XAVIER ATENEO TEACHERS. Anito R Librando Jr (left) and Juanito R Oliveria II (right), both faculty members of the XU Junior High School's English Department, were chosen to be part of the Northern Mindanao delegation for YOUTeacH Philippines Boot Camp 2017. Supplied photo.
Two Xavier Ateneo Junior High School teachers were selected from applicants across the country to represent Region 10 and participate in the first National Young Teachers’ Boot Camp at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) in Laguna from January 7 to 13.
Anito R Librando Jr and Juanito R Oliveria II, both faculty members of the English Department, were chosen to be part of the Northern Mindanao delegation for YOUTeacH Philippines Boot Camp 2017. Librando served as mentor to the Region 10 delegates composed of Oliveria and three other young educators from the region.
Close to 80 participants were picked from almost 1,500 applicants.
Founded and led by young teacher and social mover Gian Erik Adao, YOUTeacH is a movement of young Filipino teachers committed to helping each other preserve ideals while pursuing dreams.
#YTBootCamp2017’s goal is to equip the participants with the necessary knowledge and skills, and provide them with tools that they can use in launching YOUTeacH in their respective regions.
The week-long gathering of teachers was packed with inspirational talks and workshops from Dreamagineer Prim Paypon of The Dream Project PH on the "The Art of Filipino Dreamagineering," Sabrina Ongkiko on addressing context, former DepEd assistant secretary Elvin Uy on the status and ongoing reforms of the Philippine Basic Education, teacher Carla Araniego of blissfulguro.com, Aurell Ross Angcos of Splice Business Solution, Lynrose Jane Genon of the Lake Lanao Project, Tisha Cruz of Alpabasa, Potie Guariña and Chat Pinalas of E-Net, and Gerson Abesamis on Design Thinking (project ideation).
All mentors and participants embarked on community visits and immersion activities in the relocation sites in Calauan, Laguna and they were also divided into groups for breakout sessions for possible partnerships with The Storytelling Project, Teach Peace Build Peace Movement, Silid Aralan, Youth for Human Rights Ad-rem, and I am Sam Foundation.
Each regional group was then given the opportunity to conceptualize regional projects and pitch their ideas to a panel with representatives from SM Foundation, UP-NCPAG and the US Embassy Manila. The group pitched for a project aptly named KatuTURO to help teachers of indigenous communities to come up with locally made learning materials.
The formal launching of YOUTeacH Philippines held on the last day of the boot camped was attended by DepEd Undersecretary Alain Pascua, USec Phillip Dy from the Office of the Vice President of the Philippines, and Carolyn Glassman of the US Embassy.
The national launch of YOUTeacH in the Philippines and the 1st National Young Teachers' Boot Camp were funded by the US Embassy in the Philippines through its Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund. ∎