Educators, reading volunteers receive Galing-Guro Excellence Award from Alsons Power
Twenty teachers and principals from five different schools within Sarangani Energy Corporation’s (SEC) area of operation received the Galing-Guro Excellence Award during ceremonies organized by the Alsons Power Group, the first and most experienced independent power producer in Mindanao. Now on its second year, the Galing-Guro Excellence Award recognizes teachers and educators for their sacrifices and outstanding contribution to education. Joining the awardees are Alsons Power Corporate Affairs Manager Ruben Tungpalan (second from right) and SEC’s OIC-HR head Llewellyn Lesondra and DepEd-Sarangani Social Mobilization and Networking Coordinator Romeo Martin (first and third from right, respectively

Twenty teachers and principals from public schools in Maasim, Sarangani were recognized during the Galing-Guro Excellence Award event held at Mangelen Integrated School in Maasim, Sarangani and organized by the Sarangani Energy Corporation (SEC_ – part of the Alsons Power Group, Mindanao’s first and most experienced power producer.

Now on its second year, the Galing-Guro Excellence Award recognizes teachers and educators for their sacrifices and outstanding contribution to education. Awardees are chosen on the basis of exemplary competence, passion and creativity to positively impact the lives of students, learners and the community as a whole.

Long recognized as a company that champions education, Alsons Power Group conducts numerous corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities that include scholarships and other education-related programs.

The nominees, who came from the five different schools within SEC’s area of operation, vied in three categories, namely the Most Outstanding Kindergarten Teacher, Most Outstanding Teacher 1-3, and Most Outstanding Master Teacher.  Aside from plaques of recognition, cash and gift checks were given to the eventual winners.

Many of the winners were volunteers/participants of the Sarangani Big Brother (SBB) summer reading program. SBB aims to improve the reading and comprehension skills of grade school students through an intensive 15-day remedial reading program conducted by volunteers composed of teachers, parents and other community members who are trained to become reading mentors.

One of the Galing-Guro awardees is Regina Apuya, a master teacher from Datu Abdulbali Elementari School in Barangay Tinoto in Maasim.  “I have been a teacher for more than 20 years now, and there are really a lot of sacrifices that we have to do. I live far from my school so I have to wake up early and spend as much as three to four hours a day traveling. It’s heartwarming to know that private groups like SEC recognize our efforts and sacrifices,” shared Apuya, who is now a two-time Galing-Guro Excellence awardee.

Another winner, John Rey Pendon, expressed surprise at having been chosen. “My principal didn’t tell me that I was nominated,” Pendon, a 24-year-old kindergarten teacher from the far-flung Arcal Elementary School in Kamanga, disclosed, at the same time expressing gratitude to SEC for recognizing their contribution as educators and mentors.

Ruben Tungpalan, Corporate Affairs Manager for Alsons Power, noted that Galing-Guro is just one way of sustainably supporting the community that SEC is serving.

“We employ hundreds of workers from the communities that we serve, and we would like nothing more than to help elevate their lives by supporting efforts to strengthen education and learning in these communities. At the end of the day, through better teachers and better education, we all win, especially the community and the people,” Tungpalan stated.