CEAP partners with Bato Balani Foundation and Diwa Learning Systems for teacher award

Catholic School Heroes Award Memorandum of Agreement Virtual Signing

(Clockwise from top left) CEAP President Sr. Marissa Viri, RVM, BBFI President Mr. Brian Vincent Belen, PhD, Diwa Managing Director Ms. Elma Ropeta, and CEAP Executive Director Mr. Jose Allan Arellano.

The Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) recently launched this year's Catholic School Heroes Award to acknowledge and uplift hardworking Filipino educators amid these challenging times.

"Our Catholic School Heroes Award recognizes the perseverance, dedication, and loyalty of individuals in CEAP member schools that contributed to the development of their school communities," shares CEAP President Sr. Marissa Viri, RVM.

Formalized through a virtual memorandum of agreement (MoA) signing last May 18, CEAP has chosen to partner with education resource provider Diwa Learning Systems Inc (Diwa) and its social development arm Bato Balani Foundation Inc (BBFI) for this program.

Joining Sr. Marissa Viri in the virtual MoA signing was BBFI President Mr. Brian Vincent Belen, PhD, and witnesses CEAP Executive Director Mr. Jose Allan Arellano and Diwa Managing Director Ms. Elma Ropeta.

The search for nominees for the Catholic School Heroes Award ran from March 24, 2021 to May 25, 2021. Nominees must not only be a good representation of Catholic values and tradition, but must have also contributed greatly to the formation and academic curriculum in their communities.

"The major pillars of the education system are the teachers and the education workers," says CEAP Corporate Secretary Fr. Gilbert Sales, CICM. "The CEAP's vision of transforming the world and renewing the country through communion and service resonates with the search for the Catholic School Heroes."

Throughout the years, CEAP has worked with Diwa and BBFI on multiple occasions for teacher development programs and scholarships.

"Since its birth, CEAP has been committed to quality transformative education. This task is challenging to do alone, which is why we need partners that share in our vision of renewal and social transformation," Sr. Viri said during the virtual MoA signing.

Diwa and BBFI have a long history of creating and implementing programs that are geared towards teacher, student, and school development.

"We are grateful for CEAP's trust to participate and support this program that recognizes exceptional educators in the Catholic school community," shares Mr. Belen. "It is through projects such as this, working with like-minded institutions like CEAP, that we see our mission of uplifting the nation through education brought to life."

Awardees of the Catholic School Heroes Award will be recognized during the CEAP National Convention this coming November 2021. For more information, visit facebook.com/CatholicEdPH.