9th Gabay Guro's Teacher Tribute: Building the Nation One Teacher at a Time
By Mommy Donna and Kib - September 21, 2016
I am not sure if I have already mentioned on my previous blogs, but I am a teacher by profession. Before I became a teacher, I was an HR practitioner. I attended graduate school and took up Master of Arts in Childhood Education in 2001 and I graduated in 2005. In between those years, I also had short teaching stints. I also acquired my professional teaching license in 2002. Presently, I am no longer teaching in a regular school but I'm teaching English to foreigners for the past ten years.
I love being a teacher. I love being able to inspire people to be good in what they do. I love being able to give knowledge that they can use for their future. I love being able to encourage people to explore beyond their limitations.
I am so glad that PLDT is recognizing the efforts of teachers through Gabay Guro initiative. Teachers are considered as unsung heroes and shaper of future. Without teachers, there will be no lawyers, doctors, politicians, etc. in the world. Gabay Guro pays tribute to the teachers all over the country--and nearby countries--by bringing attention to their heroic deeds and at the same time, providing them with the necessary tools to contribute to the change in the lives of their students and their families. There are a lot of teachers in their country who put their hearts into their profession and yet their efforts are not fully recognized. Gabay Guro aims to uplift the morale of our teachers by giving them trainings, modernizing the school facilities, giving scholarships, providing livelihood and housing programs, and by even giving them entertainment and tribute to their efforts.
Gabay Guro
Gabay Guro started nine years ago through the initiative of like-minded PLDT executives who bonded together over coffee for an advocacy for teachers. With a common dream of being a catalyst of change in the lives of teachers, Gabay Guro was born and became the CSR arm under PLDT-Smart Foundation.
Gabay Guro has five project pillars: Scholarships, Trainings, Housing and Educational Facilities, Livelihood Programs, Broadbanding and Computerization, and Teacher's Tribute. Gabay Guro is trying to reach all teachers from North to South.
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| PLDT Gabay Guro executive volunteers Gary Dujali and Chaye Cabal-Revilla talk about the upcoming activities which will help build the nation one teacher at a time. |
Presently, Gabay Guro has over 1,100 scholars in various state colleges and universities nationwide. As of August 2016, there are 496 active scholars and 167 are projected to graduate by next year. More than 300 have passed the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET). 137 scholars of Gabay Guro graduated with honors (112 cum laudes and 25 magna cum laudes). For further teacher education, Gabay Guro has partnered with the local government.
Gabay Guro has already conducted trainings for over 16,000 teachers. At present, it runs eight training programs for teachers around the country, namely: Teacher's Treasure Chest, English Proficiency Training, Computer Literacy, Emotional Intelligence, Teacher's Armor, Leadership Training, IT Sustainability and Literacy, and Unleashing Creativity in Teaching. Moreover, Gabay Guro answers to the needs of the times by doing grassroots anti-drugs trainings in schools.
On Gabay Guro's initiative on Broadband and Computerization, this project has made a great impact nationwide. All partner-schools were recipients of either computers/laptop or internet connectivity from either PLDT or Smart.
In addition, Gabay Guro recognizes the shortage of educational facilities as one of the major disaster area in the Philippine education system. Gabay Guro has taken cudgels in the construction of classrooms in the provinces, mostly to those provinces that have been hit by debilitating calamities. More than 40 classrooms have been constructed and donated in Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, and Capiz.
If your school has a particular need (e.g. classroom, computers, etc.), the school principal must write a letter to Gabay Guro for a request. The Gabay Guro team will then evaluate the request.
If your school has a particular need (e.g. classroom, computers, etc.), the school principal must write a letter to Gabay Guro for a request. The Gabay Guro team will then evaluate the request.
Gabay Guro team is also proud to announce that the membership is increasing. They are now seeing more than 20,000 members by the end of 2016.
Teacher's Tribute on September 25th
Every year, Gabay Guro is holding a tribute to teachers at MOA Arena in line with the World Teachers Day celebration in October. Organizers make sure that in this event, teachers will be treated like royalty. For the past eight years, raffle prizes have grown to be the staggering house and lot and vehicle showcases and livelihood opportunities.
For this year, the Teacher's Tribute will be the biggest. It will bring the biggest celebrities all in one event to pay tribute to our beloved teachers. This will be held on September 25th, 2016 at MOA Arena. Some of the country's biggest celebrities who will be in the show are Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, Ogie Alcasid, Gary Valenciano, Pops Fernandez, James Reid, Nadine Lustre, Lea Salonga, and Sharon Cuneta. There will be other surprise guests on this special day for teachers. Take note: celebrities will perform for free!
Gabay Guro's Teacher's Tribute is the day when our beloved teachers get to let their hair loose, meet the biggest celebrities, be treated to a whole day of entertainment and huge raffle prizes like house and lot and vehicles. These raffle prizes are well-thought of as a way of recognizing the efforts of our hardworking teachers and as a reminder of their invaluable presence in our lives.
This year's Teacher's Tribute is supported by Perry's Group of Companies (house and lot sponsor), Foton (vehicle sponsor), Intel, Devant, Motorlandia (Honda and Suzuki motorcycle sponsor), Ropali, Penshoppe, National Bookstore, Enchanted Kingdom, Splash, Tempra, Flanax, Bonamine, Vivalyte, Mundipharma, Gardenia, Bic, Art Attack, Microsoft, SmartBro, PLDT Ultera, Talk N' Text, and 51 Talk.
This event is exclusive for teachers only, and teachers can attend for free! Check out Gabay Guro's Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts or visit their website www.gabayguro.com for more details.
Don't forget to thank our teachers for what we have become right now :)
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| Jona V. rendered a special song to the media during the press conference. She will also be performing on September 25th at Gabay Guro's Teacher's Tribute |
Gabay Guro's Teacher's Tribute is the day when our beloved teachers get to let their hair loose, meet the biggest celebrities, be treated to a whole day of entertainment and huge raffle prizes like house and lot and vehicles. These raffle prizes are well-thought of as a way of recognizing the efforts of our hardworking teachers and as a reminder of their invaluable presence in our lives.
This year's Teacher's Tribute is supported by Perry's Group of Companies (house and lot sponsor), Foton (vehicle sponsor), Intel, Devant, Motorlandia (Honda and Suzuki motorcycle sponsor), Ropali, Penshoppe, National Bookstore, Enchanted Kingdom, Splash, Tempra, Flanax, Bonamine, Vivalyte, Mundipharma, Gardenia, Bic, Art Attack, Microsoft, SmartBro, PLDT Ultera, Talk N' Text, and 51 Talk.
This event is exclusive for teachers only, and teachers can attend for free! Check out Gabay Guro's Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts or visit their website www.gabayguro.com for more details.
Don't forget to thank our teachers for what we have become right now :)
