AN ANONYMOUS author once wrote: “A good teacher is like a candle which consumes itself to light the way for others.”

I know how teachers work hard to educate their students, not only about academic subjects but also about life. Many Filipino youngsters consider their teachers as their second parents in school -- a kindly mother or a father who would gladly lend an ear and a helping hand.

I should know. My father started his career as a public high school teacher. My mother and my sister were likewise both high school teachers.

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We are all aware that teachers have many different roles in Philippine society. Aside from their duties in the classroom, they also actively participate in community activities. They perform very indispensable roles during our elections.

We still recall a tragic event two years ago which made us all realize the heroism of these public servants. While guarding the ballots, schoolteacher Nellie Banaag met her death when unidentified armed men poured gasoline and torched a school building serving as a polling precinct in the town of Taysan in Batangas.

For the aforesaid reasons, the annual launching of the search for outstanding teachers by the Metrobank Foundation is always a welcome event.

Last month’s launching gathered leaders of business, government, academe, media and non-government organizations to celebrate teachers and their role in society.

The nationwide celebration, with the theme “My Teacher, My Hero,” culminated on October 5, 2009, which the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) earlier declared as World Teachers’ Day.

Metrobank Foundation president Chito Sobrepeña said that the foundation's Teachers' Month Campaign gained special significance in light of the events of the last month.

“While the unprecedented destruction of lives and property by typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng have required Filipinos to devote their attention, energy and resources to helping our kababayans affected by these calamities, it has also provided us an opportunity to witness the greatness of the Filipino that seems to shine the brightest during difficult times,” Sobrepeña said.

He added that the campaign has given Metrobank Foundation a chance to celebrate the people who have shown this remarkable trait of resiliency.

“Among them are our teachers, who proved that the call to duty always comes first, immediately cleaning up muddled and flooded classrooms so that students can go back to schools as well as leading relief efforts in their respective communities,” Sobrepeña also pointed out.

As always, we can count on our hardworking and reliable heroes of the classroom.

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