There is a special person in every person’s life who goes by the name of “teacher.” Some met that special person in nursery school, most in elementary and high school, others in college. The memory of a special teacher comes around when there is a need to provide a solution to a problem, like a mathematical equation, to identify a famous leader’s quote, or to compose a letter to apply for employment. Or, when a situation that needs kindness appears. Or, when an honesty issue comes up in the course of work. Lessons learned from teachers become part of a person long after graduation, and all throughout life. For teachers have taught us not only how to read and write, but also how to think. Teachers are God’s gift to make sure that the human race continues. For without them, the next generation will not have better thinkers, better problem solvers, better skilled workers, better artists, and better persons. Teachers have chosen not just a career but a vocation to educate the young, even the reluctant students. This special group of people has a strict qualification. Only persons who are endowed with deep concern and deeper patience can become good at it. When the pandemic shifted learning to blended and online lessons, they learned a new skill to handle new technology, even absorbing the expenses that came with it. Nothing less than that dedication can make one last in a job that is not defined by office hours. Online or face-to-face classes of the pre-pandemic days, they would spend time to “fix” a problem student, working past school hours to“iron out” a bad attitude. And at the end of classroom sessions, they give up personal time to check test papers, and prepare for the next day’s lessons. This is the month we set to honor and pay tribute to teachers and their vital role in society. In the Philippines, Presidential Proclamation No. 242, series of 2011 declared Sept. 5 to Oct. 5 of every year as National Teachers Month. The month-long celebration will be capped by the observance of World Teachers Day on Oct. 5, a date designated by UNESCO. This year’s celebration is focused on the theme: “Gurong Pilipino, dangal ng sambayanang Pilipino (Filipino teachers, pride of the nation)." Before the pandemic, students in school were asked to write letters of appreciation to their teachers as an activity during National Teachers Month. Today, it may be a good time for parents to write letters to the teachers of their children, to tell them of their appreciation for their dedication. Millions of parents now know what that dedication entails. For almost three years when they took over the role of teachers to supervise their children’s online classes at home, they have seen the significant role teachers play in our society. We are blessed to have people who have chosen to inspire the future generations to make the world a better place. “Our teachers are partners of the government in molding our Filipino youth to enable them to reach their dreams in life, as well as to become professionals and productive members of the community, who will lead our country to a future that every Filipino dreams of,” Vice President and Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sara Dutere said in Filipino in a message during the kick-off program of National Teachers Month last Sept. 5.