CITY Savings Bank (CitySavings) joined the Department of Education (DepEd) in observing the National Teachers’ Month (NTM) on Sept. 5-Oct. 5, 2019.
The bank has been participating in the NTM in the past 11 years. The NTM observance honors teachers, who are considered as modern-day superheroes.
In her message at the National Teachers’ Day held in Cagayan de Oro City last Oct. 5, Education Secretary Leonor Briones looked forward to the developments in education brought about by technology.
She commended the Filipino educators for their dedication despite the challenges.
“You, our dearest teachers, remain steadfast in your mission to hone the country’s future leaders and nation-builders. While you utilize technology to innovate your ways of teaching, you maintain your humanity, love and care for our learners as though as they are your own,” Briones said.
During the NTM, the DepEd carried the theme “Gurong Pilipino: Handa sa Makabagong Pagbabago (Filipino Teacher: Prepared for Changes).”
As an NTM partner organization, CitySavings rolled out several events during the month-long celebration.
At the national culmination activity spearheaded by the DepEd central office, CitySavings rewarded three teachers with brand-new Honda Click motorcycles.
Jocelyn Dela Torre Bacerra, who has been teaching for 25 years at Gaulan Elementary School in Zamboanga Sibugay, was overjoyed after she was chosen as one of the winners.
For her, teaching is a powerful profession because she can shape a student’s future with good education.
The other winner was Charmyne Tumala, a special education teacher at Tangub City Central School. She said she could drive the motorcycle in going to school and visiting her parents in Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental.
She said she is passionate about teaching as she is able to touch the hearts and change the lives of her students.
The last winner of the motorcycle was Odelio Ramoso, the seventh-year teacher of Araling Panlipunan at San Luis National High School in Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental.
He was felt grateful to CitySavings for the unexpected gift. The motorcycle, he said, is a great help to him as he lives 15 kilometers from the school.
Teachers were also treated to a day of merriment as CitySavings branches nationwide prepared fun games, snacks, refreshments, and personalized tokens last Oct. 5.
Recently cited as Best Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Bank Philippines 2019 by the Global Banking and Finance Review, the bank also intensified its education-focused CSR initiatives by doing a nationwide caravan of Project Praparasyon, a practical wealth management and program for teachers.
In partnership with Weather Philippines Foundation (WeatherPhilippines), select educators from the divisions of Tanauan City, Batangas Province, Tayabas City and Quezon Province were trained to be #WeatherWiser to prepare and protect their school communities from the impact of adverse weather conditions. (S)