Selfless Teachers: A World Teachers' Day 2015 Tribute

Do you remember that one teacher who transformed your life? We asked moms to share the stories of the teachers they consider as heroes in their little ones' lives.

Thank you, Selfless Teachers

We all have that one teacher who truly made a difference. These teachers are our everyday heroes.

On World Teacher's Day, moms honor those who have helped transform their little ones, and touched their lives as well.

Teacher who goes the extra mile: Mr. Donato Banaag

My son Marco’s class adviser, Mr. Donato Banaag, is also the Filipino teacher of their batch. In his class, they have a new student who is Australian. I learned from the student's mom that Mr. Banaag comes before class hours to teach special Filipino. That’s at 6:40AM every day, three times a week!

In the photo: Marco Campos and Mr. Banaag

Larissa Campos, mom of three

Nurturing teacher: Miss Julie Ann Charmaine Labao

My fifth grader, Daniella Nicole, tells me that teacher Julie Ann Charmaine Labao inspires her. She says that her teacher motivates her to do well in school by sharing her own life stories. Teacher Julie begins her class with life reflections and how God helps in all our struggles. She treats every student in her class as family.

In the photo: Daniella with a classmate and Teacher Julie

Emiliana Sison, blogger

Hardworking teacher: Teacher Sarah

My daughter, Allie, had a hard time blending letter sounds so Teacher Sarah worked with her until it became easy for her. She perfected her trimestral exam on Reading/Writing recently.

In the photo: Teacher Sarah and Allie

Ging Domingo Santos, mompreneur behind Crafted Love

Dedicated teacher: Teacher Lady

My son has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and we transferred from a traditional all-boy school to a smaller, inclusive school where Special Education (SPED) students are mainstreamed with regular kids. His teacher, Teacher Lady, helped my son develop his self-awareness so that he is able to keep his behavior in check. And because of this, my son thrived in his new school. Happy to say he is a consistent honor student!

Monet Aquino, working mom

Passionate teacher: Lucas' teacher

My son faced challenges in talking. Before attending school, he would just grunt and point and cry or mumble something inaudible. He could talk a bit but not in sentences. He was also very shy and would cry a lot in the presence of many people. Little changes in his routine would bother him a lot. When we enrolled him in school, his teacher said her goal would be to help Lucas express himself more. She said she'd work with us in helping Lucas develop not just his academic skills but his social and communication skills as well.

True enough, I would receive daily updates from her. She was very patient with him especially when he would hesitate learning something new. I saw how she would talk to him and boost his confidence. She also guided us by giving suggested activities for us to do on weekends with Lucas. Slowly we saw him growing, learning and developing in the areas I was concerned the most. Everyone who knew him before going to school was surprised with his improvement.

When I thought I needed to bring my son to a specialist to be checked, she became my saving grace. I saw and felt her passion to teach and it reflected on the genuine concern and care she gave to our son and indirectly to me. She not only took the time to know our son but she took the time to know us. At the end of the school year, my son learned a lot from their lessons; he developed his communication skills and most importantly, he developed self-efficacy, which means he now believes in himself. It's something I am really grateful for. Lucas' teacher is his hero, and she is mine too.

In the photo: Lucas with his teacher and classmates

Maggie Agustin, blogger

Amazing teacher: Ms. Mala Chatani

My kids’ amazing teacher is Ms. Mala Chatani. She's the owner of Easy Math. My daughter, Adee, loves her. My son learned how to read and he does well in Math because of her.

In the photo: Adee Pagaspas

Leira Bhagwani, mommy blogger

Caring teacher: Teacher Jof

Teacher Jof's classes were a breath of fresh air for my son, Sevi, during the time we were in the middle of moving homes. Nothing but laughter would be heard from where they would hold classes in our home. It was always such a fun time with Teacher Jof as she would take time to explain things to him, understand all of what he needed to express, and simply be there for him as a friend. She made sure that every session would be the best fun, more fun than the last.

