SPEECH
OF VICE PRESIDENT NOLI DE CASTRO
METROBANK FOUNDATION
SEARCH FOR OUTSTANDING TEACHERS 2005
SEPTEMBER 2, 2005
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, GOOD
EVENING:
I AM HAPPY TO BE WITH YOU
THIS EVENING AS WE CELEBRATE THE
21ST YEAR OF THE METROBANK
FOUNDATION SEARCH FOR OUTSTANDING
TEACHERS. FOR THE PAST TWO DECADES,
METROBANK
FOUNDATION HAS BEEN LOOKING FOR THESE TEACHERS --- IN THE
SCHOOLS IN
METRO MANILA
AND IN ALL THE OTHER REGIONS OF THE COUNTRY. AND
SO FAR, YOU HAVE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL.
SHAPERS OF THE
FUTURE. Vice Pres. Noli
"Kabayan" De Castro and Dr.
George S.K. Ty; Chairman of the Board; Metro Bank and Metro Bank
Foundation; Inc. posed for a souvenir photo with the awardees of the
2005 MetroBank Foundation
Inc.’s Search for the Ten Outstanding Teachers. Photo shows (from
left): awardees Manuel C. Belino; Ed.D.; Elnora T. Ordedor; Janet S.
Amurao; Diana S. Aure; Ph.D.; Maylani L. Galicia; with Metrobank
Foundation’s Dr. George S.K. Ty; VP Noli De Castro. Other awardees in
the picture (to VP’s left) include Amelia C. Castaneda; Vilma C.
Cabrera; Julia R. Capulong; Menia S. Alvidera; and Rafael C. Bundoc
M.D. The awarding ceremonies were held at MetroBank Plaza Makati. (OVP
photo by Egay Montaña) 9/6/05
LOOKING
FOR HEROES
I AM GLAD TO LEARN THAT
EVERY YEAR, THE METROBANK BOARD OF
JUDGES CONTINUES TO UNCOVER AND HONOR OUTSTANDING TEACHERS FROM EVEN
THE REMOTE
AREAS OF THE PHILIPPINES.
THERE ARE NOW 246 AWARDEES
SINCE THE SEARCH STARTED IN
1985. THEY WERE THE LUCKY ONES. THEY
WERE NOMINATED AND METROBANK FOUNDATION FOUND THEM WORTHY.
THEY WERE HEROES AND THEY DESERVED TO BE
HONORED.
TODAY, WE HAVE A NEW BATCH
OF AWARDEES. LET ME MENTION THEIR
NAMES AS MY WAY OF PERSONALLY HONORING THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS AND THANKING
THEM FOR
THEIR SACRIFICE:
IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
CATEGORY:
MS. JULIA CAPULONG OF
PADRE MARIANO GOMEZ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
IN STA. CRUZ, MANILA WHOSE GREAT LOVE FOR CHILDREN MADE HER STAY FOR 38
YEARS
IN SERVICE;
MRS. AMELIA GASTANEDA OF
STO. CRISTO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN
TARLAC CITY WHOSE CAREER AS A TEACHER HAS BEEN GUIDED BY THE VISION OF
OUR
NATIONAL HERO, DR. JOSE RIZAL, WHO BELIEVED THAT THE YOUTH IS THE HOPE
OF OUR
FATHERLAND;
MRS. VILMA CABRERA OF ILAGAN SOUTH CENTRAL
SCHOOL
IN ILAGAN, ISABELA, WHO BELIEVES THAT A TEACHER DEVELOPS THE MANPOWER
OR
WORKFORCE OF A NATION;
MS. MENIA ALVIDERA OF
PRESIDENT MANUEL ROXAS MEMORIAL SCHOOL
SOUTH OF ROXAS CITY, WHO TAKES TO HEART THAT THE IDEAL TEACHER IS A
FACILITATOR
OF LEARNING AND A SOURCE OF INSTRUCTION AND INSPIRATION;
IN THE SECONDARY SCHOOL
CATEGORY:
MRS. JANET AMURAO OF
MARIKINA SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL, WHO
THINKS THAT AN IDEAL TEACHER IS THE ONE WHO PLACES JESUS AT THE CENTER
OF
TEACHING;
MRS. MAYLANI GALICIA
OF LIGAO NATIONAL HIGH
SCHOOL
IN LIGAO
CITY
WHO BELIEVES THAT EVERYTHING THAT COMES INTO ONE’S LIFE HAS A PURPOSE,
BUT THE
OUTCOME IS IN ONE’S HANDS, BY THE ACTION THAT ONE TAKES;
DR. DIANA AURE OF UP HIGH
SCHOOL IN ILOILO
CITY,
WHOSE TEACHING PRINCIPLE IS DRIVEN BY HER VISION THAT TO TEACH IS TO
EMPOWER
STUDENTS FOR LIFE;
MS. ELNORA ORDEDOR OF DAPA
NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL IN SIARGAO
ISLAND, WHO BELIEVES THAT ONLY WHEN STUDENTS DEVELOP THEIR CONFIDENCE
THAT THEY
WILL FIND JOY IN LEARNING;
AND IN THE HIGHER
EDUCATION CATEGORY:
DR. RAFAEL BUNDOC OF UP MANILA, WHO
ADHERES TO THE IDEAL THAT WHEN
YOU TEACH STUDENTS TO HEAL THEIR OWN PATIENTS, YOU HEAL HUMANITY; AND
LAST BUT NOT THE LEAST,
DR. MANUEL BELINO OF DE LA SALLE
UNIVERSITY, WHO SEEKS TO REMIND ALL OF US THAT WE ALWAYS HAVE TO KEEP
OUR HUMAN
COMPASS TO DIRECT US TO WHAT IS AUTHENTIC, BEAUTIFUL, JUST AND
MEANINGFUL.
