lisud ma-afford ang formal schooling, makatabang siya para sa mga youth and adults para sad maka gain sila ug knowledge.” The Alternative Learning System is a program organized and implemented by the Department of Education which seeks to help those who cannot afford formal education. The program doesn’t focus on the less fortunate alone but also to the out-of-school youth,

cultural minorities, and adults who are willing to finish school.The students enrolled in this program have the freedom to choose schedules according to their availability. Manny Pacquiao is a product of the said educational program and is the ambassador of ALS. ē

CDO teachers support DepEd’s Alternative Learning System

How do we show our appreciation to our teachers? How do we say thank you to all their efforts in making us learn

their lessons easier and fun? And how do we see teachers as a very important part of our lives? Teachers have always played a vital role in the development of the society we live in at present. Even from the time of Jesus Christ, the art of teaching is already established and has proved to be an indication of development. Without teachers, other functional professions that we have come to know today would not be available for us to learn and use to earn for a living. Then came the 20th century, as this marks the age when initiative to foster deeper bond and appreciation to teachers has emerged. As to what country teacher’s day has originated, none was officially identified. None the less teacher’s day has already been established in different countries in the 20th century like; America in 1985, Mexico in 1918 and Thailand in 1945. In October 5, 2010, Philippines celebrated Teacher’s day in unison with the World Teachers Day, established and organized by United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1994. Teacher’s day is a colorful celebration, it is observed to be as meaningful as it is fun. Meaningful, as it shows how students have

come to realize and appreciate all the hard work and dedication their teachers exerts. It is also a wonderful venue for the teachers and the students to interact and bond closer, it is a perfect time to exchange words that would better the student and mentor relationship. It would also better the understanding of teachers to their students and vice versa, thus creating a significant effect in the learning process. Fun, is the word that everyone would agree to describe the celebration of teacher’s day. It is a day when students get involved in preparing for an offering to their teachers; some would give their teachers flowers, or others prepare dedication letters, giving their teachers positive and kind remarks. Other schools may also arrange a formal program or a variety show. Teachers are also given the chance to participate as other schools includes their teachers to perform variety of presentations that ranges from performing a comical skit, to performing a song and dance number, and lastly on playing of musical instruments. As I look back at how we celebrated teachers day in high school, I realized how good it feels to give back even for a few minutes, all the good things our teachers has taught us. For a few minutes, what we [our class] did was to perform a song number. Since we were only given limited time to do so in our class period,

we did it in haste but not under accomplished, as one of our teachers was moved into tears. It made the class emotional too; in fact some of our classmates were also teary eyed but their eyes speak of pure joy and fondness. More than the fun and the engagement that both of the teachers and the students show in this once a year celebration, there an appreciation on the idea and value of convergence. What makes the celebration meaningful is the fact that students and teachers involve themselves in attaining a significant bond with each other. That even if, there is a presence and the challenge of student apathy on both educational and social avenues, teachers are there to communicate and guide their students. Teacher’s day as an event fosters and fortifies the idea convergence on both the educators and the students. Teacher’s day, a joyous day for teachers, the time of the year when they are showed with great appreciation and respect for their undying determination for a quality student centered education that everyone deserves. But are we going to thank and show our appreciation only once a year? Would it be better if we make the efforts of our teachers into good use, and be the best that we can be in our own year level or in our own field of study? Our teacher’s deserves better than mere appreciation, we are all called to pay it forward. ē

by:Earl Deomari Lumagbas Castillo

To Our Beloved Teachers