VP Leni salutes Surigaonon Teachers

RANDY P. LAMANILAO

The Vice President of the Philippines Maria Leonor “Leni” G. Robredo gratefully
extended her warm salutations to the Surigaonon teachers who devotedly perform their
duties and responsibilities during her talk as the guest speaker of the Teachers’ Congress
2016 held last ________ at the Provincial Gymnasium, Surigao City which was attended by
the teachers and administrators of the three divisions of the Department of Education
province of Surigao del Norte which include Surigao del Norte, Surigao City, and Siargao
Divisions respectively.

With this year’s theme, _______, the education and the welfare of the students who
inhabit in the far flung areas in the Philippines have been the target of the VP’s advocacy for the
betterment of the nation. In her talk, she mentioned the significance of considering great benefits
of the teachers to be enjoyed by themselves and their families especially that they often
sacrificed their own finances for the benefit of the students’ learning. She appreciated the full
support of the teachers to the DepEd’s advocacy that no Filipino children will be left behind in
the arena of education. They should be given importance because they are to govern nation in the
future.

The government, according to VP Leni, has to make sure that all Filipinos can benefit to
its projects which is the core of her advocacy for good governance. She mentioned the efforts
extended by the administrators in taking care of both concerned teachers and students. Managing
schools are said to be a difficult task, as she added, emphasizing the challenges they face and
conquered. Like teachers, they most often took money from their pocket in order provide
necessary things which cannot be provided right away by the government.

Her thoughts were supplemented with the scenarios she encountered as she visited to
many of the far areas in the country. She expressed her compassion upon passionate teachers
who teach despite the absence of a conducive environment, well-established classroom, chairs of
the students, and even proper area of school. She mentioned cases of soliciting finances in the
social media to gather some finances to support those schools. She expressed her feeling of
gladness to the provinces who are with her in the advocacy.

The Vice President also extended her gratitude generally to the Surigaonon people who
supported her campaign during the election last May of the present year. She added that even this
time, she still feel the utmost support of the people as the second highest official in the country.
 In her concluding statements, she encouraged the teachers to continuously serve the
country wholeheartedly - developing learners holistically.

Hon. Sol F. Matugas, Surigao del Norte Governor, introduced the Vice President as the
Guest Speaker and one of those who led in the donning of Manobo vest and presentation of
token. According to the governor, the VP’s visit to the province only proved her campaign
tagline and that a woman can really stand!