Gabay Guro, the flagship education program of the PLDT-Smart Foundation (PSF), honored over 400,000 teachers nationwide who viewed the first-ever virtual Grand Gathering live last October 3.
“We are not going to let this pandemic slow us down. We create a new chapter with stronger and more resilient characters that continue to make their mark and change the world. Thank you to our dearest teachers for their continued, selfless love for our students. We hope that they feel our gratitude and love through this Gabay Guro Grand Gathering,” said PLDT Chairman and CEO Manuel V Pangilinan.
“We honor our teachers across the country through our first-ever Grand Gathering in the digital space. We pay tribute to their hard work and dedication in transforming the lives of today’s youth. Our teachers are truly the heart of this advocacy program. We hope that this special event has brought joy in the lives of our teachers, especially during these tough times,” said Gabay Guro Chairperson Chaye Cabal-Revilla.
13 years of changing lives
36-year-old Mary Ann is the winner of the Cherry Tiggo 2 from Cherry Auto Philippines.
Gabay Guro is a 13-year-old program that has been empowering teachers across the country through its seven key pillars, including scholarships, teachers' trainings, classroom donations, livelihood programs, connectivity & computerization, teachers' tribute and digital innovations.
13 is also a lucky number for 36-year-old Mary Ann, the winner of the Cherry Tiggo 2 from Cherry Auto Philippines. Mary Ann is married to Julius, a machine operator in Honda Parts Manufacturing Corporation located in Technopark, Biῆan, Laguna. They have been married for 13 years with two kids.
Mary Ann is a Grade Two teacher from Southville 1 Elementary School in Cabuyao, Laguna. She has been teaching for 13 years. “When I was first hired in 2007, I handled Grade 1 students. Then for the last 12 years, I’ve been teaching the second grade. I teach general subjects like English, Filipino, Math and Araling Panlipunan,” she said.
Winning the Cherry Tiggo 2, Mary Ann shared that she will be using the car as her service going to work. “The house where I live is far from the school where I teach. I need to pass five barangays before I could reach the school,” she said.
Mary Ann expressed her gratitude to Gabay Guro for their support to teachers nationwide. “Thank you very much for the early Christmas gift not only for me but for my family. Thank you for making us feel that we teachers are very important in the society. Thank you for bringing us joy and the best experiences,” she said.
An answered prayer
43-year-old Alita is the P500,000 cash prize winner during the Gabay Guro Grand Gathering.
43-year-old Alita is the P500,000 cash prize winner during the Gabay Guro Grand Gathering. She is a Grade 8 Araling Panlipunan and Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao teacher from the Alawihao National High School in Daet, Camarines Norte.
Alita has been teaching for 18 years now. She started as a volunteer teacher for a year before she became a regular/permanent teacher at Manguisoc National High School, Mercedes, Camarines Norte for nine years. In order to reach this school, she needed to ride a tricycle, a jeepney and then a boat to take her to the station. In 2011, she transferred Alawihao National High School – one that is near where she lives.
According to Alita, the cash prize was like her answered prayer. “My father is seventy years old now and has a medical condition requiring operation. For the past few days, I was praying that the Lord may provide financial blessings for my father’s medical expenses. To my surprise, God granted my prayers not just for my father’s operation,” she said. She also shared that the cash prize would help in the construction of her new home with her husband Greggie as they prepare for their own little family.
100,000 teachers join the raffle through Gabay Guro app
Mary Ann and Alita are just two of about 100,000 teachers who registered to attend the Grand Gathering through the new Gabay Guro app. An e-ticket and QR Code was given to registered teachers which entitled them to join the raffle and win prizes. These were the 100,000 teachers who downloaded the app during its beta testing stage and initial launch last October 1, just two days before the Grand Gathering.
“Our Gabay Guro app aims to cultivate a community of digitally adept teachers and students. Aside from providing a more convenient way for our teachers to participate in our Gabay Guro Grand Gathering, we also provide opportunities for our teachers to have all e-learning resources and online tools readily available for them, “ Cabal-Revilla said.
“The Gabay Guro app helps teachers like me, especially now that education is highly digital through the integration of e-learning contents; online and interactive resources for teachers, students and parents. We have up-to-date learning resources in just one click and aligned with the DepEd curriculum,” Alita said.
The Gabay Guro app is a new digital solution that provides teachers with e-learning content and interactive technology and ready-to-use online platforms that are aligned with the Department of Education (DepEd) and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) curriculum. Developed under Gabay Guro's digital innovations pillar, he mobile app will empower thousands of Filipino teachers with digital tools for use in the new normal.
