The Many Faces of the Teacher is an advocacy campaign aimed to extol the virtues of teaching by providing
role models who can inspire excellence. It recognizes leaders in the teaching profession as examples of
true heroes who can be a source of inspiration and knowledge for their fellow teachers and students.
It recognizes Filipino teachers who play a significant role in the life of a student, nurture and mold the
character of future leaders and heroes, hence, becoming a force that shapes this nation. It upholds
the leaders who happen to be teachers, an inspiration to many not only with their achievements but in
the way they live their lives and dedicate themselves to the vocation.
Bato Balani Foundation believes that by discovering these noble educators and honoring them, it will
make every Filipino aware of the sublime nature and valuable contribution of the teacher to society
thereby encouraging every Filipino mentor to achieve excellence in teaching.
Nobility of the Teacher (2003-2004)
Generations of Filipinos past have stereotyped her look. She is described as a wide-bespectacled
spinster wearing an old-fashioned dress with a long skirt. Her hair is tied in a bun and a smirk forever
etched in her face. She holds a tick in her hand powdered with chalk dust and her voice slays a snarl.
That is the painting of a teacher in their minds. Overworked. Underpaid. Unappreciated.
But she takes it in graceful strides. Her chin is always held high as she enters the classroom and a
smile bursts like a ray of sunlight when her students greet her, "Good morning, teacher." For she knows
the tremendous calling in the hands. In her palm are the characters, the hearts and the minds of the
country's tomorrow. She is the future maker.
The country has always looked up to doctors, architects, bankers, businessmen, engineers, lawyers and
many others. But before these people came to be, they all passed through the delicate and gentle care
of "Ma'am, Miss, Teacher, Sir, Professor." Without them, this great nation is sewn with fragile thread
of ignorance that leads to untold disaster. To teacher's work, Bato Balani Foundation Inc and Diwa
Learning Systems Inc give their thanks. BBFI and Diwa pay tribute to the professors of all profession.
In a series of print ads i major newspapers, BBFI and Diwa have likened the teacher's work with
equal magnanimity as those of other vocations, if not more. They believe it is but proper to bestow honor
to the country's teachers not only through swards which only a few people would know but to imprint
their sacrifice and achievements in our lives, into the national consciousness. Gratitude is an important
virtue our teachers taught us. BBFI and Diwa is just returning the favor.
The print ads compared the teacher to an architect who builds our characters, a heart specialist who cares
for our emotions and a brain surgeon who molds our minds with precision. Of course, they can also be
like bankers who guard the country's treasures, which is the youth, or like businessmen who invest their
lives for their students' profit. But whatever occupation you might compare them to, the truth is,
the teacher's job is a most noble pursuit. Generations past have always stereotyped the teachers. But even
so, please keep in your mind that the bun in her hair is a royal crown, the stick in her hand is
golden scepter and the train of eager students following her is a long flowing cape. she is nobility
personified and when her majesty enters the classroom, remember to always take a bow. Our teachers deserve
the honor.
