The Penitence and the Many Sacrifices of Teachers

The Penitence or Penitensiya in Filipino is a tradition observed and participated by Filipino catholic-devotees, commonly executed by men, in portraying and exemplifying the hardships and sufferings of Jesus in His last days. This is typically done during the Lenten season, where men carried cross slashed their back, and even made themselves crucified. To some, such practice is impractical and non-sense, but to the people doing and keeping the practice for the forgiveness of their sins and for the grant of their wishes, such an act is worth doing for.

Jesus served as the greatest teacher for Christians around the world. Like what Jesus did, teachers envision to follow His footsteps in spreading learning, truth, peace, justice, and God’s words to mankind. Like Him, teachers also experienced hardships and sufferings in this world. But since teaching is a noble profession, these hardships and sufferings are viewed by teachers as sacrifices that they must and should do for every learner. If Jesus sacrificed His own life for the salvation of our sins, every teacher sacrificed themselves for the sake and welfare of every learner to equitable, quality, and relevant education they need to become successful, productive, and well-educated citizens of the world.

Among the many sacrifices of teachers are:

·      Served as second parent and peer for the learners so that they may not feel alone, neglected, and not appreciated in school;

·         Portrayed good role model for learners to look up to;

·         Extended their service to the learners and to the school just for the sake of quality education;

·         Used their own money in providing instructional materials that learners need;

·         Executed related and unrelated works just love of the profession;

·         Exhorted all means of assistance to all the stakeholders or education to help learners gain optimal learning opportunities;

·         Provide tender loving care for learners unconditionally;

·         Lived up to the ideals of professionalism and moral/ethical standard at all times and at all places;

·      Provided conducive learning environment catering various learning styles/modalities, intelligence, study habits, skills, and competencies of the students; and

·    Shared social responsibility by executing the profession as a mission and a passion at the same time.

Teachers play one of the most highly regarded professions in the world. No doubt that they are called by many as “Master”, “Guru”, “Mentor”, “Professor”, and “Sir/Ma’am”, with high respect and appreciation due to such recognition of the profession. Thus, they always do the job so passionately for they know that in the end, their sacrifices will be paid off – not by the material things but by the love of the people that lives have changed because of their sacrifices.