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Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Honoring mentors the Rotarian way
By Danilo V. Adorador III
TEACHING, as the old adage goes, is the noblest profession.
That axion once again reverberated during the Rotary Club of West Cagayan de Oro's official launching of the Most Outstanding Public School Teachers Awards (Mopsta) Friday evening at VIP Hotel.
The Mopsta has been running for 10 years now, thanks to select Rotarians who keep breathing life to this magnanimous and remarkable endeavor.
Also considered catalysts to this august undertaking are the heirs of the late Mayor Justiniano Borja through the Gigi Borja Memorial Fund. Their generosity, are also matched by the untiring support of Past District Governor Jun and Rotarian Lutt Nolasco as well Rotorian Emmy Abellanosa and family.
So it was during the fusion of laughter, smiles and light moments at VIP's cozy lounge that PP Adrian "Loloy" Pabayo and RC West CDO Club President Modesto "Dodong" Babaylan hailed fellow Rotarians to go out and help search the Mopsta's next extraordinary school teachers.
PP Loloy Pabayo in exemplifying the beauty of the teaching profession, related to fellow Rotarians a teacher in the Visayas who won a worldwide acclaim not only for her exemplary teaching but also for her meekness and pure intentions.
The Mopsta traced its roots in Cagayan de Oro City and has since spread out to the adjoining provinces. This year's most outstanding awards will be given to teachers from the division of Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro City, Camiguin, Gingoog City, Iligan City and Misamis Oriental.
Last July, a special education teacher from Bukinon province was chosen as this year's most outstanding mentor in the region.
Nenita A. Dagoyo, who teaches multi-handicap learners at the Talakag Elementary School, was unanimously picked from among eight finalists throughout Region 10 by the Most Outstanding Public and Private Teachers Awardees (Mopps) foundation.
In an emotional speech, Dagoyo encouraged parents of handicapped children to "explore the potentials of your child," and to "focus on their other abilities, not on their disabilities."
Dagoyo took home a trophy and a P30,000 reward.
Herself a mother of a 15-year old multi-handicapped daughter, Dagoyo said that teaching children with special needs is a "rigorous nevertheless a rewarding responsibility."
PP Pabayo cited Dagoyo's "exceptional courage and exemplary service," as the basis for winning the award.
Regional officers of the Department of Education (DepEd) 10 praised Dagoyo for almost single-handedly initiated the construction of the building where her 20 special learners are presently housed.
Of these special students, two are in high school and the rest are in their primary years. Most of them are visually impaired.
"I initially housed some of them in my residence but as the enrollment grew bigger, we had to rent a place near the school to accommodate them," she said before the handicap center was built.
Most parents of her "special students," she said, are indifferent to their child's education."
"I never saw most of their parents since they are mostly just left in our care after the enrollment," she added.
Dagoyo said she had to get financial assistance from few benefactors and local public officials for the construction of the children's dorm.
This year's Mopps finalists are: Nonen Baylan from Misamis Oriental General Comprehensive High School (MOGCHS), Susan Unde--Iligan, Clele Quilab--Cagayan de Oro City, Jaime Caduyac--Misamis Oriental, Pura Villar--Misamis Oriental, Roquesa Angcog--Camiguin and Nanet Padua--Bukidnon.
Mopsta is under the Rotary Vocational Service headed by Rotarian Rachel Nebrao.
(October 25, 2005 issue)
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