LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The mentors in Benguet will be again getting their day as the province sets September 29, 2017 as the culminating day of a week-long celebration for teachers.
The celebration started last September 9 when different sports activities were conducted to open the festivities. The different competitions are held at the Benguet Multi-purpose Gym, the Puguis Elementary School, and the Cordillera Career Development College Gym, continued last September 9, 16, 17, 23, and will end today, September 24.
An IPED Congress is scheduled from 8:00AM to 5:00PM of Wednesday, September 27, followed by an Education Summit from 8:00AM to 5:00PM of Wednesday, September 27, and a dances talent show, Talentadong Guro, from 2:00PM to 6:00PM on the 28th. A teachers’ welfare services will also be simultaneously conducted during the two-day span. All of these are to be held at the Benguet Multi-Purpose Gym.
A simultaneous motorcade and parade at 6:00AM will open the concluding day activities, ushering the main program.
The motorcade will start at the City Limit, Km 3, with the participation of over 20 vehicles. The parade participants will assemble at the Capitol Grounds to be spearheaded by the teachers, including retirees; heads of and representatives from the Department of Education, the Commission on Higher Education, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and the different Benguet schools, colleges and universities; and the teacher education students.
Benguet officials led by Congressman Ronald Cosalan and Governor Cresencio Pacalso are expected to grace the program where awarding of winners and giving of the recognitions are to take place.
It will be recalled that the province of Benguet officially declared the last Friday of September as Teachers Day through the passing of the “Teachers Day Ordinance” last March 16, 2015.
According to Atty. Johnny Waguis, Provincial Board Member and the Teachers’ Day Committee Chair, the Benguet Teachers Day aims to provide a venue for the active participation in the teachers month celebration and to conduct activities which will make them feel the importance of their role in nurturing the students to become responsible citizens in the province.
It also aims to give recognition and awards to qualified teachers for their length of service, exemplary achievements and outstanding performance, among others, he said.
Waguis was one of the principal authors of the ordinance along with then co-members of the Board Jim Botiwey, Esteban Piok, Jack Dulnuan, Florence Tingbaoen and Atty. Leonardo Lawana.
The first ever celebration of the event in 2015 attracted some 5,000 teachers from both public and private schools of the province who jampacked the Benguet Multi-Purpose Gym in this capital town to grace the event.
Classes are suspended on September 29 to allow members of the academe to participate in the event.
By: ARMANDO M. BOLISLIS