SPONSORSHIP SPEECH ON PROPOSED SENATE RESOLUTION NO.  840

A RESOLUTION HONORING AND COMMENDING THE TEN OUTSTANDING TEACHERS OF 2012 AWARDED BY THE METROBANK FOUNDATION, INC. FOR THEIR EXEMPLARY COMPETENCE, DEDICATION TO SERVICE, AND COMMITMENT IN PROVIDING QUALITY EDUCATION.

By: SEN. RALPH G. RECTO

Good afternoon, Mr. President and dear colleagues.

Like our first love, we would never forget the name of our favourite teacher in first grade.

My Grade 1 teacher was Ms. Oledan. She was a vision of dedication and hard-work.

I lost contact with her over the years, heard only vague information about her.

Facebook is no help to know if she’s still around or not.  But she will not be forgotten.

Mr. President, they say, behind every great man is a woman.

I would also say —   that in front of every great man is a teacher.

I have a lot of teachers to thank for – for what I am today.

Mr. President, I basically grew up in a family of lawyer-educators.

My family co-founded the Lyceum of the Philippines University with the Laurels — where my grandfather, the nationalist Don Claro M. Recto, served as the dean of its college of law.

Don Claro M. Recto also tried teaching until he found the four corners of the campus too crowded for his principles and fiery ideas.

My great grandmother, the late Michaela Mayo — Don Claro’s mom — was also a public school teacher, which I surmised is the principal donor of the family’s “teaching gene pool.”

Don Claro’s eldest sister, Rosario – my grand auntie – was also a teacher and was endearingly called Maestrang Charing by her grateful students.

My father, the late Assemblyman Rafael Recto, was also an educator – teaching law subjects after having graduated top of his class.

Mr. President, it is in the collective memory of the educators in my family and also, my first grade teacher that I’m taking the floor today to sponsor a resolution that would honour the 2012 Outstanding Teachers of Metrobank Foundation.

The outstanding teachers were chosen last July 2012 by a Final board of judges that this representation had the privilege of chairing.

We laboured for three consecutive afternoons and evenings to select 10 outstanding teachers from a field of 20.

We’ve met a teacher who sings his lecture for better comprehension; there was a teacher who pioneered the breeding of all-male gender fish; a public school teacher who risked his life to save flood victims; a teacher who champions environmental causes; there was a teacher who found a “peace” formula for quarrelling politicians to support a school project; a teacher who shares her time in community activities — and more profound stories of heroism, innovation and perseverance.

Some teachers whose stories are equally fascinating did not necessarily make it to the Top 10 but I hope they would return next year for another try.

Mr. President, the sum total of this experience is priceless.

I’m sure I speak for the rest of my fellow judges when I say that spending three days with them were our “best education” ever — better than the previous seminars and hearings that we usually find ourselves in.

We regret, though, that we only have to pick 10 winners.

Likewise, I’m sad that neither Batangas nor La Salle — my alma matter — would be producing a winner this year.

There’s a winner named Mr. Santos but he’s remotely related to my wife and I’m not sure if he’s a Vilmanian.

Delightedly though, we have teachers called “Rizal” and “Bonifacio” who made it to the Top 10.

Mr. President and dear colleagues, may I enjoin the Senate to bestow these teachers the distinction and honour by voting for the approval of Proposed Senate Resolution No. 840:

A RESOLUTION HONORING AND COMMENDING THE TEN OUTSTANDING TEACHERS OF 2012 AWARDED BY THE METROBANK FOUNDATION, INC. FOR THEIR EXEMPLARY COMPETENCE, DEDICATION TO SERVICE, AND COMMITMENT IN PROVIDING QUALITY EDUCATION.

These extraordinary men and women of the classroom are:

1. Dr. Roberto D. Santos Jr. of Sta. Rita Elementary School, Capas Tarlac
2. Nueva P. Mangaoang, Man-It Integrated School, Pasay City
3. Rizal M. Vidallo, Anabu II Elementary School,  Imus, Cavite
4. Mariam B. Rivamonte, Santa Cruz South Central School, Santa Cruz, Marinduque
5. Annie I. Rodriguez, Philippine Science High School-Southern Mindanao Campus, Davao City
6. Bonifacio D. Caculitan Jr. of Ernesto Rondon High School, Quezon City
7. Marivi L. Castro, General Santos City SPED Integrated School, General Santos City
8. Galcoso C. Alburo, Concepcion Integrated School-Secondary, Marikina City
9. Dr. Hilda C. Montano, West Visayas State University, La Paz, Iloilo City
10. Dr. Catherine P. Vistro-Yu, Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City

I pray for the immediate approval of this Resolution.

Thank you, Mr. President and Good Afternoon.

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