The Challenge to the Millennial Teachers (Response of the 2012 Graduates)

            To the honorable guest speaker, Mayor Isaias B. Ubana II of Lopez, Quezon, Dr. Ester B. Ogena - the President of the Philippine Normal University System, distinguished guests, Prof. Edgardo S. Villasenor - the Executive Director of Quezon Campus, members of the academe, parents of the graduating class, young teachers, academicians, ladies and gentlemen… a greetings of good evening.

            Forty two years ago, a wise man has seen a scenario of the present day. “In the three short decades between now and the twenty-first century, millions of ordinary, psychologically normal people will face an abrupt collision with  the  future. Citizens of the world's richest and most technologically advanced nations, many of them will find it increasingly painful to keep up with the incessant demand for change that characterizes our time.” (Alvin Toffler, 1970) These changes over time that happen at a rate beyond expected - changes that bring challenges to each who happens to meet it on his way. What challenges will be is not the question but how ready are we to address it.

            Let’s try to look where we are now. Almost three years ago, PNU was designated as the National Center for Teacher Education by virtue of Republic Act No. 9647 otherwise known as the PNU Modernization Act of 2009 - a clear proof that our alma mater has shown excellence in teacher education and educational leadership hitherto. Along with the designation are the responsibilities that the institution should take into account. In this part of the country, the challenge of serving as a center of excellence that provides quality education, competent teachers, community-based researches, and up to date teaching strategies in the Regions IV–A and V is imperative. And in light of the recent events, it is a challenge for the institution to stand on the proposal of amalgamating state universities and colleges (SUCs). As well-performing institution for higher learning nationally and internationally, PNU should prove that we do not belong inside the bracket of low-performing SUCs that will be amalgamated.

Out there is the real world. The challenge of being employed awaits the graduates. The question is not “Will I be employed?” but rather “What rank will I be in?” We took this bachelors degree in teacher education, we will be TEACHERS in the field of education. Most especially in the present days that the demand for teachers is urgent. The statistics shows that about 1.9 million teachers are needed to attain Education for All especially in the Sub-Saharan Region. Putting it locally, about 103 599 teachers are needed to facilitate the new curriculum we will be having – the Enhanced K to 12. Should you take note, that number doesn’t mean that we will be answering the problems deeply rooted in the system. It has to do with the quality of teacher who possesses the competences and skills in order to diminish, mitigate, or if possible end the menace hampering the society in achieving its goals. Plus the consideration that we will not only be teaching ordinary students, but “The Millennials” (Howe and Strauss, 2000), the Generation X, or the “digital natives,” who are capable of manipulating digital media and deals with peer-to-peer communication and knowledge management but easily lost their attention span and have a habit of multi-tasking.

The Philippines is still off-track in more than 40 percent of the 21 indicators of the Millennium Development Goals or the MDGs, according to a tripartite report made by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). A critical look at goals reveals that they are mutually inter-related in the sense that will greatly lead to the realization it – through access to QUALITY EDUCATION.The challenge is to go on track to concentrate on the amount of change in the global community vis-à-vis the interest of the Filipinos. Moreover, the challenge for every teacher is how we can transform these recommendations into actions through the implementation of effective policies, programs and projects in our classrooms to make a positive impact on our people especially to our pupils that are poor. Although some progress was made in the past twelve years since we committed to achieve the MDGs, we need to do more. With only three remaining years to go, our task is to double our efforts in instituting change – to meet and keep the 2015 promise.

Cognizant of what awaits us, millennial teachers, how are we going to address the challenges of the 21^st Century?

Indeed, we are lucky that we belong to the 14% of students who finished taking up college out of 100 pupils who enrolled in Grade 1 (Licuanan, 2011). Let us not waste the four years of perseverance and effort of our mentors in shaping us as to the mission and vision of the school. Let us prove how EMPOWERED we are. If 176 graduates received their diploma this night, 176 passers will be posted in the LET 2012. And if 176 passers were official licensed, 176 teachers will be producing productive, values-oriented, nationalistic, and God-fearing citizens of this country.

Let us bring it back to our alma mater, the Philippine Normal University, who geared us with knowledge and expertise. To our dear president, Dr. Ester B. Ogena, we thank you for giving us all the possible opportunities for learning through your leadership. Through Prof. Edgardo S. Villasenor, we would like to show how grateful we are to the school that served as our light. Forever we will remember how the school played a big part in our teacher hood.

Sa aming mga magulang na hindi bumitaw bagkos ay patuloy na nakibakang kasama namin sa pagtuklas ng karunungan, kayo po ang nararapat na tumanggap ng aming diploma’t medalya. Kayo rin po ang mas higit na nararapat na hangaan sa gabing ito sa pagbibigay ninyo sa inyo mga anak upang magsibi sa bayan bilang mga guro. Salamat po dahil hinayan ninyong maging bahagi kami para sa pagbabago. Maging patuloy po sana kayong bahagi ng pagbabago sa pamamagitan ng pagsuporta sa profesyong pagkaguro. At huwag po sana kayong mag-alinlangang simulan ito dito sa Pamantasang Normal ng Pilipinas.

To all the people behind our success tonight;

To the Municipality of Lopez which serves as our cabbage leaf, reference to the story of Mayor Sonny Ubana during the Torch Ceremony - our warmest gratitude for serving as our cabbage leaf that nurtured and provided us whatever we need in supporting our development for us to spread our wings and fly like a strong and proud butterfly. We still look forward to more butterflies from this cabbage leaf but in particular we look forward to wider cabbage leaf, or should I say, wider lot that will care for more little green caterpillars.

To our benefactors who willingly shared their assistance through scholarship grants, please accept our warm thanks and appreciation. We promise commitment to our work as our little way of giving back what you did for us.

But most of all, to God – our great Teacher. Thank you for strengthening our thrust, guiding our path and making us sees the Truth.

To this end, let us live by the challenge that Jesus gave us as His disciplines – to love one another. Let us do what we are ought to do; share a part in making this world a haven of peace. As teachers, the great challenge of educating young minds lies in our hands. Let us carry the blazing torch that will put them out of ignorance. Let us keep the torch of excellence burning for a better world to live in!

Mabuhay ang Pamantasang Normal ng Pilipinas!

Mabuhay ang bayan ng Lopez!

Mabuhay ang mga bagong gurong Filipino!