Ma. Regaele A. Olarte has been teaching physics (Teacher I) at the Muntinlupa National High School for the last 11 years. What make her shine are her advocacies in and out of the classroom. In school, she champions invention-driven instruction, which encourages creative thinking and problem-solving skills among her students. A budding inventor, she has designed classroom equipment using readily available materials. Working with DepEd, Ms. Olarte has authored K to 12 learner’s modules and teachers’ guides for Grades 9 and 10 nationwide. She has also served as a writer for national achievements tests in Physics. Outside school, she actively participates in outreach programs of her church and works with the DENR and the Earth Day Network Philippines as focal person for their carbon footprint mitigation campaign.
Winona Y. Diola is a Grade 5 science teacher at the De La Salle Zobel School in Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa. In 2012, Ms. Diola spearheaded the adoption of Mobile Learning Devices as a learning tool in their school, mentoring other teachers in their use. As part of her class, she tasked her students to create landscape designs for the school garden and design prototype domes for endangered plant species. She also creates her own iTunes U Courses, which enable students and other teachers learn science in unconventional ways. She is very active in her school’s Project E.A.R.T.H. (Each Act of Recycling Today Helps).
Ms. Olarte and Ms. Diola are two of this year’s Metrobank Outstanding Teachers, composed of four (4) elementary, four (4) secondary and two (2) professors from the higher education level. They will be formally honored on September 5, 2016, the first week of National Teachers Month. The awardees will receive gold medallions, trophies and cash prize amounting to P500,000 each.
Aniceto Sobrepeña, president of Metrobank Foundation, said the annual award reflects the continuing commitment of the Metrobank group to improve the quality of Philippine education by recognizing excellence in the teaching profession.
The other 2016 awardees are:
Elementary Competition
Rujealyn R. Cancino – English/Science Teacher (Master Teacher II) at Lingayen I Central School – Ms. Cancino was recognized for creativity and innovation in engaging her students in the learning process. Ms. Cancino uses role-play to foster better understanding and application of science concepts in daily life.
She has coached her students in the National Schools Press Conference and advises the school paper. She has written poems and stories in Pangasinense which are included in teacher’s guides in Pangasinan.
Josephine Chonie M. Obseñares – Music teacher (Master Teacher 1) at the Butuan City SPED Center. Ms. Obseñares is gifted with the ability to stimulate interest among students, integrating dance, literature and culture in lesson plans. She has been tapped by the DepEd has chief trainer in Music at the national level to prepare teachers for implementation of the K to 12 program. Highly creative, she has written original compositions used by schools in events and as part of learning materials dissemminated by the regional DepEd.
Arnol M. Rosales – English teacher (Master Teacher I) at the Francisco Melgar Memorial School in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro. Recognizing that pupils learn at their own pace, he championed the adoption of balanced reading practices and provision of sufficiently challenging materials for reading. Mr. Rosales was also the proponent of Project BLISS (Banking Learning Items Systematically and Sufficiently). A theater afficionado, he has been the director and scriptwriter of several stage plays organized in the Municipality of Naujan.
Secondary Competition
Dr. Roy B. Basa – Biology teacher (Master Teacher I) at the Negros Occidental High School. By choice, Dr. Basa teaches at the school’s night class department to train students who work during the daytime as househelpers, welders, security guards, among others. He has helped his students find new jobs so they can continue going to school. Dr. Basa established the Ballpen at Iba Pa Foundation, which has provided scholarship grants and school supplies to deserving students across the countryside.
Nelson G. Agoyaoy – Araling Panlipunan teacher at the University of the East-Caloocan Elementary and High School Department. For five years, served as the school’s Prefect of Discipline, effecting change in student behavior and contributing to their growth as individuals. Inside the classroom, he uses innovative approaches to teaching social studies, helping his students better appreciate the importance of responsible citizenhip. Outside school, he is a model of volunteerism in blood donation drives, relief operations and environmental education.
Dr. Katherine Faith M. Bustos – English teacher (Master Teacher 1) at the Nueva Vizcaya General Comprehensive High School. Dr. Bustos is a champion of combining essential teaching skills with technology to better engage the 21st century learner. In line with this advocacy, she pioneered the development of the NVGCHS English Online Facebook page which promotes continued academic discussion online, resulting in better performance of her students. DepED has tapped her as trainer for its Computerization Program.
Higher Education
Ernelea P. Cao, Ph.D. – Biology Professor (Professor 12) at the University of the Philippines, Diliman. Currently Director of the Institute of Biology at UP Diliman, Dr. Cao aims to train the country’s next brightest scientists using innovative techniques. One of her innovations is implementing the use of Filipino in teaching biology , thus enabling students to better understand and appreciate the topics. Outside the campus, she lectures to farmers in the countryside and trains teachers in seminars organized by national professional societies and organizations.
Mark Anthony J. Torres, Ph.D. – Biology (Genetics, Evolution) Associate Professor V, Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology. A biologist by training, Dr. Torres has designed effective pest management systems that benefitted farmers. A prolific researcher, he has mentored students and faculty on research methods, enabling them to publish their findings in reputable scientific journals and to win in local and national research competitions.
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