By Regie Palmos
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Cabatuan II District became the home of extension program. Barangay Tiring is a community along the national highway going to the province of Capiz, presently the site of the new Iloilo Airport of International Standard.
Initially, the school officials and teachers met with WVSU representatives for a dialogue and needs assessment. Thus, on February 24, 2005 (eve of the EDSA Revolution Anniversary), the Mentoring the Mentors opened its door to the challenges of the 21st Century. The 2005 launching gave birth to the Mentoring the Mentors for BSEd in 2006. Mentoring the Mentors – Graduate School and BEEd in 2007 and the proposed Alternative Learning System in 2010.
The program has come a long way and Ms. Arlanza, the Principal of Tiring Elementary School once said “If the teachers hear about Mentoring, they would readily go and attend unlike before that they would refuse the seminars especially on their “washdays”, or Saturdays. Indeed, it changed their attitude towards personal growth.” Similarly, a grade 4 pupil commented, “I learned to love my lessons because of the attractive visual aids made by our teachers. Interesting!” With the active involvement of the community and the Local School Board, Mayor Ramon Yee of Cabatuan, Iloilo said “Lets us continue to support one another in the service of Education.” The Local School Board fund purchased computer units for Cabatuan II elementary schools, laptop and multimedia projector to enhance their growth in Information Technology as part of their share in Mentoring the Mentors Program. Infrastructure and Project RAMON C. YEE is also on the go in Cabatuan II as part of the empowerment program.
The most important story that I must share is the human resource success. Based on the compiled reports of the Extension Office, the Year End Assessment and Evaluation (YEAT) and the National Achievement Test (NAT) of Cabatuan II significantly increased from 2005 to the present. Recently, they ranked 1st in the 3rd Congressional District of Iloilo and 4th in the whole province Mr. Erna Arlanza ranked 1st in the Administrators evaluation – 3rd Congressional District and 2009 Cabatuan II is no. 1 performing central school in Iloilo Province (outside poblacion). Mentoring the Mentors inspired Ms. Cecilia Hualde, an administrator, to do her Ph.D. dissertation using Mentoring as the topic while WVSU COE presented theMMP experiences in national and international events like University of Guam as part of the International Research (February 2010).
The Mentoring the Mentors Program has produced 3 outstanding extensionists and was awarded twice as outstanding extension program. The Philippine Daily Inquirer arrived and featured it documenting the best practices of the Mentoring the Mentors Program in 2011 (Beyond the Chalk Talk).
It didn’t end in Cabatuan. We left Tiring with a sustainable educational system and we ventured to Calinog to share and replicate the system.
The Calinog II Mentoring the Mentors from 2011 – 2013
It focused on the sharing of teaching practices to teaches who are teaching Indigenous People (IPs). The goal was to preserve the culture of the IP’s at the same time impart approaches to teaching. The program values education, personhood and pedagogy.
RG Hechanova Memorial National High School as a school that caters to GK students opened from 2013 to 2015 with focus given to science and math area specifically on least mastered skills. It was facilitated by Ph.D. in Science Educators who majored in Math and Biology as well as masteral students. Seminars on action research, intervention, quiz bee, assessment and others were conducted. The NAT results improved based on the interventions.
Due to the closing of the gate near Gran Plains Subdivision, the students transferred to the Tiu Cho Teg Ana Ros Foundation Integrated School. In 2015, another program opened in Tiu Cho Teg that caterered to students coming from GK Villages, relocation villages and Ati communities in Lanit, Jaro, Iloilo City.
In 2021, we are embarking on a new journey with the Iloilo River Plains Integrated School, a school located within a community that focuses on peace, wellness, guidance, and value related extension programs.
The story goes on as we inspire others to transform lives for the better. May we be always guided by the Creator to open up new pathways in the service of humanity to care, give compassion and to collaborate until our cup overflows with love.
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