Shown against the upper right backdrop of the quake-ravaged home economics building and the brand new twin classrooms from the Gabay Guro (2G) at left are pupils of the Loreto Elementary School in Cortes, Bohol with PLDT FVP & Comptroller and 2G Chairperson Chaye Cabal-Revilla and Phil. Disaster Recovery Foundation (PDRF) President Butch S. Meily.
Twin Classrooms for Three Schools
Spearheaded by PLDT First Vice President and Comptroller Chaye Cabal-Revilla, 2G is composed of executives from the PLDT Managers’ Club, Inc. They have been supporting the country’s teachers since 2007 with scholarship grants to aspiring teachers, as well as training and seminars, among other programs. The team trooped to Bohol in December last year to turn over twin classrooms each to Hinawanan National High School in Loay, Loreto Elementary School in Cortes, and Dr. Cecilio Putong National High School in Tagbilaran.
According to Cabal-Revilla, “We are happy to be able to build the Bohol classroom facilities in less than two months after the earthquake. We were the first ones to put up permanent structures there with the cooperation of the Department of Education and the Local Government Units.”
The durable prefabricated classrooms, with roofs made of corrugated steel and walls of foam with metal sheets, can withstand strong winds raging at 250 kph and resist intensity 7 earthquakes. A twin classroom costs P1.5-million.
During the turn-over ceremonies at Hinawanan, local government officials led by Bohol Governor Edgar Chatto and Loay Mayor Rosemarie Imboy thanked PLDT and 2G, as well as the PLDT Smart Foundation (PSF) for the beautiful classrooms which will greatly benefit the high school students and their teachers.
At the Loreto Elementary School, Cortes Mayor Roberto Tabanera, who provided the needed support for the speedy completion of the 2G classrooms, received the donation on behalf of the school. The mayor also expressed his gratitude and appreciation to PSF’s 2G for the enormous assistance.
One of the guests, Bohol 1st District Representative Rene Relampagos thanked PLDT “for extending a helping hand to the province of Bohol… Immediately after the earthquake,may anghel na binigay angMVP Group… We are very much aware what PLDT and the MVP Group have been doing to help the province of Bohol with its relief, rehabilitation, and recovery programs. Thank you to all the people of PLDT. May God bless you all.”
DepEd’s Assistant Secretary for Legal Affairs, Atty. Tonisito Umali, who attended the blessing and turn-over at the Cecilio Putong National High School said the blessing ceremonies of new classrooms are very significant and symbolic occasions.“Ngunit ang araw na ito ay mas mahalaga at simboliko sapagkat ang mga silid-aralang ito’y nakatayo, sa loob ng apatnapu’t-limang araw.”
Rockin’ Tribute
Teachers in Bohol and its towns were also treated to a 2G-sponsored concert, dubbedPahalipay Sa Bohol, a special tribute for Ma’am and Sir. Entertained by television and film stars led by Cesar Montano, who earlier attended the classroom turn-over in Tagbilaran, Dax Martin, and Ate Gay, among others, the teachers had a rollicking afternoon singing and dancing to 70s, 80s, and 90s music. Many of them won raffle prizes such as cellphones, laptop, Ipad mini, grocery baskets; and cash prizes amounting to P1,000, P20,000, and P50,000. Teacher Ma. Genera Matudes from San Agustin Elementary School in Sagbayan, Bohol went home with the Kawasaki Motorcycle grand prize.
Teachers’ Training
Part of 2G’s activities was the invaluable training program conducted by PLDT Training, Dev’t and Career Mgmt VP Deng Kibanoff and EmpDev AVP Nonong Noriega. Gaining more knowledge on effective teaching techniques from Kibanoff and exhilarated by Noriega’s motivational lecture, games, and videos, the teachers were breathless with excitement after the sessions. “The training was well-organized; the facilitators were lively, energetic, and knowledgeable in their respective fields. I enjoyed the games to the max and will definitely apply what I have learned,” said Alor G. Gaban, Science teacher from La Paz Elementary School.
Deeply touched by the lectures and video presentations, 24-year-old Pearly L. Tagaan of Tagbilaran City Central Elementary School said she will make use of her learning to inspire her students to realize their dreams. For despite the chilling earthquake that ravaged their homes and their towns, teachers in Bohol remain hopeful and happy. And they’re thankful to people and organizations, like 2G who go out of their way to help change and improve their lives.
