SOME retired teachers reminded new ones to be patient and treat teaching as a way of life to enjoy it.
Normando Panilag, 65, a retired teacher who taught for 39 years, reminded teachers to befriend their students and show them their willingness to help.
Panilag was one of those who attended the Department of Education (DepEd) Cebu City Division’s celebration of Teacher's Day 2022, wherein at least 118 outstanding teachers in service (112 retirees and six teachers who rendered about 40 years in service) were awarded Thursday, December 22, 2022.
"Teaching is a very challenging job. It will energize yourself seeing learners are inspired because you care for them," said Panilag.
Fidela Semilla, 63, a newly retired teacher who had been in the teaching industry for about 20 years, advised new teachers to exercise more patience with their students.
Semilla reminded teachers not to judge students with bad behaviors easily but instead help them realize their potential to change, and have them feel supported at all times.
The celebration was attended by around 6,000 teachers from both the north and south districts of Cebu. Teachers also enjoyed raffle prizes and several presentations.
In her speech, Rhea Mar Angtud, Cebu City Schools Division superintendent, said she was grateful to finally celebrate teacher's day physically after about two years of hiatus because of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
Angtud said the celebration was a good time for teachers to get to know their colleagues better and a memorable day to move forward amid the pandemic.
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, who also attended the event, thanked teachers for molding many students, including himself, to become better citizens of the community.
Rama also tasked the local school board (LSB) to expedite the repair of classrooms that were damaged during the onslaught of Super Typhoon Odette a year ago in December 2021.
"Local School Board, do your job. I want those schools with damage repaired. I hate seeing schools damaged because that means incompetence of DepEd in the national, incompetence of the Cebu City Government, particularly the local school board," said Rama.
In a separate interview, Angtud said about 620 classrooms in Cebu City out of 840 that were damaged by Odette had already been repaired with the help of the LSB, DepEd Central Office in Manila, and other stakeholders.
She said the LSB continues to repair other classrooms. (HIC)