Celebrating Teachers’ Day: A Homage to MCS’ Pride

Today, as we celebrate this special occasion, we would like to show our sincerest gratitude and appreciation to those who served as our light as we traversed through our years as Malatean students. To our educators in MCS and teachers from all over the globe, Happy World Teachers’ Day!

#WorldTeachersDay #WorldTeachersDay2021

Written by Tirzah Ferrer and Claire Ferrer
Layout by Althea Ruñez
Posted on October 5, 2021 | 4:55 PM

Not many people would do things for nothing. Oftentimes, we ask for something in return for our aid, like money or a free meal. Yet, only a few would do something just for the sake of helping others. Among the few are teachers who sacrifice so much of themselves for almost nothing in return — something we should appreciate more. As we commemorate World Teachers’ Day, we would like to show our appreciation for the efforts of some of our best Malatean Teachers: Mrs. Canceran, Mr. Madrona, and Mr. Oracion, who, along with the many Malatean teachers, have shown dedication and passion in the work that they do.

Mrs. Rowena Malilin-Canceran who has been working at MCS for 14 years now, is a Mathematics teacher in the Grade School and Night High School departments. Mrs. Canceran has certainly left an impact on her students’ lives. In an interview, she mentioned her love for her students, who have accepted her and made her fall in love with teaching more and more.

Being a firm Catholic, Mrs. Canceran revealed that having a strong faith in the Lord made her the teacher that she is today. “God helped me give it my all,” she stated. She also disclosed that, growing up, she never planned on becoming a teacher. Though, she established that now, she would never trade this profession for anything else; this may not make sense to everyone, as teachers do not get paid and appreciated enough for all their hard work. But for Mrs. Canceran, being able to make such a profound and powerful impact on her students' lives is already enough as a reward.

Mr. Kenneth Madrona has been a member of the MCS staff for almost 11 years. He is an English teacher who has certainly won the hearts of many of his students. As a Catholic teacher, he expressed that his faith in God is the foundation for his success. He added, "I overcame the challenges as a teacher through faith. You have to pray; you have to ask guidance from the Lord, and you need to hold on to your faith." Moreover, what most people admire about Mr. Madrona is his dedication to help and serve the school. He has sacrificed plenty of his time, efforts, and talents for the improvement of our school and its students. He is also determined to push himself to the very best of his potential. In fact, he stated that the English subject was once his waterloo. Thus, he did everything he could to master the subject. From a student who struggles with English to an incredible English teacher who helps students that were once like him, it is no doubt why Mr. Madrona is loved by many of his students. Though he has come so far, he still wants to accomplish more, saying, “Be a successful teacher, not for yourself, but for your students.”

Though our school has a lot of long-time teachers, we must also give credit to our educators who have recently entered the field of education with open minds and open hearts. Mr. Aeron Oracion, who only has three years of teaching experience at Malate Catholic School has proven that he is a responsible teacher with a fiery passion for educating his students.

Since Mr. Oracion began teaching in the year 2019, he has won the hearts and trust of his students. He stated that working at MCS has not only improved himself but also strengthened his faith. He even admitted that it was a culture shock for him when he first arrived at our school since he was not too religious growing up. Over time, he has learned to adapt to his Christianity and to live by the core values of MCS. Many people have also described him as a relatable and carefree teacher. Mr. Oracion explained how among everything else, he treasures the bonds he creates with his students and how he feels very honored to be the person they can look up to, stating, "I really make myself available to them when they need to be vulnerable."

Additionally, these teachers have admitted that their students have greatly motivated their passion to teach. Mrs. Canceran, who imparted that she was self-conscious of her appearance at first, found comfort in her students’ acceptance. Mr. Madrona acknowledged being proud as he looks at how he has touched his students’ lives. Meanwhile, Mr. Oracion finds it fulfilling to know that he plays an influential part in his students’ lives. All these teachers appreciate their students so much more than most think. Their students have become one of the reasons why they have learned to appreciate this challenging job.

These three influential teachers of MCS are just a few of the many admirable educators that Malate has. One way or another, they share the same qualities with these three as they have been formed the Malatean way - nurtured in faith, excellence, and service.

Teachers are more important to us than we think. Not only do they teach the youth and form the leaders of the future, but they’re also our family, our second parents. Nothing can compare to their sacrifices and investment in their work; the hardships, the efforts they exert, the time, and the genuine care and love for their students. Usually, teachers get a bad reputation for being strict or harsh, but behind that projected exterior are human beings who are working to support themselves and their families. And along the way, they still find time to form strong bonds with their students and colleagues.

Teachers’ Day reminds us to look back at the people who formed us in our early years, the people who nourished and taught us most of what we now know. It is only appropriate that we celebrate these amazing people for all their hard work. They truly deserve to be loved and appreciated for everything they do.