A-list stars Regine Velasquez-Alcasid and Gabby Concepcion will be headlining Gabay Guro's back-to-back Teachers' Tribute events for this year's celebration of National Teachers' Month and World Teachers Day.
Honoring its commitment to continuously uplift the lives of Filipino teachers as they mold the Filipino youth for excellence in the global arena, Gabay Guro will stage its annual grand gathering on Sunday, September 29 at the Meralco Theater in Ortigas Center, Pasig City.
This year's theme, "Teachers Inspiring Change, Building the Country's Future," reflects the critical role that educators play in shaping the nation's youth and, in turn, its future leaders.
In a media conference, Velasquez expressed her admiration for the initiative, which she has supported and performed for over the past 17 years.
"Only Gabay Guro does this. It's like teachers don't usually register on people's radar, but with Gabay Guro, they are given so much importance. Every year, there are raffles, prizes — not only do they get to watch the performances, but their minds and hearts are also filled. Gabay Guro really does this just to bring joy to teachers. They just genuinely want to honor the teachers, and as artists, we are very happy to be part of a show that has become an annual event," she said.
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Velasquez has also likened teachers to family as she acknowledged their role as second parents to students.
"I compare teachers to mothers. They give everything without really expecting anything in return, so I feel like they are our second parents. I realized this because my son, Nate, spends half of his life in school, so teachers really do become their second parents. The role of a teacher is crucial in raising our children, and that's why I've been here from the beginning until now, for 17 years with Gabay Guro," Velasquez enthused.
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"I'm hoping that by performing and speaking with the teachers, we can inspire them to keep doing what they do, because otherwise, there would be no one to teach our children. And I'm very thankful to the entire group for allowing me to still be part of it," she added.
Much like Velasquez, Concepcion also emphasized the inspiration and strength Gabay Guro provides to educators.
"I really feel like teachers are my family. What teachers do is reflected in the children because they become their parents outside of their homes. I believe that education has a direct relationship to building a nation, and these children will be our future leaders one day," Concepcion said.
"We're doing this because we inspire them and give them a little strength. That's the most fulfilling part. This wouldn't come together without heart," he added.
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The grand gathering will also feature Pops Fernandez, Martin Nievera, Randy Santiago, Jed Madela, Jona, Kuh Ledesma, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Mark Bautista, and "Megastar" Sharon Cuneta.
Gabay Guro Chairman Chaye Cabal-Revilla said of the importance of the tribute, "We do not thank the teachers enough of the impact that they've done to all of us in our country. They also feel appreciated and loved because all of the biggest stars take time and their effort to perform for them because of their love for the teachers."
Premium giveaways and raffle prizes are also in store for teachers. Event registration, which qualifies the teachers to join the raffle, is now ongoing via the Gabay Guro official Facebook page. The teachers may get in touch with their local Department of Education (DepEd) divisions for invitations to the face-to-face event at the Meralco Theater.
The Gabay Guro Grand Gathering is in cooperation with DepEd and with the generous support of steadfast partners – Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, PLDT Inc., and mWell through Metro Pacific Investments Foundation and PLDT-Smart Foundation.
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After the grand gathering, Gabay Guro will hold its first ever holistic health and wellness festival for teachers, the Gabay Guro Wellness Fest, on October 6 at the Ynares Sports Arena in Shaw Boulevard, Pasig City.
Under the umbrella of Gabay Guro's Health and Wellness pillar, the event will be staged in cooperation with mWell. It promises to be a day full of fun and informative sessions as mWell leads the teachers' journey towards a healthier and well-balanced lifestyle through affordable access to healthcare anytime, anywhere.
Teachers can explore the gathering of wellness services and experiential booths on fitness, food and nutrition, wearables, mind health, and telemedicine.
Renowned wellness experts, athletes, and celebrities are also expected to grace the event. It will also highlight a special zumba session with top Youtube Zumba Group, the TML Crew, to kickstart the teachers' wellness journey.
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Entrance to the Wellness Fest is free, but teachers are asked to pre-register through their local DepEd divisions.
For teachers who cannot join the face-to-face events, both the Gabay Guro Grand Gathering on September 29 and the Gabay Guro Wellness Fest on October 6 will be livestreamed via the Gabay Guro Facebook page and YouTube channel.