NTM 2023: Duterte pays tribute to 'extraordinary' resilience of Filipino teachers
"Malaki po ang respeto ko sa inyo (I have great respect for you)."
This is the central message of Vice President and Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary to Filipino educators as she led the National Teacher's Month (NTM) kick-off in Bohol on Tuesday, Sept. 5.

"I stand before you today as we gather to begin National Teacher's Month, feeling incredibly humbled and encouraged by the personal encounters that have shaped my respect for teachers," Duterte told teachers who attended the program at the Bohol Wisdom School Gymnasium in Tagbilaran City.
Duterte, who comes from a family of educators, paid tribute to Filipino teachers who built the foundation of who she is as a Filipino in "many ways."
The NTM celebration, which starts on Sept. 5, will culminate on Oct. 5, which is also the celebration of National Teachers' Day (NTD) in the Philippines and World Teachers' Day (WTD) across the globe.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2023/9/3/dep-ed-to-kick-off-2023-nat-l-teachers-month-celebration-on-sept-5
Teachers as the bedrock of society
As the country starts this month-long celebration, Duterte shared her profound respect for teachers.
"I am humbled standing before your presence as I also stand with pride that I am tasked to lead Filipino professionals who are considered the bedrock of any society," she said.
While the entire month serves as a reminder of teachers' significance in the lives of every Filipino and the future of the country, Duterte assured teachers that the "nation's gratitude and profound appreciation for our educators do not end on the last day of September."
Duterte noted that the Philippines has thrived not just because of its resources but also because of individuals who have nurtured its most precious resource — the Filipino youth.
"Our nation owes an immense debt to its educators," Duterte told the teachers. "Your resilience, especially in these challenging times, is extraordinary," she added.