World Teachers’ Day message of the Secretary

I wish our more than 800,000 Filipino teachers a happy and fruitful World Teachers’ Day!

Coming from a dynasty of teachers and as an educator myself, I have always been looking forward to this celebration—that special time of the year when citizens from all walks of life take a moment to salute the noblest of all professions.

This year’s theme, “Gurong Pilipino: Handa sa Makabagong Pagbabago,” is highly auspicious as we, in the education sector, embark on a journey to the Fourth Industrial Revolution—the age of artificial intelligence, smart technologies, augmented realities, and cyber systems that obliterate the boundaries between the physical and digital.

Amid the challenges brought about by all these developments, however, you, our dearest teachers, remain steadfast in your mission to hone the country’s future leaders and nation-builders. You do this through managing, guiding, listening, leading, counseling, advising, and facilitating learning in a way that no robots, holograms, or smartboards can do. While you utilize technology to innovate your ways of teaching, you maintain your humanity, love, and care for our learners as though as they are your own.

Because of your unwavering commitment and dedication to raising and nurturing 21st century, humane, and lifelong learners, we are heading closer and closer to our goal of delivering quality, accessible, relevant, and liberating basic education. For this, you deserve this honor, our gratitude, and the nation’s tribute.

On behalf of the Department of Education, thank you, dear teachers!

Mabuhay kayong lahat!

LEONOR MAGTOLIS BRIONES
Secretary