By Bong Pedalino

Maasin City (23 October) -- Kinamot Restaurant here last Friday, October 20, was “open house for teachers,” according to Rep. Roger Mercado, as his way of showing trust and respect to the mentors who did the province proud in the latest national achievement tests.

“Today is your day,” Cong. Mercado told the smiling, happy educators, “it’s open house for the teachers.”

He said he will try his best not to intervene and interfere in the teachers’ actions, adding “go ahead, do what you want to do because we know that in the end it’s our children that will benefit and reap the prize and the glory that we will receive out of your hardship.”

Shortly before his message, Cong Mercado pinned the Very Important Pinoy (VIP) plaque to Schools Division Superintendent Violeta Alocilja, whom Vice-Mayor Maloney Samaco in his opening remarks in behalf of Mayor Damian Mercado described as C2 – cute and competent.

About 100 school teachers from top-rated public elementary and high schools received their individual, framed certificates of recognition from Alocilja and Cong. Mercado.

The District Supervisors, Medical/Dental personnel, Education Supervisors also got their recognition certificates, along with the Municipal Mayors.

Assistant Schools Division Superintendent-OIC Victoria Galdo, City Schools Division Superintendent-OIC Clotilde Capapas, and Secondary Education Development Improvement Program (SEDIP) head Ernesto Villegas were also given recognition.

The activity, which was capped by a sumptuous dinner, was rightly called a “Grandslam awards/recognition for teachers” both from elementary and high schools that topped the nationwide tests.

For her part, Supt. Alocilja, now an adopted daughter of Southern Leyte , acknowledged the support of the political leadership to the programs of the Department of Education (DepEd).