FAMOUS or not, one has an unforgettable teacher in his lifetime. And what better way to celebrate them by remembering them on World Teachers Day.
Olivier and Tony Award-winning singer/actress Lea Salonga said: “I have two absolute favorite teachers: my first grade teacher, Mary Tabaquero, and my London singing teacher, Mary Hammond.”
Former actor and now Manila Mayor Isko Moreno said: “My favorite was Mrs. Laceste, my grade 2 teacher at Rosauro Almario Elementary School in Tondo. She gave me a first honor medal.”
Former Experimental Cinema of the Philippines (ECP) director-general and now Senator Imee Marcos cited her favorite teachers as her grandmother Josefa, her mother Imelda, Señorita Garcia at the Institucion Teresiana, Mother Milagros in the old Assumption Herran, theater icon Zenaida Amador, National Artist for film Lino Brocka and National Artist for Theater Rolando Tinio.
Oprah Winfrey, in one of her interviews has said, “I know I wouldn’t be where I am today without my fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Mary Duncan.”
Hong Kong superstar and “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” actor Chow Yun Fat in 2010 starred in a biopic film entitled “Confucius” on the life of the great ancient teacher and philosopher to pay tribute to the very people who have educated him.
To honor all the world’s teachers, young Filipino Chinese entrepreneurs of Anvil Business Club last Sept. 25 led multi-sectoral groups to hold the advance celebration of World Teachers Day (declared as Oct. 5 by UNESCO starting 1994) and Confucius’ 2,570th birth anniversary (which is September 28) at the Chinese Garden of Rizal Park, Manila.
Special guests at this event were led by Philippine National Police (PNP) National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director Major General Guillermo Eleazar, China Embassy diplomats led by Cultural Counsellor Tian Shanting, Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce & Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) President Dr. Henry Lim Bon Liong and First Vice-President Alex Yap Cho Ti, Philippine Public School Teachers Association (PPSTA) leaders, college professors, other educators, officers of diverse civic groups, etc. Anvil Business Club was led by chairman Wilson Lee Flores, president Patrick Cua, chairman emeritus George Siy, honorary chairman Reynold Siy, project heads Richmond Co and Sheryll Yu, and others.
The highlight of the celebration was the ancient ceremony of three bows by multi-sectoral groups before the granite Confucius monument (which was donated by Anvil Business Club in 2009 under then chairman Flores and president Eduardo Cobankiat, with support by then Tourism Secretary Ace Durano). Fresh rose flowers were then given by VIP guests and civic leaders to all the teachers and educators. Speeches eulogizing teachers and Confucius were delivered by Gen. Eleazar, Henry Lim, Patrick Cua, Counsellor Tian Shanting and instead of a speech, Flores recited his new Filipino-language poem.