I SPENT PART OF THE
MORNING TODAY (AS I WAS ON BOARD A
FLIGHT FROM GENERAL SANTOS TO MANILA) READING
AND
REFLECTING ON THE IDEALS AND PHILOSOHIES OF OUR OUTSTANDING TEACHERS. AND I WAS HUMBLY TOUCHED AND INSPIRED BY YOUR
VISION AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES IN TEACHING. TUNAY
NGANG NAKAGAAN SA AKING DAMDAMIN NA
MABASA ANG INYONG MGA MITHIIN AT ADHIKAIN
SA PAGTURO MATAPOS KUNG MABASA ANG MGA
MABIBIGAT NA
BALITA SA ARAW NA ITO.
TRULY, TEACHING IS A MOST
NOBLE AND REWARDING
PROFESSION. FOR IT IS IN YOUR HANDS THAT
THE FUTURE OF OUR YOUTH WILL BE MOLDED.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
THESE OUTSTANDING TEACHERS ARE OUR NEW
BATCH OF HEROES.
I AM SURE THAT THERE ARE
THOUSANDS MORE WHO CHOSE TO REMAIN
AS ORDINARY TEACHERS DESPITE EXTRAORDINARY HARDSHIPS. THEY, TOO, HAVE
NOTABLE
CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTH THE TEACHING PROFESSION AND THE COMMUNITIES WHERE
THEY
WORK.
WHILE WE CANNOT GIVE ALL
OF THEM A TROPHY AND A MEDALLION, I
WOULD ALSO LIKE TO HONOR ALL THE TEACHERS IN THE COUNTRY. THEY MAY BE
NAMELESS
AND FACELESS TO US RIGHT NOW, BUT IN MY CARD THEY ARE ALL GENUINE
HEROES.
JUST LIKE THE OUTSTANDING
TEACHERS WHO ARE HERE TODAY.
MARAMI PANG GURO ANG
PATULOY NA NAGSUSUMIKAP NA MAGING
HUWARAN AT NAGLILINGKOD NANG MABUTI SA KANILANG MGA PAARALAN AT
KOMUNIDAD.
MAARING DI NATIN SILA
MABIGYAN NG TROPEO O NG MEDALYA. MAAARING
DI NATIN SILA KAKILALA. SUBALIT PARA SA
AKIN, SILA AY MGA TUNAY NA
BAYANI.
TULAD NG MGA OUTSTANDING
TEACHERS NA KASAMA NATIN NGAYONG
GABI.
EDUCATION AND THE FUTURE
THE PAST FEW DAYS HAVE
INDEED BEEN A DIFFICULT ONE. THE LINE
BETWEEN RIGHT AND WRONG HAS BECOME BLURRED FOR SOME OF OUR COUNTRYMEN.
BUT FOR ME, THE TRACK THAT
WE HAVE TO
TAKE IS CLEAR.
FIRST, RESPECT THE
CONSTITUTION.
SECOND, FOLLOW THE
PROCESSES
INSTITUTED BY LAW.
AND THIRD, LET THE TRUTH
COME OUT.
SUBALI’T SA HARAP NG MGA
PAGSUBOK SA ATING BANSA, NAGAGALAK
PA RIN AKO DAHIL MARAMI TAYONG MGA GURO NA TAHIMIK NA HUMUHUBOG SA MGA
MURANG
ISIPAN AT DAMDAMIN NG MGA KABATAAN.
IN THE MIDST OF ALL THE
POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC PROBLEMS OF
OUR COUNTRY, IT IS UPLIFTING TO REALIZE THAT THERE ARE GOOD MEN AND
WOMEN WHO
CONTINUE TO BUILD THE MINDS AND HEARTS OF OUR CHILDREN AND PAVE THE WAY
FOR A
BETTER FUTURE.
WHILE THE DEBATES ON THE
DIRECTION OF OUR COUNTRY RAGES IN
CONGRESS, IN THE STREETS, IN THE COFFEESHOPS, AND IN THE VARIOUS FORA
ALL OVER
THE COUNTRY, OUR TEACHERS CONTINUE TO WORK—GOING TO SCHOOL AND TEACHING
OUR
CHILDREN EVERYDAY.
