A teacher from the Department of Education-Cordillera Administrative Region (DepEd-CAR) was among the recipients of the 2021 Princess Maha Chakri Awards (PMCA).
Marcelo T. Otinguey, a Head Teacher V from Governor Bado Dangwa Agro-Industrial School located in Kapangan, Benguet was recognized for his outstanding achievements in basic education and social work during the 4th PMCA Awarding Ceremony held on Oct. 29.
Due to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions, this year’s PMCA Awarding Ceremony was held in a blended format (onsite and online).
The onsite ceremony was presided over by Sirindhorn in Bangkok while the online format was attended by the PMCA awardees at the Royal Thai Embassy in their respective countries.
In particular, Otinguey was recognized for his exemplary resourcefulness in soliciting resource materials for learners, especially in rural areas. “I am doing what I do because life is a service,” he said.
“Living with this principle, I was able to organize different programs, projects, and activities in my school, and community,” Otinguey said. “Only if we have the courage, we can make a difference,” he added.
In order to help combat illiteracy in his community, DepEd said that Otinguey organized various youth and community development projects such as “Book for the Barrios” that aim to provide books and other learning materials to create reading centers for primary and secondary schools in rural areas.
He also started a donation drive campaign called “Share-a-Joy/Share Your Extras” for indigent communities.
Otinguey also initiated the “Wheels for Persons-With-Disabilities” that grants wheelchairs and pairs of crutches for handicapped indigents and conducted skills and livelihood training to promote self-reliance entrepreneurship, productivity, and income for the masses.
In honor of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand, the PMCA seeks to recognize teachers from 11 countries in Southeast Asia who have made an impact on their students’ lives, particularly those in disadvantaged groups.
Established on Sirindhorn’s 60th birthday anniversary in 2015, the PMCA also aims to support and promote the development of the teaching profession and strengthen international relations in the field of education.
Joining Otinguey in this year’s list of PMCA awardees are Pengiran Haji Mohd Wahab bin Pengiran Haji Abdullah of Brunei Darussalam, Norn Dary of Cambodia, Khoiriah, M.Pd. of Indonesia, Sengphet Khounpasert of Lao PDR, Kyaw Zin Aung of Myanmar, Norhailmi Abdul Mutalib of Malaysia, Yok Joon Meng of Singapore, HA Anh Phuong of Vietnam, Pratin Leanchumroon of Thailand, and Vicente Marcal da Silva of Timor-Leste.
During the ceremony, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand lauded the teachers for their achievements especially at the time of a pandemic.
“, this celebration underlines the imminent role of teachers in society in fostering the learning of students to ensure that learning never stops,” she added.
According to DepEd International Cooperation Office (ICO), the Philippines has had three recipients of the PMCA since 2015 namely William Moraca of General Santos City (2015), Jesus Insalada of Iloilo City (2017), and Sadat Minandang of Cotabato City (2019).