Teacher Jof would go the extra mile and has even surprised us parents, all within her goal of understanding our son better from her perspective. It really takes a village to raise a child, and Teacher Jof has helped us in more ways than one, not just Sevi, but all of us as a family.

Sevi to this day still looks for teacher Jof, would pretend to give her a call and ask when the next class is. He would fondly recall all of what he used to do in class. We are sad that Teacher Jof moved and so we had to stop classes with her, but what she has imparted will always be special to us. Because of Teacher Jof's classes, Sevi has grown in so many ways and we are forever grateful for that!

In the photo: Sevi and teacher Jof

Pam Begre, mom of two

Helpful teacher: Dr. Alva Aberin

Dr. Alva Aberin, a professor at Ateneo, is my daughter's ninang. She's not my daughter's teacher at school but she has always been available for Bethany when she needs help with her math subjects.

In the photo: Bethany Padrelanan

Michelle Padrelanan, homeschooling mom

Loving teacher: Eileen Timbol

My mom, Eileen Timbol, is a public school teacher (high school) and a professor in a college. I can see that it's super difficult [for her to teach alread], especially now that she's in her 50s already, but she continues to teach with joy and passion. Aside from being a selfless Teacher to her students, she is also a teacher to my kids. She has taught them well not just in academics (she's super patient with my kids who are just 4 and 2 years old!), but also helped me raise them to be kind.

In the photo: Eileen Timbol and Caleb Reyes

Kim Reyes, mommy blogger

Committed teacher: Mr. Rey Bufi

A former officemate, Rey Bufi, started this project to help promote literacy in rural areas. Now he teaches in a barrio with the NGO, TheStorytellingProject.

In the photo: Rey Bufi during a storytelling session
Image source: Facebook.com/TheStorytellingProject

Rita Magallona, work at home mom

Selfless Teacher from Pasay City SPED

My son who has autism studies in Pasay City SPED. His speech is delayed, but he loves to sing and draw. His class is good for an hour where his teacher is only focused on him. One time I saw my son assisting a schoolmate who has challenges in walking. This teacher guided my son to assist his schoolmate, who happened to be a girl. I was touched because despite my son's autism he learned to care for others’ welfare, forgetting that he, too, has mental challenges of his own. Such a simple act of kindness that really made my day.

Sarah Mallari Bucu, mommy blogger

Teachers of service: Divine Vardiza and Diovanne Dablo Lawas

I've worked with Divine Vardiza and Diovanne Dablo Lawas, public school teachers of Kitaotao, Bukidnon, who walk 19 kms and cross raging rivers to reach hinterland barangays to teach Higaonon and Matigsalog-Manobo children. They don't just teach, they spend their own resources to procure supplies for their students. These teachers are unsung heroes.

In the photo: Teachers Divine and Diovanne with the Lomarda family

Regina Lomarda, mompreneur behind My Recycled Crafts

Remarkable teachers: CereCare Teachers

A few days before our Bunso’s 4th birthday, he was diagnosed with Mild Austism Spectrum Disorder. Our developmental pediatrician referred us to CereCare Philippines Foundation Inc., the institution where he would attend the prescribed occupational and speech therapy sessions.

Within three months of attending CereCare SPED School and Occupational Therapy, his improvement was tremendous and remarkable. We are always happy to go to school because it feels like home and the people there treat us like we’re family. From the directress to the staff, all of them are genuinely caring and loving.

Bunso is who he is now because we accept and love him for who he is. His fast improvement would not be possible without the help of our partner, CereCare SPED and OT/Rehabilitation Services Departments. If I may, I would like to mention their names. Mr. Ryan P. Ramilo, Rehabilitation Services Coordinator and Bunso’s very first formal teacher, who’s been handling him since November 2014 Miss Clarence Rani B. Diaz and Miss Rochelle V. Vidal, Occupational Therapists and Mr. Jahad Kenneth D. Mallary, RS Aide, who patiently help Teacher Ryan handle Bunso Miss Nenita B. Diaz, Speech and Language Therapist, who was also there to look after Bunso despite not having his formal speech therapy yet Miss Vanessa C. Bartolome, Bunso’s first adviser, who motivated him to drink plenty of water and is like a second mom to him Miss Olga D.C. Constantino, Mister Cyprus T. Escat, Mr. Crisol T. Dayto, SPED Teachers, and Miss Rosemarie Z. Belgira, SPED Aide, who tirelessly assist Teacher Van in teaching and taking care of Bunso under the supervision of Miss Sheila Marie P. Wingco, SPED Department Coordinator and Mr. Christian Carreon, SPED Department Assistant Coordinator

