Good afternoon, Mr. President and my distinguished colleagues. Magandang hapon po sa ating lahat, mga kaibigan, mga kababayan!

It is a distinct honor to be addressing you today in support of the Resolution Honoring and Commending the Ten Outstanding Teachers of 2016 by the Metrobank Foundation, Inc. or R.S.N. 116.

As the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education, Culture and the Arts, I am elated to present to you 10 Filipino teachers – 10 extraordinary men and women that make an invaluable difference in the lives of their students and their student’s families.

Please join me in commending them:

Mrs. Winona Y. Diola, a grade school teacher at De La Salle Santiago Zobel School in Muntinlupa City

Ms. Rujealyn R. Cancino, a master teacher II at Lingayen I Central School in Lingayen, Pangasinan

Mr. Arnol M. Rosales, a master teacher I at the Francisco Melgar Memorial School in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro

Mrs. Josephine Chonie M. Obsenares, a master teacher I from the Butuan City Special Education Center in Butuan City

Dr. Roy B. Basa, a master teacher I from the Negros Occidental High School in Bacolod City

Mr. Nelson G. Agoyaoy, the coordinator of student concerns and activities from the University of the East Caloocan Elementery and High School Department

Mrs. Ma. Regaele A Olarte, a teacher I in Muntinlupa National High School in Muntinlupa City

Dr. Katherine Faith M. Bustos, a master teacher I at the Nueva Vizcaya General Comprehensive High School in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya

Dr. Ernelea P. Cao, a professor XII at the University of the Philippines Diliman in Quezon City

And Dr. Mark Anthony J. Torres, an associate professor V at the Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology in Iligan City

Maraming maraming salamat sa inyong lahat. Mabuhay po ang ating ten outstanding teachers for 2016!

Mr. President, yesterday I shared a little known fact about my family and that is my mother’s parents who are actually teachers.

Segundo and Victoria Aguirre moved to Davao from Luzon after the Second World War with a dream. And that dream was to take part in building a better future for young Mindanaoans through education.

So, they rolled up their sleeves and helped start the University of Mindanao.

Hanggang po sa huli, na naging chairperson ng Filipino department ang aking lola at naging principal ng University of Mindanao ang aking lolo, hindi po nila binitawan ang kanilang bokasyon sa edukasyon.

Mr. President, teaching is a vocation and to educate is a mission.

Tungkulin po ng bawat guro ang pagandahin ang kinabukasan ng bawat batang Pilipino at pagandahin ang kinabukasan ng Pilipinas sa pamamagitan ng edukasyon.

Layunin po nilang palitawin ang husay at talino ng kabataan upang paramihin ang dakilang Pilipinong mag-aambag sa kasaganaan ng ating minamahal na bansa.

At ito po’y hindi madali.

Hindi po madaling magising bago sumikat ang araw para paghandaan ang mga aralin.

Hindi po madaling magpuyat para mag-tsek ng ga bundok na mga test paper.

Hindi po madaling ngumiti at maging bibo sa classroom kahit masama ang pakiramdam.

Hindi po madaling pagsabihan ang batang hindi nakikinig pag alam mo namang hindi pa sila nag-aalmusal.

Hindi po madaling maging guro sa Pilipinas, Mr. President. At lalong hindi madaling magsikap upang maging isang katangi-tanging guro sa ating bansa.

So today, Mr. President, we honor this year’s Ten Outstanding Teachers and we honor every Filipino who has chosen teaching as a vocation.

Mr. President, it is apparent that the reforms we are pushing for in the Committee on Education, Culture and the Arts to improve access to quality education in our country hinge on our teachers’ willingness to step up and strive for excellence.

And Mr. President, the ten that we have here today are the examples for that excellence that we seek. So, Mr. President it is my honor to co-sponsor this resolution honoring these ladies and gentlemen – these proud Filipinos behind me. Maraming salamat, Mr. President, thank you very much!