MANILA, Philippines - People often hear celebrities talk about their career and love life but last Oct. 28 at PLDT Gabay Guro’s Grand Gathering For Teachers held at SM MOA Arena, Cesar Montano, Robin Padilla, Gary Valenciano and Derek Ramsay revealed why teachers mean more to them than just attending their classes years ago.
Cesar got the ball rolling by “confessing” that his first girlfriend was a teacher. “Gabi-gabi ko siyang iniyakan…basang basa ang unan,” he recalled of his first heartbreak, drawing cheers from the audience composed of teachers from all over the country. He then performed uplifting songs like Panahon Na Naman, How Great Is Our God and his own composition, Pilipinas, Bumangon Ka.
Robin reminded teachers that he knows exactly the things they go through since he, himself, owns a school, the Paaralan ng Liwanag ng Kapayapaan Foundation (PLKF). After rendering his version of Orient Pearl’s Pagsubok, the action star lauded the teachers on how they put their lives on the line every time they guard people’s votes during elections. “Ako po ay tagahanga n’yo,” Robin said.
Gary talked about the time a teacher went the extra mile help him attain a certain grade that he needed in one of his subjects in school. The singer noted that though teachers are not appreciated enough, they “plant good seeds on good soil that produces good fruit.” He had the teachers dancing and singing along to La Bamba, Just The Way You Are, Smooth and the theme from Walang Hanggan.
Derek, who came to help raffle off some prizes such as laptops, LED TV and mobile phones declared that his mother was a former teacher.
Aga Muhlach, Wally Bayola, Jose Manalo, Princess Velasco and the EB Babes also graced the event.
The grand prize raffled off by Villar Foundation managing director Cynthia Villar and Gabay Guro chair Chaye Cabal-Revilla was a Camella house and lot won by Sarah Jane Gabat, a Grade 2 teacher of Comembo Elementary School, Makati City.
Chaye and Cavite Rep. Lani Mercado feted the Guro Ko, Idol Ko honoree, Weng Alcala, who teaches with passion despite living inside a classroom with his kids after circumstances forced them out of their home.
The PLDT Gabay Guro program started five years ago. It offers scholarships to future teachers and conducts training programs that have benefited some 12,000 teachers to date.
PLDT Gabay Guro also provides teachers with livelihood and housing options, installs broadband connection and computers at schools, and improves educational facilities, among others.