The Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday, Oct. 21, commended a public high school teacher from Isabela after being hailed among the five awardees of the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) Ulirang Guro sa Filipino 2021.
Mark-jhon Prestoza, a Filipino teacher from Quirino National High School of Isabela, was recognized by KWF along with other Filipino teachers in higher education institutions for his valuable contributions in promoting Filipino and indigenous languages through education, research, and community engagements.
Education Secretary Leonor Briones congratulated Prestoza for his efforts in advancing the Filipino language in basic education especially in the creation of self-learning modules which are crucial in learning delivery.
“May he serve as an inspiration for other educators in championing the importance of using our language in the academe,” Briones added.
Currently, Prestoza is taking Doctor of Philosophy in Language Education-Filipino in Isabela State University, where he also earned the degree Master of Arts in Education major in Filipino.
Prestoza served as an author and editor of learning resource materials for Mother Tongue-based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE) in SDO Isabela.
His research papers were published in the Saringkit Journal of the Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) Curriculum Implementation Division.
“Isang malaking karangalan ang pagkilalang ito sa buong buhay ko, hindi lamang dahil sa medalyon at sertipiko, bagkus para sa mas malaki pang responsibilidad at gampaning nakaatang sa aking balikat na isulong, pagyamanin, at kilalanin ang wikang Pambansa at ang mga wika ng Pilipinas sa pedestal ng kaunlaran (It is a great honor to be recognized throughout my life, not only for the medallion and certificate, but also for the greater responsibility and accomplishment placed on my shoulders to promote, enrich, and recognize the National language and the languages of the Philippines in pedestal of development),” Prestoza said in his speech during a virtual ceremony held on Oct. 4.
The KWF’s Ulirang Guro sa Filipino is the agency’s initiative to celebrate World Teacher’s Day.
It aims to recognize exceptional Filipino teachers who contributed outstanding research and initiatives that promote Filipino and/or regional languages and culture.
Meanwhile, KWF Chair Arthur Casanova commend Prestoza and the rest of the awardees noting that they are role models in teaching Filipino.
"Inaasahan ko po na simula ngayon ay maging katuwang kayo ng Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino sa pagpapalaganap sa mga pananaliksik, sa pagpapayaman ng ating wikang pambansang Filipino (I hope that from now on, you will be a partner of the Filipino Language Commission in disseminating research, in enriching our national Filipino language),” Casanova said.
He also expressed hope that there will be more teachers like the awardees who are talented, role models, and exemplary Filipino teachers.
Completing the recipients of the KWF Ulirang Guro sa Filipino 2021 awardees are Dr. Romeo Peña of Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Dr. Ma. Lourdes Quijano of Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology, Dr. Rowell Madula of De La Salle University, and Dr. Voltaire Villanueva of Philippine Normal University.