Knowledge Channel continues its efforts to help Filipinos cope with distance learning during the pandemic as it partnered with Robi Domingo and MayMay Entrata‘s online show “Call Me MayBi” to provide laptops and portable media libraries to two inspiring teachers.
In the show’s special season finale on Kumu’s FYE channel last November 5 (Friday), Robi and MayMay paid tribute to the two teachers who were chosen by Knowledge Channel from over a hundred letter senders nationwide to receive a brand new laptop. They will also receive Knowledge Channel’s Portable Media Library that contains more than 1,500 quality video lessons to support their alternative teaching efforts.
One of them is Chinly Ruth Alberto from San Isidro Elementary School in Catanduanes. According to her, despite the fast internet connection within their area, they could not fully utilize it for online schooling in today’s times due to the lack of gadgets for their students and teachers.
“Pagdating po sa education, especially po sa school namin, talaga pong technology ang problema kasi sa iba ang problema nila internet connection, sa amin po malakas ang internet connection pero wala pong gadgets ang mga bata,” Chinly shared during her guesting on “Call Me MayBi.”
Apart from the lack of devices, their school took another hit as their ICT equipment was destroyed during the onslaught of Typhoon Rolly in the Bicol region over a year ago.
The lack of proper resources was also the challenge for Joharra Calyawa, a Grade 9 English teacher at Sultan Ali Akbar Sinenggayan National High School in Sultan Kudarat. Still, her dedication in educating the youth never wavered and she even helped parents understand the importance of continuing education amid the pandemic.
“Nag-hit po ang pandemic, lahat nabago ng pandemic from traditional face-to-face to online class, naging new normal education and hindi po madali iyon para sa lahat. Kung mahirap po sa aming mga teacher, mas mahirap po sa parents,” Joharra said.
Their stories touched the hearts of Robi, MayMay, and the viewers of “Call Me MayBi’s” “Andito Tayo Para Sa Isa’t Isa: The Thanksgiving Finale.”
“Umpisa pa lang ng aming season, that has been the goal: to teach people about different lessons in life and to share stories. And kami po ay natutuwa dahil sa tulong ng ating callers, nakakuha tayo ng pondo to pay it forward. And we developed this segment, hopefully right now we can help you kasi kayo po ang napili namin para magkaroon ng brand new laptops and educational kits na magagamit niyo para sa pagpapatuloy ng inyong pagtuturo,” Robi announced to the teachers.
“Grabe, tunay na bayani po kayo! Tunay talaga na inspirasyon kayo. Sobrang thankful din ako kasi nga po pinagdaanan ko po itong online class at hindi po siya biro. Sobrang hirap and how much more sa pinagdaanan niyong wala po kayong internet, wala po kayong masyadong gadyet kaya po nakaka-inspire po ang stories ninyo,” MayMay added.
Meanwhile, Knowledge Channel also continues to encourage children to nurture and unleash their creative minds through storytelling as its online show “Wikaharian Online Live” conducts a free story writing workshop with Teacher Michelle, in celebration of National Reading Month this November.
Every Monday at 11 AM on Kumu and Knowledge Channel’s Facebook page, kids can learn to harness their creativity and confidence in sharing their stories through engaging storytelling and writing sessions apart from taking part in Teacher Michelle’s interactive reading activities.