A HIGH-RANKING education official has urged the public to celebrate this year's national teachers' month like how they would celebrate Christmas and other festive holidays.
"Our dream is that the Filipinos will have this deeper awareness on the importance of teachers in our society. We want everyone to intensify the teachers' month celebration starting September 5 to October 5 like how we would celebrate important holidays such as Valentine's Day and Christmas day," said Tonisito M.C. Umali, the Department of Education (DepEd) undersecretary on legislative affairs, external partnerships, and school sports.
In a press conference attended by 13 schools division superintendents and other education officials in Eastern Visayas on August 30 in Palo, Leyte, Umali said there is a need for the people to relive the past in terms of how the teachers are being respected and honored.
He reiterated that the annual teachers' month celebration is pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 242, Republic Act 10743 entitled "An Act Declaring the Fifth Day of October of Every Year as the National Teachers' Day," and the designation of the World Teachers' Day every 5th of October by the United Nations Education and Cultural Organizations (Unesco).
In coordination with the National Teachers Day Coordinating Council and the National Teachers' Month Coordinating Council, Umali said this year's teachers' month celebration will be held in Ormoc City with a theme "Gurong Filipino: Turo Mo, Kinabukasan Ko."
He said the event is aimed to "honor those who are in the teaching profession; acknowledge and give emphasis on the crucial role, loyal service, and dedicated commitment of teachers in developing globally minded citizens, nurturing families, strengthening communities, and building the nation."
According to Umali, the celebration will also "revitalize the image of and respect for teaching as a vocation by increasing public awareness on the value of teachers in the Philippine society; take the occasion as an opportunity in building the image of teaching as an attractive and fulfilling profession; generate widespread support and assistance for teachers; and express gratitude for the positive influences of teachers on Filipino learners."
Meanwhile, Ramir Uytico, DepEd-Eastern Visayas director, welcomed the hosting of the event.
"We should be happy that Region 8 (Eastern Visayas) will be hosting a national activity," Uytico said.
He also hoped that President Rodrigo Duterte could join them during the occasion.
Despite the many issues hounding the education sector, Uytico called on the teachers to continue what they are doing with "competence, courage, and compassion."
"For me, the work of a teacher is not something new...I am what I am now because of the bulk of work of DepEd. Mas maganda nga ngayon, may chalk allowance, may hardship allowance, may mga increase sa salary maski pakunti kunti. Noon wala iyon, but I was able to survive," Uytico said in his message to the teachers.
"I know the ups and downs of teachers because I was once like them," he added.
More than 6,000 teacher-delegates across the country are expected to attend the national teachers' month celebration in Ormoc City on October 5. (SunStar Philippines)