Samar pre-service teachers converge for Reg'l Pre-Service Teachers' Congress '24

CATBALOGAN CITY — Over 1,160 pre-service teachers and faculty from various private and state-funded higher education institutions (HEIs) across Samar Island convened at Samar State University (SSU) Gymnasium yesterday, March 25, for the Samar leg of the Philippine Association for Teachers and Educators (PAFTE) 8 Regional Pre-service Teachers’ Congress 2024.

In attendance at the said assembly, along with pre-service teachers and key officials from the host school, SSU-Main Campus, were delegations from SSU-Mercedes and Paranas campuses, Samar Colleges, Inc., Christ the King College of Calbayog City, Inc., Northwest Samar State University (NwSSU), and Eastern Samar State University (ESSU) Borongan, Can-avid, and Maydolong campuses, who were welcomed via the university’s digital signage board.

The event was also graced by SSU Officer-In-Charge (OIC) President, Engr. Ma. Lourdes P. Amante; former SSU President and 2022 Most Inspiring Teacher of the Philippines Awardee, Dr. Marilyn D. Cardoso; PAFTE 8 officers headed by its Chair, the Dean of SSU-College of Education, Dr. Laura B. Boller; and resource speakers from the Department of Education (DepEd), Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), and Licensure Examination for Professional Teacher (LEPT) topnotchers in Region 8.

Furthermore, PAFTE 8 awarded NwSSU, SSU-Main Campus, and SC, respectively, as Best in Attendance, in recognition of their highest number of delegates.

SSU as co-host

Highlighting the mutual objectives of the university and PAFTE, Officer-In-Charge (OIC) President, Engr. Ma. Lourdes P. Amante, in her opening address, expressed her felicity at SSU’s role as a co-host for the event.

“SSU shares the vision of PAFTE, a professional learning community of world-class educators, as we continue to produce world-class education graduates— and for that, we are pleased to be co-hosting this event, which is meant to engage and invest us in an informative discussion,” Engr. Amante expressed.

The OIC President then left a message, reminding the attendees to “take pride in being part of this congress.”

“Dear participants, as you embark on this learning journey, carry forward the lessons, experiences, and core values that have shaped you in becoming an educator. These will serve as your tools to positively impact the realm of education today and tomorrow. Take pride in being part of this congress, as your soon-to-be job is quite demanding,” the OIC President remarked.

“You will not just be a teacher that showers wisdom, but soon will also be tagged as a doctor who cures ignorance, sculptor who carves the future, the light that guides the way, and the compass that leads the way among others; and maybe yet, the equators of other professions and the producers of its human resources. But more than that, you will be looked up to as a hero,” she added.

VUCA as the congress’ core

Centered around the theme “Educators of Tomorrow: Braving the World with Vision, Understanding, Clarity, and Adaptability (VUCA),” the congress aimed at equipping future educators with knowledge, wisdom, and skills to thrive in a “volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) world” within the teaching profession.

In her inspirational message, former SSU president Dr. Marilyn D. Cardoso centered her talk to the significance of the said theme, describing it as the strategic response to counterattack fourth industrial revolution and the VUCA world.

She emphasized vision, understanding, clarity, and adaptability as the means to empower students to navigate volatility, address uncertainty, manage complexity, and subdue ambiguity in the educational environment.

“Therefore, for the next breed of teachers, to be able to rise above any crisis, any challenge that come their way, the answer is VUCA—vision, understanding, clarity and adaptability,” Dr. Cardoso concluded.

She then shared her favorite parable of knowledge and wisdom as she urged the attendees to attain true enlightenment.

“Teachers then, must thrive to achieve true enlightenment. True enlightenment comes not from the accumulation of facts and figures, but from the ability to see beyond the surface, to empathize with others, to live with compassion, [and] to live with integrity. Then and only then we can truly say, ‘I am the proudest because I am a teacher,'” the former president said.

“I wish all of us a fruitful journey to enlightenment [and a] fruitful journey to wisdom,” she added.

Moreover, the theme was then spotlighted again as VUCA-related talks followed the opening program.

Topics were “The Teacher of the World and YOU (Young Opportuned Undaunted)” tackled by Assistant Schools Division Superintendent of Calbayog City Division, Dr. Elena B. De Luna;

“Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Updates” courtesy of Regional Director of PRC Tacloban, Dr. Armond M. Englis; “Transformative Teaching: Your Readiness for the World” rendered by DepEd Regional Office 8 Administrative Officer V, Mr. Ariem V. Cinco; and “Claiming Success in LEPT and Beyond” with Region 8 LEPT topnotchers, Ms. Christine Jude M. Betanzor of SSU, Ms. Rhea Mae C. Baillo of ESSU, and Ms. Jessica V. Pagallaman of Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU) as the resource speakers.

Quiz bee, PTU fashion show as wrap-up

As part of the closing program, pre-service teachers engaged in two activities: a quiz bee via Kahoot!, a game-based digital learning platform, featuring questions related to the entire congress, and a fashion show of pre-service teachers’ uniform.

A delegate from SSU-Main Campus clinched the top spot in the quiz bee, respectively followed by CKC and SSU-Paranas Campus.

“To be candid, my heart is full of gratitude that I almost couldn’t compose my thoughts and my words, yet I have to, for there are individuals whose efforts are well appreciated for the success of this event… From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you!” Dr. Boller expressed in her closing remarks, thanking her fellow PAFTE 8 officers, the congress’ resource speakers, and the nine delegations spearheaded by its respective dean, student affairs and services and campus director, student teaching supervisor, and student teaching coordinator.

The PAFTE 8 Regional Pre-service Teachers’ Congress is an annual event that brings pre-service teachers and educators from various HEIs in the region together for a discussion of relevant themes and issues in the field of education.

Divided into two groups, this year’s congress commenced on March 22 at HRDC Hall of Leyte Normal University (LNU), with attendees from the different HEIs in Leyte.