World’s Teacher Day Observed today

To celebrate the essential role of teachers in providing quality education at all levels and enable children and adults of all ages to take part in and contribute to their local community and global society, World Teachers’ Day is observed every year on October 5.

The date commemorates the signing in 1966 of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization/International Labor Organization Recommendation Concerning the Status of Teachers. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Teachers for Gender Equality.”

A variety of events will take place around the globe, including programs to honor teachers in general or those who have made a special contribution to particular institution or community; conferences emphasizing the important role that teachers play in lifelong learning; special training/continuing education sessions for teachers; campaigns to promote the teaching profession and vocation to university students and other suitably qualified professionals; and events to increase the profile of teachers and the role they play in media.

In the Philippines, a month-long campaign culminating in today’s World Teachers’ Day was launched on September 4, 2011 with the theme “My Teacher, My Hero” to highlight the unique role, service, and commitment which teachers play in guiding families, strengthening communities, and building the nation.

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT)-Philippines will lead a nationwide campaign to convince our country’s decision and policy makers to improve the economic condition of public school teachers.

Synergeia Foundation organized a community walk and arts and crafts program on October 1, 2011 to honor teachers. In schools nationwide, teachers will be presented with orchid corsages, thank-you cards, and other tokens of appreciation.

As we celebrate World Teachers’ Day, let us make time to express our gratitude to our teachers nationwide who, for love of our youth and our country, have espoused their noble professions. Next to our parents, it is our teachers who helped and guided us to enable us to make something of our lives.

If there is anything that will offer our teachers’ genuine fulfillment, it is to see their former students as successful young professionals, embodying the values and principles they have instilled in them, and selflessly serving their community, country, and fellow Filipinos. MABUHAY!

Editorial

 

Government underscores use of ‘Juan time’ in effecting change for the better

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio “Sonny” B. Coloma Jr. underscored the importance of material time in pursuing the Aquino government’s thrusts to effect change that will benefit the Filipinos and the country as part of its social contract with the citizenry.

In his brief message during the launching ceremonies of “Juan Time, the New Filipino Time”at the Music Hall of SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City, Friday, Coloma stressed the need to maximize every second of time in pursuing reformative steps as he urged the Filipino people to observe the new Philippine Standard Time (PST), which is always punctual in consideration of the interest of others.“Bawat buwan, bawat linggo, bawat oras, bawat minuto, bawat saglit ay mahalaga…. Kaya dapat po ay nasa oras tayo palagi… dapat alalahanin natin yung ‘Juan time, the New Filipino Time’ ang magiging Philippine Standard Time at ito ay oras ng pagbabago,” Coloma said.He also cited the government’s all out efforts to effect reforms in the country within President Aquino’s six year term of office. He encouraged the people to let go of the habit of being late.“Sa akin pong palagay ang pinakamahalagang oras ngayon na dapat nating isa-isip, isa-puso at isa-diwa ay ito: ngayon po ay oras ng pagbabago… kailangan po na magbago ang ating pananaw hinggil sa oras. Kaya po pinaaalala ko sa aking sarili, labin-limang buwan na po ang lumipas, limampu’t pitong buwan na lamang ang nalalabi sa pamahalaan ni Pangulong Noynoy Aquino para tuparin ang mga pangako sa Bayang Pilipinas, apat na taon na lamang at siyam na buwan ang nalalabi,” Coloma said.

Also present during the event were other government officials led by Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Spearheaded by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in cooperation with several partners in the government and the private sector, the event aims to sync all time pieces in the country’s more than 7,100 islands to promote the nationwide use of PST, the new Philippine Standard Time.

The campaign theme “Juan Time” comes from a word play on “One Time” – with “Juan” referring to the common name for Filipinos.

DOST Secretary Mario Montejo highlighted the importance of time as a resource but often overlooked. He said that “Juan Time” also reminds people that keeping to the PST avoid the difficulties of having confusing, unsynchronized time.

Established decades ago, the PST is set by the DOST’s Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the country’s official timekeeper since 1978 as mandated by Section 6 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 8.

The Philippine Standard Time is set through DOST-PAGASA’s timing system that consists of a rubidium atomic clock, Global Positioning System receiver, time interval counter, distribution amplifier, and a computer.

The system automatically calculates its time difference with every satellite within its antenna’s field of view.

The Philippine Standard Time is available online at the DOST-PAGASA website: http://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph.