In photo is Mary Jean Libot inside her brand new 8-seater Foton Van.
Hailing from Marikina City, 26-year old Mary Jean Libot is a Filipino subject teacher to the Grade 6 and Grade 9 students of Mother of Divine Providence School in Marikina City. She has been teaching for five years now. For Libot, the best part of her job is her students. “They [students] make the job worthwhile. They have this ability to make you smile and laugh just by looking at them, despite the challenges you’re facing,” Libot said. “They lighten up my day and they are the ones that make me feel like my job is so fulfilling.”
Libot says that her students inspire her to get better every day. “My profession has enabled me to keep growing as an individual. My students have a way of pushing me out of my comfort zone as I keep finding better and more innovative ways of teaching,” Libot said. She said that a lot of her activities for her students are catered to their needs. She said that she tries to personalize her modules that best reflect her students’ interests. “I try to get to know them in a more personal level, so that I get to better understand them not just as my students but as individuals as well,” Libot said.
Last October 2019, it was Libot’s first time to join the biggest tribute show for teachers which was Gabay Guro’s Grand Gathering. The universe must have had her back that day as it was only a coincidence that she joined the show. According to Libot, her co-teacher just asked her to go with her to the event. “I was so surprised when I won the Foton Van grand prize because there were over 20,000 teachers present during that event. But for some reason, it was me who won and I thank God for that blessing,” Libot said.
Libot plans to use her grand prize Foton Van in her new possible business ventures such as a school service or a delivery service. She plans to use this to help out her family, especially her mother Violita Libot.
Libot is joined by her brother Christian Libot and her mother Violita Libot.
According to Libot, Gabay Guro continues to make an impact in her life and the lives of thousands of teachers nationwide. “I’m just one of the thousands of teachers nationwide who are so grateful for Gabay Guro for its Grand Gathering. It’s that time where we escape our own realities for a few hours and just enjoy the moment,” Libot said. “It’s something that we always want to go back to and to be a part of it.”
Transforming lives
The heart of Gabay Guro lies in paying homage to teachers nationwide. To date, Gabay Guro has transformed the lives of over 300,000 teachers through its seven pillars, including scholarships, classroom donations, teachers’ training, livelihood programs, connectivity and computerization, teachers’ tribute, and digital innovations.
“Gabay Guro is about using education as platform for nation-building,” PLDT Chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan said. “With globalization upon us, education becomes a powerful weapon in acquiring the necessary knowledge and tools to become a more capable individual.”
According to Cabal-Revilla, Gabay Guro’s seven pillars are important facets in fortifying education. It is through these pillars that the program provides countless opportunities for thousands of teachers across the country. “Our pillars cater to the needs of our teachers as we continue to uplift the quality of education in our country,” PLDT Senior Vice President and Gabay Guro Founder and Chairperson Chaye Cabal-Revilla said. “Gabay Guro is our way of empowering our teachers in ensuring a more sustainable lives for them. It is our way of helping them beyond the four walls of the classrooms and enabling them to grow holistically – personally, professionally, and spiritually.”
Gabay Guro is an education arm and a flagship program of the PLDT-Smart Foundation. It is a program run by volunteers composed of the PLDT Managers’ Club, Inc. By helping shape the future of teachers, Gabay Guro hopes to spread the gift of learning to students across the country as the program becomes a platform for nation-building.