PERHAPS, THESE TEACHERS
REALIZE THAT A GOOD EDUCATION IS
SOMETHING THAT NEITHER POLITICAL CRISIS NOR ECONOMIC RUIN CAN TAKE AWAY
FROM
THEIR STUDENTS.
I, TOO, AM A BELIEVER IN
EDUCATION. I
LEARNED MUCH FROM
MY TEACHERS IN SCHOOL. EVEN WHILE I WAS STILL STUDYING, I HAVE ALWAYS
DREAMED
OF BUILDING A CAREER IN PUBLIC SERVICE. KUNG
ANO MAN PO ANG NARATING KO NGAYON, MULA
SA PAGIGING REPORTER AT BRODKASTER HANGANG SA
AKO’Y MAGING SENADOR AT BISE PRESIDENTE, MALAKI ANG NAGING PAPEL NG AKING
EDUKASYON.
SIMPLE MAN
ANG AKING PINAG-ARALAN, NAGING MASUWERTE
NAMAN AKO SA
PAGKAKAROON NG ISANG MABUTING GURO: ANG SAMBAYANANG
PILIPINO.
SA
TAONG-BAYAN KO PO NATUTUNAN ANG
TAMANG PARAAN
NG PAGLILINGKOD -- ANG PAGHAHANGAD NG KABUTIHAN PARA
SA LAHAT NA HINDI
INIISIP ANG SARILING INTERES.
IT IS FROM
THE FILIPINO PEOPLE THAT I LEARNED
THE
TRUE MEANING
OF PUBLIC
SERVICE --- OF DEDICATION TO THE COMMON GOOD AND NOT TO ONE’S VESTED
INTERESTS. THE ORDINARY FILIPINOS ---
THE MASA --- THEY ARE MY FAVORITE TEACHERS.
I BELIEVE THAT EDUCATION IS
THE ONLY SURE WAY TOWARDS DEVELOPMENT. ECONOMIC
STRATEGIES AND POLITICAL SYSTEMS MAY
CREATE A FRAMEWORK FOR A
BETTER LIFE. BUT IT IS ONLY EDUCATION
THAT TRULY BRINGS LIFE TO WHAT IS GOOD AND NOBLE IN MAN.
IT
MAY TAKE SOME
TIME, BUT EDUCATION NEVER FAILS TO DELIVER.
THIS IS WHY I AM HERE
TODAY TO SHARE THIS IMPORTANT OCCASION
WITH YOU. THE THEME FOR THIS YEAR’S SEARCH, “HONORING
TEACHERS AS THE FOUNDATION OF THE COUNTRY’S FUTURE,” TRULY
CAPTURES THE ESSENCE OF THIS ENDEAVOR.
TO OUR OUTSTANDING
TEACHERS, SIRS AND MA’AMS, YOUR SHOULDERS
BEAR THE BURDEN OF A GREAT RESPONSIBILITY.
YOU ARE MOLDING THE
LEADERS OF THE FUTURE. TEACH THEM NOT ONLY
HOW TO THINK BUT ALSO HOW
TO DISCERN. SHOW THEM WHAT IS
RIGHT. EXPLAIN TO THEM THE VALUE OF
SACRIFICE. GIVE THEM A GOOD MIND AND A
GOOD HEART.
HOPEFULLY, THESE LEADERS
WILL BE WISER THAN THOSE WE HAVE
TODAY. AND I ALSO HOPE THAT THEY WILL
LEARN FROM OUR MISTAKES.
SANA NAMAN, MATUTO NA TAYO
SA ATING KARANASAN. HUWAG NATING
PABAYAAN NA MULING MASADLAK SA GANITONG SITWASYON ANG ATING BAYAN.
MALAKI PO ANG
RESPONSIBILIDAD NA NAKAPATONG SA BALIKAT NG
ATING MGA GURO. KAYO PO ANG PUNDASYON
NG ATING
KINABUKASAN.
PAGTATAPOS
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, LET
ME END -- BY EXPRESSING MY SINCERE
ADMIRATION AND APPRECIATION TO METROBANK FOUNDATION, ITS OFFICERS AND
STAFF,
AND ALL THE PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS FOR MAKING THIS YEARLY SEARCH --
POSSIBLE.
YOUR DEDICATION AND HARD
WORK PRESENTED TO US THESE
OUTSTANDING TEACHERS WHO SERVE AS INSPIRATION FOR OTHERS. YOU ARE
CORRECT IN
SAYING THAT TEACHERS ARE THE FOUNDATION OF OUR COUNTRY’S FUTURE. BUT LET ME ADD: METROBANK
FOUNDATION AND ITS PARTNER
ORGANIZATIONS ARE ALSO PART OF THAT FUTURE.
THANK YOU AND GOOD EVENING
TO ALL.
©
Copyright
2005
Office of the Vice President (OVP) 
Management Information Services
Division (MISD). All rights reserved.
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