Filipino Teacher Finalist in Global Teacher Prize 2018

Teachers are one of the most understanding and compassionate people I know, they deserve to be recognized. Our teachers are our second parents and school is our second home.

Filipino Teacher Finalist for Global Teacher Prize 

Ten teachers are competing for the Global Teacher Prize 2018 and Jesus Insilada, an English and Creative Writing teacher at Caninguan National High School in Lambunao, Iloilo is one of the finalists of the Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize 2018.

Nurten Akkuş of Turkey, Marjorie Brown of South Africa, Luis Miguel Bermudez Gutierrez of Colombia, Glenn Lee of Hawaii, Diego Mahfouz Faria Lima of Brazil, Koen Timmers of Belgium, Eddie Woo of Australia, Andria Zafirakou of United Kingdom, and Barbara Anna Zielonka of Norway are the other finalists. They were chosen from over 30,000 nominations from 173 countries.

Dr. Jesus Insilada is also known as a Hiligaynon poet, a short story writer and a novelist. He won two Palanca awards for his Hiligaynon short stories in 2012 and 2013. In 2013, he was an honoree of the Many Faces of the Teacher (Bato Balane Foundation),  and in 2014 he was chosen as one of the 2014 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Teachers awardees for the Secondary level.  At present he teaches English at  Alcarde Gustilo Memorial National High School in Calinog, Iloilo.

Dr. Insilada has published more than 60 short stories, 10 poems in Hiligaynon and Liwayway. Three of his Hiligaynon novels have been serialized in Hiligaynon magazine. These are Panubok, Ang Gugma ni Valentina, and Mga Alibangbang sa Handurawan.

“I love teaching because it is an opportunity to touch, transform, and empower my indigenous students who are deprived and less privileged yet they are very determined to reach their dreams through education to become productive members of the community, of the country, and of the world.”

Teaching in the Philippines is very challenging especially in rural areas. Congratulations to Dr. Jesus Insilada for being one of the finalist in Varkey Foundation and to Andria Zafirakou of United Kingdom who received the Global Teacher Prize 2018.