Ilongga teacher among Happiest Pinoy 2012

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Concepcion T. Tababa, 57, from Tubungan, Iloilo is among the top 10 nominees of this year's Search for the Happiest Pinoy.

Part of her daily routine is a 23-kilometer walk from Tubungan town in Iloilo province to the farthest barangays where a precarious peace and order situation looms. But this doesn't stop her from constantly wearing a cheerful face and optimistic outlook in life.

As part of the alternative learning system, Tababa has traveled to far-flung villages where many have not seen a book. Her goal is to inspire her students to change their lives through education.

Tababa introduced the BAOL (Barangay Aid on Literacy) program or mobile library to encourage students to study together with their families at their own pace. She bravely used education as a weapon to fight illiteracy, poverty, and attain peace in her hometown. Because of her dedication to her profession, she was a finalist in the Metrobank Foundation 2007 Search for Outstanding Teachers and an honoree in the Bato Balani Foundations’ “The Many Faces of the Teacher 2011.”

“DepEd is happy that even in contests such as this, teachers continue to be recognized as the face of inspiration and hope to other people,” said Education Secretary Armin Luistro.

The criteria for judging were a constantly cheerful face and optimistic outlook, proven ability to rise above life’s challenges, and positive impact in the lives of others.

At the beginning of the school year the DepEd launched a “Wear a Smile” campaign to bring out a cheerful atmosphere in campuses and influence pupils and students to look forward to every school day.

“The wear a smile campaign will remind them that a smile can draw out positive energy from students and fellow teachers,” Luistro said.

Tababa is just one among the 10 nominees of the 2012 Happiest Pinoy:

• ARNEL B. ALIPAO, 19, Student Leader/Environmentalist, Surigao del Norte


• GILDA FORTUNATA G. ALTEZ, 52, Marriage and Family Counselor, Manila


• ROMMEL E. ARELLANO, 35, Employee, Bataan, 2012 Happiest Pinoy winner


• CONNIE A. EMBORONG, 33, Peace Coordinator, Lanao del Norte


• MARCELO T. OTINGUEY, 40, Teacher, Benguet


• JOHN GABRIEL P. PELIAS, 20, College Instructor, Quezon City


• GERALD D. RAYMUNDO, 45, Entrepreneur, Pasig City


• CONCEPCION T. TABABA, 57, Teacher, Iloilo


• REBECCA O. TIU SONCO, 65, Entrepreneur, Eastern Samar


• LEONARDO D. VILLANUEVA, 40, Utility Worker, Malabon City

The Search for the Happiest Pinoy, a project of the Cebuana Lhuillier Insurance Solutions, is a nationwide campaign that aims to rekindle the values of optimism, resilience and hope in Filipinos amidst the global economic crisis.

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