The
Provincial Government of Albay, in partnership with Bicol University and the
Department of Education, held the culminating activity for Gawad Albay sa
Edukasyon through the awards ceremonies held December 23 at the Albay
Astrodome. Efren Peñaflorida Jr., 2009 CNN Hero of the Year, was Guest of Honor.
Gawad Albay sa Edukasyon is a province-wide Performance Award system which identifies principals, teachers, and students who excel in their chosen field based on given standards. This project was introduced by the Provincial Government of Albay through Education Quality for Albayanos (EQUAL) in 2008, with the aim of improving performance in the education sector. It is meant as a motivating factor as well as a way of recognizing outstanding achievements among students and educators alike.
The
awards has four categories, namely: “Students Excellence Award for Leadership”
(SEAL); “Ten Outstanding Teachers of Albay” (TOTAL); “Three Outstanding
Principals in the Countryside of Albay” (TROPICAL); and “LGUs’ Best Practices in
Education” (Kadunong). Awardees are chosen after a series of evaluations by
both local and national education experts. After the submission of application
forms, candidates are subjected to teaching demonstrations, interviews, and
other such competitive activities through which the selection of finalists and
the final judging are done. This year, selection took about five months, from
the submission of applications in August, until the actual awarding of winners
this December.
Awardees
for this year’s SEAL are the following:
Francis Gerard O. Toscano, Alegria Roser N. Nebres, Noreen B. Marquez, Angela
Camille Amurao, Jane Monette Vargas, Kate Samaniego, Jacqueline T. Diaz, Rhoda
Peñafiel, Mikee Joan Samson, and Joel Sabio.
TOTAL Awardees are the following: Ronaldo C. Reyes, Donna S. Riñon, Cynthia F. Balaguer, Emelyn P. Hernandez, Anne Marie Antoinette R. Almayda, Joselyn H. Sampal, Ofelia B. Fitzgibbon, Edwin B. Barrios, Evelyn A. Balestamon, and Ma. Leilani R. Lorico.
Albay’s Three Outstanding Principals are Nicolas M. Revale, Carmelita A. Sinson, and Osias S. Monforte.
Finally,
Kadunong Awardees are: the Municipality
of Bacacay, under the leadership of Mayor Gloria B. Berango, as
Qualifier; the cities of Legazpi, Ligao
and Tabaco, and the Municipality of Tiwi, with respective Mayors Noel E. Rosal,
Linda P. Gonzalez, Krisel L. Luistro, and Jaime C. Villanueva, as
Outstanding LGUs with Best Practices in
Education; and the Municipality of Libon under Mayor Agnes P. Dycoco, as
Most Outstanding LGU with Best Practices in
Education.
Each awardee received a certificate, medal, trophy, and cheque, presented by officials of the Provincial Government of Albay, the Department of Education, Bicol University, and other major private sponsors. Cash prizes, presented by Albay Governor Joey Salceda, BU President Fay Lea Patria M. Lauraya, and Albay Provincial Treasurer Pedro E. Ibasco, were as follows: Php20,000 each for the SEAL winners; Php100,000 each for the TOTAL winners; Php100,000 each for the TROPICAL winners; and Php200,000 for the Kadunong winner. (Ma. Celina G. Meneses/OP)