Our family considers them as Bunso’s remarkable teachers because they bring out the best in him, which for some is impossible to achieve because of his condition. They love teaching that’s why Bunso loves learning. We are so blessed to have them as our partners. Kudos to Miss Lily Tanco, CereCare Philippines Foundation Inc. Directress, and Miss Armida L. Mansan, Administrator, for having good teachers under their care.

In the photo: Bunso and his classmates with the CereCare SPED teachers
Image source: Facebook.com/CereCarePhilippines

SJ Valdez, mom blogger

Awesome teacher: Christian Tayag

My son's accomplishments are the result of having supportive and loving parents and an early intervention made by an awesome teacher and occupational therapist.

This special teacher, extended far beyond his responsibilities to teach my son. He helped not only this young boy to achieve his full potential, but he also helped us, his family, to understand him better, as he is a kid like no other.

He helped my son with his problems at school, handling frustrations and anxiety, and a lot more.

Teacher Christian Tayag, thank you for being a great teacher not only to my son but to all the special kids that you handled before and those who you are still teaching until now. You are hero to us!

In the photo: Ren Martinez

Levy Martinez, mommy blogger

Devoted teacher: Lori de Vera

Teacher Lori is my son's Social Studies teacher. What makes her really special is that she was my Social Studies teacher, too, when I was his age. She has been with the school for so many years, and still brings the same enthusiasm and dedication to the classes she teaches now as she did back then. If I could name one devoted teacher who shows that teaching is indeed a vocation, it would be Teacher Lori.

In the photo: Ms. Lori de Vera

Patricia Cuyugan, theAsianParent Philippines contributor

Encouraging teacher: Marla Dalagan

I had my doubts about sending my daughter, Jazz, to school already because she might not be ready yet. But her ninang, Teacher Marla, encouraged me. She said Jazz was ready because she could easily comprehend already. Marla is like a second mom to Jazz, and while she isn't her teacher in the classroom, my daughter stands to learn so much from her.

In the photo: Teacher Marla and Jazz

Francesca Hembrador, working mom

Generous teacher: Roo Diamante

You don’t have to be an award-winner to be a hero. This is true for teacher Roo Diamante, a former teacher of The Learning Tree, who has been tutoring my now eight-year-old son, Joaquin, on and off.

Here’s the story: After a few months of tutoring, I made my son stop because our monthly expenses at that time left little for anything else. During the "hiatus,” if you will, teacher Roo and I would constantly be in touch about Joaquin’s progress. She often asked me how Joaquin was doing.

Months later, Joaquin struggled academically again. And because teacher Roo and I communicated regularly, she was aware of it. One day I received a text from her; she offered to tutor Joaquin—for free. She explained that she understood the struggles of a single, working parent. She is one, too.

The gesture was so sincere it warmed my heart. To have such a support system, an unexpected one at that, was touching. The concern she had not only for my son’s welfare but for me (and my sanity) as well is one I’ll always remember. Did I mention that she even brought Joaquin home from school several times when I couldn't pick him up just so she could tutor him after class? I am grateful that she is Joaquin’s tutor to this day. Beyond academics, I believe she is imparting much more to my son, i.e. how to be an awesome human being.

In the photo: Teacher Roo and Joaquin

Erika Coronel, theAsianparent Content Merchandiser

Thank you, Selfless Teachers

Who are your remarkable teachers?

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Patricia de Castro-Cuyugan

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