Maraming, maraming salamat sa ating Kalihim ng DepEd, Secretary Sonny Angara. [Please, magsiupo po tayo.]

Babatiin ko lang ang ating mga hosts. Ang ating Lone District Representative ng Pasay City Congressman Antonino Calixto at ‘yung iba’t ibang mga miyembro ng House of Representatives na nandito; ang Chairman of the Metro Manila League of Mayors, San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora; and our often, perpetual host Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano of Pasay City.

At palagay ko ‘yung program ninyo nagkakamali dahil nakalagay doon ako ang guest of honor. Hindi po ako ang guest of honor dito. Ang guest of honor dito kayong mga guro na nagsasakripisyo araw-araw [applause] at kayo na tinitiyak na ang kinabukasan hindi lamang ng ating mga kabataan kundi ang ating bansa, ay magiging mas maliwanag, mas maganda sa darating ng panahon. Ang ating mga hardworking teachers from Regions I, II, III, IV, V, and CAR, na nandito ngayon National Teachers’ Day. Happy National Teachers’ Day to you all! [applause]

Our partners in the private sector; other distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen.

Good day to you all!

In every classroom across the Philippines—from the busiest city to the farthest, most isolated barrio—teachers impart far more than just knowledge. You shape lives. You mold values. And in return, you learn patience, courage, and hope from the very children that you guide.

The truth is not distant to me. My wife, First Lady Liza, has been teaching in law school for more than two decades now. My own mother—before she even finished college—was already spending her time as a high school teacher when she was still in Tacloban.

And also, my grandmother, Doña Josefa Edralin Marcos, also devoted herself to the classroom, guiding young minds with the same grace, compassion, and I will add, strikto rin kagaya kayong mga guro, mga maestra, strikto rin ‘yung lola ko, but we… That kind, that kind of determination to make our children better, make them well-trained, that now is a quality that is imparted to all our teachers and to which we are very, very respectful, grateful, and appreciative.

Because from these experiences, one lesson is clear: Teaching is a partnership—between teachers and learners, between generations, between those who dream and those who make dreams possible. And it is in this collaboration that the strength of our nation is built.

Today, as we celebrate National Teachers’ Day for 2025, we honor not just what you have given, but also what you have gained: the wisdom that comes from walking hand-in-hand with the young people of our country who will one day carry the nation forward.

To recognize such service, we launched the Department of Education (DepEd) Heroes—to honor teachers, parents, and education partners who have transformed the lives of our students.

Halimbawa, si Teacher Marivic Villacampa ng Bulihan Integrated National High School ng Cavite. [applause] Sa kabila ng kanyang laban kontra sa cancer, araw-araw pa rin siyang pumapasok sa eskwela upang gabayan ang kanyang mga mag-aaral tungo sa tamang landas. [applause]

Gayundin, si Teacher Mary Jane Reodica ng Laguna. Sa kanyang inilunsad na Luisiana Alternative Livelihood and Advancement Project, nagsasagawa siya ng trainings sa baking, meat processing, paghahabi ng pandan, paggawa ng kandila, computer literacy, at iba pang maaaring mga kabuhayan.

Saan ba ‘yung ating mga Teacher Heroes? Where are they? Maraming, maraming salamat po. [applause]

Their stories are just two examples of the heroism that is alive in our schools all over the country. It reminds us that the true measure of a nation’s growth is found in the grit, the passion, and dedication of you – our teachers.

Yet, we know that inspiration must be matched with action. Teachers can only fulfill their calling if the government fully supports their teachers.

That is why we signed the Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act, granting a tax-free teaching allowance for public school teachers. [applause] This year, every teacher has already received P10,000 to help cover classroom needs.

We also issued DepEd Order No. 005 to ensure fair teaching loads. We cannot impose. We cannot overload our teachers if they are to do the best job possible. And that is why if now – if you exceed six hours of classroom instruction in a day, you will be compensated accordingly. [applause]

And today, on World Teachers’ Day, we also provide a P1,000 incentive for every public school teacher [applause] — a little reminder man lang, kaunti lang paalala that we recognize your efforts and your sacrifices and they have not gone unrecognized.

But beyond allowances, we have also partnered with Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to launch the e-Learning Academy on personal finance and economics, empowering teachers to become financially literate citizens.

We have also reduced the paperwork of our teachers by 57 percent. From dozens of forms, only five remain that teachers must regularly accomplish—so you can focus less on bureaucracy, and more on what you do best: teaching.

And through Republic Act No. 12288 or the Career Progression System for Public School Teachers and School Leaders Act, we opened wider and clearer career pathways for our teachers.

Simple lang ang ibig sabihin nito, wala ng public school teacher na magre-retire na Teacher I. [applause] Hindi na natin papayagan na mangyari ulit ‘yun.

This is about recognizing the years of service that you have given, and ensuring that your journey as an educator is filled with dignity, with respect, and with growth.

This Administration is also preparing and investing for the long term. The Senate and Congress have already proposed the 2026 budget for DepEd. Meanwhile, we have allocated P26.55 billion for DepEd programs from the funds of the flood control projects, which we have deemed not to be viable. [applause]

These funds will be directed to increase funding for classrooms, child nutrition, teacher compensation, and technology in schools.

Because we believe that education is the best, the best investment that any nation can make in its people.

Kaya sa DepEd at sa iba pa nating mga ahensiya: Ipapatupad ang mga repormang tunay na aabot sa malalayong komunidad, magpapabuti sa kalidad ng pagtuturo, at maghahanda sa ating mga estudyante para sa mundong mabilis na nagbabago.

At sa ating mga guro: Ang tunay na tagumpay ng edukasyon ay hindi lamang sa talino ng ating mga kabataan, kundi pati sa kanilang kabutihan at paninindigan. Dahil ang katalinuhan na walang integridad ay walang saysay; ngunit ang kabutihan at karunungan—iyan ang magtataguyod ng ating Bagong Pilipinas.

Ladies and gentlemen, you here are the guiding hands and in your hands our nation’s progress is held. In your strength, in your wisdom, and in your courage, we find the assurance that our future is secure.

On this National Teachers’ Day, we offer you our respect, our deepest gratitude for shaping minds, touching hearts, and in your way building a nation that we can be proud of one student at a time.

Today is your day to all our teachers, but the future you are creating, you give as a gift to us all.

Maraming salamat po. Mabuhay ang ating mga guro!

Muli, magandang araw po sa inyong lahat!

Happy National Teachers’ Day! [applause]

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