Butuanon hailed as MBFI’s outstanding teacher
BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 5 — The Metrobank Foundation Inc. (MBFI) has named Josephine Chonie Obsenares from the Butuan City SPED Center as one of its awardees in the 2016 Search for Outstanding Teachers (SOT) for the elementary category.
From a total of 534 nominations generated nationwide, Obsenares and the other nine awardees emerged outstanding.
According to MBFI, all nominees were trimmed down to 127 provincial finalists, then shortlisted to 40 regional finalists who underwent teaching demonstrations and panel interviews before the preliminary board of judges of each category. This year’s search garnered the most nominations in its 32-year history.
Obsenares, currently a Master Teacher I of the SPED Center, has been teaching for 27 years, specializing in Music. She has written original compositions used by schools in events, and as part of learning materials disseminated by the Department of Education in the region. Obsenares also served as chief trainer in music at the national level for the preparation of K-12 education system.
She has also mentored students in various musical competitions, and has led in the formation of a youth choir in her local church, where she is also serving as a psalmist.
Equally talented, passionate and innovative, she pioneered action researches, including one on the development of free play activities to enhance the motor skills of children with intellectual disabilities. By being chosen as one of this year’s awardee, the MBFI recognized Obsenares as one of the “shining examples of unstinting dedication and commitment to the teaching profession, and as such, the pride of their respective schools and community.”
She will join the other awardees in a conferment ceremony on September 5, 2016 at the Metrobank Plaza, Makati. Obsenares and the other awardees will receive a trophy and a cash prize of P500,000.
The winners will also pay a courtesy visit to the members of the House of Representatives. Agusan del Norte First District Rep. Lawrence Fortun, happily received the good news from the MBFI President Aniceto Sobrepeña, as he expressed his commendation to Obsenares.
“The occasion of teacher Josephine Obsenares winning the coveted Metrobank Outstanding Teacher’s award brings a striking optimism and hope to better our education system. To my mind, this is not only a prestigious personal commendation, but also an affirmation of our confidence to all our teachers who have sacrificed their able years in shaping the future of this nation,” Fortun said. (Lawig Katawhan/PIA-Agusan del Norte)
