TEACHING IN TIMES OF PANDEMIC

The Covid-19 has become a global pandemic that has infected a lot of people worldwide
to reduce its spread, countries around the world implemented policies to restrict people’s
activities to reduce their chances of contact and one of this policy have been applied is school
closures. As a result, education has changed dramatically from traditional to technological, with
the rise of blended learning wherein teaching is undertaken remotely on digital platforms and
along with modular. With the sudden shift away from the classroom, all of us wondering how
such shift would impact the learning of the students. Since pandemic struck the world, there
have been a wide array hero. There is one group of people who played a critical role in
maintaining some semblance of stability during this pandemic, it was our teachers. Filipino
teachers have been working harder than ever to conduct their jobs in a completely new set-up
environment that has pushed them to adapt and overcome some barriers. In times of dread, of
fear and danger they have faced and challenged obstacles but their loyalty and love of duty
prevailed.
In today’s celebration with the theme “Gurong Filipino: Katuwang sa Hamon, Kasama sa
Pagbangon”, we witnessed how Filipino teachers put their heart to continue educating their
students. Amidst what we are experiencing, their dedication on their profession shows that they
are with us in any battles and continue to rise up. Teachers work hard throughout the year to
nurture learners well and they put in all their efforts into making sure that their students are
learning. From traditional to technological recognizes Filipino teachers for their relentless hard
work and dedication to makes learning continuity possible. Since we have limited physical
interaction there’s no way to hinder the drive and unyielding commitment of the Filipino
teachers to provide educational responses to ensure student’s learning access to quality
education. Despite the challenges in a new normal, countless teachers remain passionate about
providing quality education to the students to make sure to adapt the new normal in education.
They are truly inspiration from their commitment and passion on their vocation despite the
circumstances. Filipino teachers are willing to sacrifice for their students and it shows today.
Teaching is a calling and all they need to do is to fulfill their mission. The willingness to fulfill
their mission is to invest in the future, that’s why no matter how far their students it is they will
go for them to give access quality education. Teachers are pandemic heroes, a frontliners, they
continually making decisions on how they could able to provide a best learning experience in a
new environment among their students that even we are in a new normal they are still learning
and show it out their potentials. Just like students, teachers also struggling as they have to shift
their way of teaching but because of unwavering dedication they embrace and adapt to continue
their profession and give service to the Filipino people. The teachers may spend a lot of time in
working with students so that they can simply access the digital classrooms and help them to
grow. Filipino teachers are working hard to fill the learning gaps that has brought by the
pandemic and to ensure that they will provide the social-emotional needs and safety concerns for
students. Being our second parent and a guardian, teachers plays an important role in the world.
Since, we now facing the pandemic it is hard to pursue the quality education that we need. Thus,
teachers seeking for silver linings to grant the students the education that they deserve. It may be
hard because of the changes that the pandemic had brought us. But despite all of this, teachers
doing their best to support students to help enhance their skills and attributes even if they are not
teaching personally. Lesson plans, visual aids and any other materials, educators show their
motivation that even we are taking classes online, they are up to the challenge to recover and
justify the quality of education. The sudden shift to distance learning is not an easy task,
especially for students and teachers who have to adapt and adjust both mentally and financially
for it. Even if the shift to distance learning is difficult for them, they choose to do this because
the future of the youth depends on education, and they want to be a part of their growth.
In this current crisis, Filipino teachers shown that they have done a lot their great
leadership and innovation in ensuring that learning never stops, that no student will left behind.
Teachers are adjusting and find new ways to teach for us to make feel safe and valued. Even the
world battling the foremost challenging time Covid-19 which dramatically changed the
educational learning, Filipino teachers have fought against in reinventing themselves to keep up
with the most challenging times. The challenges continue but their dedication on their profession
will not incomparable by anything and anyone because their mission is to help the learners to
learn and show their potentials. Educators guide their learners and parents through the strange
world of online classes. The most valuable resource that each one teachers have is one another
because each collaboration help us broaden our perspective. The efforts really need to be
appreciated and this day is one of memorable days of our teachers to be rewarded in all of their
sacrifices in teaching us not academically but also in molding us to be a better person. We cannot
return the knowledge that we have gained from our teachers, no one can return the selfless
services and unconditional efforts to help and guide us students but we certainly can pay our
gratitude to them by celebrating teacher’s day. Indeed, in the challenge of pandemic, Filipino
teachers are our partners who have remained true to their duties. In the midst of our fight against
the system they are forced to save just only for education to continue its advance. The teachers
struggle indeed an inspiration as they choose to rise together for the future.