MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/05 August) – Two grade school teachers from Mindanao are set to receive awards for their outstanding performance in the field of education.
Lora E. Añar, 32, teaches at the Bukidnon State University in this city, and Djhoane C. Aquilar at the Panabo Central Elementary School in Panabo City, Davao del Norte.
They were named to this year’s Metrobank Ten Outstanding Teachers of the Philippines, the Metrobank Foundation Inc said.
The foundation said the annual awards seek to “promote a culture of excellence in education by recognizing the country’s best mentors who can be upheld as models not only for educators but for other community members as well.”
Aniceto M. Sobrepena, MFI president, informed Añar about her selection in a letter dated July 26, which was personally delivered to her on August 1.
The board of judges selected 10 out 24 who were shortlisted as national finalists of the 27-year old search.
The winners will be honored in Malacanan Palace and will receive cash and other prizes on August 24. They are also expected to attend the Winners’ Forum on September 1, also in Manila.
The winners will become members of the Network of Outstanding Teachers and Educators (NOTED).
Añar is the class adviser of BSU-Elementary School Laboratory’s Grade 2 Humpty Dumpty section. She teaches Mathematics and English. She has been teaching in BSU since 2000.
She finished her Master of Arts in Education major in Guidance and Counseling in the same school. She is presently completing her doctoral studies.
She is married to a fellow teacher and has two children.
Añar is the third from BSU to win the award after Nornie Micayabas in 1994 and Mercidita Villamayor in 2009. Both are high school teachers.
Malaybalay has produced four winners of Metrobank’s annual awards for teachers. Leticia N. Palle of the Malaybalay City Central School won in 2007. (Walter I. Balane/MindaNews)