Following the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to take care of the education sector, the Department of Education (DepEd) launched a national recognition program to honor education heroes.
DepEd Heroes aims to celebrate teachers, parents, and education partners whose courage and service have truly changed lives in and out of the classroom.
On it’s first awarding ceremony, DepEd presented the award to Ma. Lourdes Rola, Master Teacher II of Caloocan High School, and Dea Gavas Solayao, a parent-volunteer from Maybancal Elementary School in Morong, Rizal.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara said this is not just a simple recognition but a lasting gratitude.
“Dahil hindi tumitigil ang kanilang trabaho, at hindi rin dapat tumigil ang ating pasasalamat.”
“Panahon na para kilalanin ang kabayanihan ng mga guro, magulang-volunteer, school heads, at education partners hindi lang sa iisang petsa, kundi sa buong taon. Dahil hindi tumitigil ang kanilang trabaho, at hindi rin dapat tumigil ang ating pasasalamat,” Angara stressed.
Rola has more than 15 years of teaching experience. She believes that one can learn with the right perspective.
Under Rola’s main advocacy project LET IT GROW, she teaches students, teachers, and parents the “growth mindset”.
Rola also leads Project ALAB (Alay-Lingap Alang-Alang sa Bata), a teacher-led adopt-a-child program that provides school supplies, fares, snacks, and ongoing mentorship to children in need.
She also has the SALIN-KULTURA program making learning about Filipino culture more colorful through games, storytelling, and community events so that youth can be more proud of their Filipino identity.
“To be called a hero is something I never imagined.”
“To be called a hero is something I never imagined because for me, being a teacher has always been about, not about recognition, but more about commitment and love for our learners,” Rola said.
Solayao, on the other hand, is better known as “Mommy Dea” in her community. She started volunteering in 2020 when face-to-face classes were delayed due to the pandemic.
Solayao first served as a Guide Lesson tutor to help students who were struggling with their lessons. Eventually, she found her vocation in storytelling, through the school’s Barangayan para sa Cada Bata Basa (BRB4) reading program.
She does this even though she is not a licensed teacher, driven by the belief that shaping the minds of young people is not the sole duty of those in the teaching profession.
“Sa ilalim lang po kami ng mga puno ng mangga dati, walang silya, walang blackboard, pero puno ng kagustuhang matuto ang mga bata. Kasi sila po mismo ‘yong gumagawa ng paraan para makasali doon sa ginagawa kong pagtulong,” Solayao said.
Through DepEd Heroes, the Department hopes to discover more teachers like Rola and Solayao—people who may not always be mentioned in the news, but are quietly shaping the future.
