Our unnoticed heroes

From September 5 to October 5, World Teachers Day is being celebrated almost globally and October 5 will be their special day, a day in which they are attributed, seen, noticed and given gratitude. President Benigno Aquino III declared the period from September 5 to October 5 of every year as National Teachers' Month in the Philippines. By virtue of Proclamation 242, the president highlighted the urge to spread the awareness and support for the World Teachers' Day in the Philippines.

The proclamation was signed on August 24, 2011 by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr.

It is all to honor more than 500,000 teachers nationwide, we Filipinos adapt to this celebration due to the proclamation but less likely to notice the core agenda of this event. I am a college student who noticed our unnoticed heroes and I would like to share what I've noticed.

Since Nursery we depended on our teachers, we let them teach us everything cause we have that trust to rely and follow their teachings. Elementary comes to High School and then to College, soon we will have careers of our own. Every step seems fast and mostly we think only of our own efforts, leaving those keys of success being unnoticed. Our teachers are the reason we have achieved far. Every success is their success and every achievement is their achievement.

All professionals had a teacher, a teacher who lends an ear, time, and gives all knowledge to help, teach and guide. They connect students to families, build the community and to the extent of leading the nation's future. "My teacher, My Hero" - a slogan spread worldwide for the teachers, and I am glad to shout it to the whole world. To let the whole world know and be reminded that if not for these heroes who took time in educating people no one would reach where they are.

Our teachers have done much for us, especially those public school teachers who handle 50-plus students and work for more than eight hours due to lots of paperwork. They wore out all their ideas, knowledge and all means of creativity to fulfill their jobs, a job full of dedication. They work hard, much harder but are these heroes given enough for what they do?

"Public school teachers are looked upon and heralded as molders of our youth and prime movers of the education system. Yet, they are among the most underpaid professionals in the country," Trillanes said. And it is because our country's more than 500,000 public school teachers are currently paid P18,549 to P35,567 a month which is a way lower compared to a Human Resource personnel with a salary starting from P36,402 and up.

There is a wide gap between wages intended for the teachers and other professionals. I wonder why the government has not seen this dilemma or they have seen yet don't mind. We say we support teachers' day, we give importance to them but why are we not aware of their crisis? Is teachers' day just going to be an ordinary day? For me it's the time to be heard, the time for teachers to be given what they deserve and the time to be rewarded.

This Teachers' Day, I hope each would do something for their teacher, help them, let them be heard, be special and most of all be awarded for being OUR HERO.