As part of this year’s celebration of World Teachers’ Day with the theme “Recasting teaching as a collaborative profession,” the Philippine Normal University hosted a program on October 8, 2025, at the University Gymnasium, honoring its teachers and professors, celebrating their excellence and dedication to the profession. Students were given the chance to express their gratitude to PNU educators as they were recognized throughout the event.
The program opened with remarks from Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Marilyn U. Balagtas. She commended educators for their resilience and adaptability in the face of the evolving educational landscape. In her speech, Dr. Balagtas regarded her colleagues in the teaching profession as heroes “with no monuments,” because their work often goes unseen but has an immeasurable impact that extends beyond the classroom.
In his message, University President Dr. Bert J. Tuga took the opportunity to reflect and share his journey that led him to the noble profession of teaching. He expressed deep gratitude to mentors and colleagues who shaped his path, reminding everyone that teaching is not only a profession but also a lifelong vocation of service and compassion. Dr. Tuga shared that from the very beginning, it was clear he wanted to be a teacher. He was further inspired by a practice teacher he encountered during his early days who exemplified the PNU standard of teaching. This motivated him to work hard and pursue the training and enlightenment found only at PNU. He then congratulated faculty members, especially those recently promoted under the Merit System. He encouraged them to continue demonstrating excellence despite their workload and commitments outside the university, and to stay true to the core mission of preparing future teachers for the country.
Part of the program included the launch of the GAD Champions 2026, which aims to recognize the efforts of PNU members in promoting gender development and advocacy in their fields. The Gender Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Office Director, Prof. Iona Ofelia B. Zanoria, provided the guidelines and criteria for the recognition, then invited the PNU community to submit nominations.
Outstanding faculty members for the 2024-2025 academic year were honored. These faculty members were recognized based on their teaching effectiveness, as reflected in student evaluations. The top three performers for each faculty, institute, and campus received awards for their exemplary performance. Additionally, the overall top 10 awardees for outstanding teaching effectiveness were recognized, with Dr. Tuga leading as the highest-rated among them.
Special performances by student artists added flair and grandeur to the event.
The first part of the program concluded with remarks from Teacher France Castro, a PNU Eminent Alumna awardee and former representative of the ACT Teachers Partylist.
The second part showcased more performances by student artists from various specializations as a tribute to their professors.
Through this celebration, PNU reaffirmed its mission to uplift the teaching profession and foster a spirit of collaboration among educators across the nation.
𝙒𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙗𝙪𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙆𝙚𝙣𝙟𝙞 𝙁. 𝘽𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙜𝙪𝙖 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙉𝙐 𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙡𝙖 𝘾𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙏𝙚𝙖𝙢
