June 29, 2021 – For his outstanding achievements in basic education and social work, a teacher from the Department of Education – Cordillera Administrative Region (DepEd – CAR) will be among the recipients of the  2021 Princess Maha Chakri Awards (PMCA).

Mr. Marcelo T. Otinguey, a Head Teacher V from Governor Bado Dangwa Agro-Industrial School in Kapangan, Benguet, will be recognized for his exemplary resourcefulness in soliciting resource materials for learners, especially in rural areas.

“Our teachers like Mr. Otinguey are truly worth emulating. They have made a significant impact on the lives of their learners as they instill knowledge and values to inspire the young generation,” Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones said

To help combat illiteracy in his community, Mr. Otinguey organized various youth and community development projects such as Book for the Barrios that aim to provide books and other learning materials to create reding centers for primary and secondary schools in rural areas. He also started a donation drive campaign called Share-a-Joy/Share Your Extras for indigent communities.

In addition, Otinguey also initiated the Wheels for Persons-With-Disabilities that grants wheelchairs and pairs of crutches for handicapped indigents and conducted skills and livelihood trainings to promote self-reliance entrepreneurship, productivity, and income for the masses.

In honor of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand, the PMCA seeks to recognize teachers from 11 countries in Southeast Asia who have made an impact on their students’ lives, particularly those in disadvantaged groups.

Established on Sirindhorn’s 60th birthday anniversary in 2015, the PMCA also aims to support and promote the development of the teaching profession and strengthen international relations in the field of education.

Joining Otinguey in this year’s list of PMCA awardees are Mr. Pengiran Haji Mohd Wahab bin Pengiran Haji Abdullah of Brunei Darussalam, Mr. Norn Dary of Cambodia, Ms. Khoiriah, M.Pd. of Indonesia, Mrs. Sengphet Khounpasert of Lao PDR, Mr. Kyaw Zin Aung of Myanmar, Mr. Norhailmi Abdul Mutalib of Malaysia, Mr. Yok Joon Meng of Singapore, Ms. HA Anh Phuong of Vietnam, Ms. Pratin Leanchumroon of Thailand, and Mr. Vicente Marcal da Silva of Timor-Leste.

According to DepEd International Cooperation Office (ICO) Director Margarita Consolacion Ballesteros, since 2015, the Philippines has had three recipients of the PMCA, namely William Moraca of General Santos City (2015), Jesus Insalada of Iloilo City (2017), and Sadat Minandang of Cotabato City (2019),

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the 4th PMCA Awarding Ceremony will be held in a blended format (onsite and online) on October 29. The onsite ceremony will be presided over by Sirindhorn in Bangkok, while the online format will be attended by the PMCA awardees at the Royal Thai Embassy in their respective countries.

END