In a media conference held yesterday, Gabay Guro Chairperson Chaye Cabal-Revilla explained why the annual concert that pays tribute to modern-day heroes is not holding a live and in-person show this year.
For the third time since 2020, the star-studded tribute that goes by the theme “The Filipino Teacher: Our Pride, Our Purpose, Our Passion” will be streamed live via Gabay Guro’s Facebook page and Youtube Channel starting at 1:00 p.m. tomorrow, October 15.
“We wanted a physical event this s year, but we have to consider that we are still in the middle of the pandemic. We used to gather around 24 thousand teachers before all in one venue, we wouldn’t want to put their health at risk,” Cabal-Revilla told the press.
“But the good thing about it is more teachers can watch and participate since it’s a virtual concert. We can reach more audience, too,” she went on.
Despite the continuing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gabay Guro remains steadfast in its avowed commitment to upholding the Filipino teachers and their noble mission of empowering the mind of the youth as it holds another tribute event for the modern-day heroes of our time via PLDT-Smart Foundation’s annual Gabay Guro Grand Gathering.
Just like the first two events were presented by the Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC), with PLDT Home and PLDT-Smart Foundation and powered on the digital landscape, Gabay Guro 2022 is expected to reach out to an even larger audience of teachers across the country and abroad as it showcases a barrage of world-class talents that include Gabay Guro’s long-time assembly of celebrity advocates including the megastar Sharon Cuneta, the songbird Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, concert king Martin Nievera, balladeer Basil Valdez, and pop diva Kuh Ledesma. Musical director Louie Ocampo also renders his genius to the event with production numbers that will surely thrill our teachers.
The 2022 Grand Gathering will be hosted by Pops Fernandez, Sam Concepcion, Dominic Roque, and Jolina Magdangal.
“I’ve been with the foundation for the last three years. And it’s a nice feeling being involved in this kind of effort as it gives back to teachers who are known as our second parents,” actor Dominic Roque told Manila Standard Entertainment.
Headlining the bevy of performers are the country’s finest musical artists including AC Bonifacio, Sheena Belarmino, Angela Ken, Jeremy Glinoga, Darren Espanto, Nicole Asensio, Aicelle Santos, Jed Madela, Jett Pangan, Alamat, Angela Ken, CLR, MC Einstein, Janine Tenoso, Jason Dy, Heaven Paralejo, Christian Bautista, Jolina, Sam, Tippy Dos Santos, Neo Rivera, Kayla Rivera, Mark Bautista, Klarisse de Guzman, Erik Santos, Jona, Elha Nympha, Lara Maigue, Fana, Janine Berdin, and The Company.
The event is expected to draw in over 500,000 teachers, who can partake in the once-every-year experience by downloading the Gabay Guro Super App. By registering, teachers will have a chance to win exciting prizes at stake, including the grand prizes – a Chery Tiggo Pro car and P500,000 cash prizes to be won by three lucky teachers.
And because Gabay Guro cares deeply for the teachers’ health and welfare, mWell.ph, the Philippines’ first fully integrated health app with robust telemedicine service, is giving away mWellness gift boxes which entitles our teachers to free doctor check-up, their very own oxymeter, thermal scanner and vouchers for vitamins to keep them strong and healthy.
Cabal-Revilla who is also the Chief Finance, Risk and Sustainability Officer of the Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) said that with the support of MPIC Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan, “all of us working behind Gabay Guro over the last 15 years – the core team of volunteers, artists, and celebrity-advocates, our loyal sponsors – everyone remains united for the purpose of giving our teachers the honor that they deserve. The difficult times of the pandemic failed to stop us in the pursuit of this purpose. The seven pillars of Gabay Guro serve as our guide to encourage and uplift the teachers because we believe that changing the life of one teacher has a positive multiplier effect on her students.”
The Gabay Guro Grand Gathering 2022 is supported by Chery Auto Philippines, Fitbit, Huawei, Devant, mWell.ph, Smart, Pascual Laboratories, PLDT Home, and 555 Tuna/Sardines, among many others.
Since 2007, Gabay Guro has been empowering teachers across the country through its seven (7) core pillars: Classroom Donations, Connectivity and Computerization, Scholarships, Teachers’ Trainings, Livelihood Projects, Digital Innovation, and the Teacher’s Tribute.
Gabay Guro has built and donated over 55 double classrooms in 21 cities and municipalities nationwide. It has provided 2,174 scholarship grants where 1,767 have graduated, of which 24% graduated with honors. There are also 840 passers of the Licensure Exams for Teachers from them. Gabay Guro has 57 partner state universities so far. It has also distributed more than 600 computers/ laptops and printers and internet connectivity to 49 partner schools from 21 municipalities benefiting 38,587 students, teaching, and admin staff. There are also more than 5,000 teachers who were given extra livelihood opportunities and access to micro-financing through Gabay Guro’s assistance.
Over the years, more than 50,000 teachers have trained face-to-face in 90 cities and provinces, and more than 1,000,000 teachers have trained digitally thru Gabay Guro’s Teachers’ Training’s “Learning Never Stops” digital series. In the last quarter of 2020, through Gabay Guro’s new Digital Innovation pillar, the Gabay Guro Super App was launched to empower teachers as they lead the way for digital transformation in education. Within its first 2 days of launch, the Gabay Guro Super App had over 100,000 downloads, catapulting it as one of the Top 5 education apps during its introduction phase. Since then, it has stayed popular among users with a steady 4.9 app satisfaction rating.
Gabay Guro has also brought more smiles to the faces of educators through the Grand Gathering, an annual celebration of Teachers’ Month, honoring them thru song, dance, and raffle prizes. Gabay Guro also has a series of localized tribute programs for teachers, thru regional Teacherfest events, which have already honored more than 500,000 teachers in Metro Manila and in 13 regional areas, including Ilocos Norte, Bulacan, Cebu, Butuan, Bataan, Navotas, Davao and others.
Gabay Guro’s efforts have also been recognized by various award-giving bodies in the Philippines and abroad, including the Gawad Tanglaw, Anvil Awards, Philippine Quill Awards, Philippine Association of National Advertisers (PANA) Awards, and the CMO Asia Awards in Singapore.
For more details about the PLDT-Smart Foundation’s Gabay Guro program, please visit gabayguro.com. For updates, please follow, like, and share Gabay Guro on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube.
