The Department of Education (DepEd) has nothing but praises for a teacher from the Cordillera Administrative Region (DepEd-CAR) who is among the recipients of this year’s Princess Maha Chakri Awards (PMCA).
Marcelo T. Otinguey, a Head Teacher V from Governor Bado Dangwa Agro-Industrial School in Kapangan, Benguet, will be recognized for his “exemplary resourcefulness in soliciting resource materials for learners” - especially in rural areas.
“Our teachers like Mr. Otinguey are truly worth emulating,” Education Secretary Leonor Briones said in a statement issued Tuesday, June 29. “They have made a significant impact on the lives of their learners as they instill knowledge and values to inspire the young generation,” she added.
Otinguey is among the recipients of the 2021 PMCA for his “outstanding achievements in basic education and social work.” To help combat illiteracy in his community, DepEd said that Otinguey organized various youth and community development projects.
For instance, his “Book for the Barrios” project aims to provide books and other learning materials to create reading centers for primary and secondary schools in rural areas.
Otinguey, DepEd added, also started a donation drive campaign called “Share-a-Joy/Share Your Extras” for indigent communities.
DepEd said that Otinguey also initiated the “Wheels for Persons-With-Disabilities” which grants wheelchairs and pairs of crutches for handicapped indigents and conducted skills and livelihood trainings to promote self-reliance entrepreneurship, productivity, and income for the masses.
PH teachers are among the best
Since 2015, DepEd International Cooperation Office (ICO) Director Margarita Consolacion Ballesteros noted that the Philippines has had three recipients of the PMCA.
These recipients are William Moraca of General Santos City who became an awardee in 2015; Jesus Insalada of Iloilo City who was recognized in 2017; and Sadat Minandang of Cotabato City who received the award in 2019.
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.
Due to restrictions brought by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the 4th PMCA Awarding Ceremony will be held in a blended format - onsite and online - on October 29.
DepEd said that the onsite ceremony will be presided over by Sirindhorn in Bangkok, while the online format will be attended by the PMCA awardees at the Royal Thai Embassy in their respective countries.