Men and Women in HEELS (Health.Education.Environment.Livelihood.Shelter.)

“As a Kindergarten teacher, it has become my personal advocacy to see to it that my students have a beautiful experience every time they are in my class. All of my students have been traumatized after Super Typhoon Yolanda, so it is important that I share something positive to their parents every time they go home after school. That is why we are thankful for this classroom donated by the Insular Life Assurance Company, Ltd. I am now more inspired in decorating it so my students will love to play with their classmates. Another thing is that my students love stories, so I bought puzzle-themed mats where my students can sit or lie on every time I read them stories. Since most of my pupils live in coastal areas, I need to teach them how to use the restrooms for the first time and make proper hygiene a habit. You sacrifice a lot to be a teacher, but you won’t mind it because the feeling of fulfillment is greater when you see how happy your students are because of your efforts. And when my colleagues would tell me how ready my students are for grade one, you just feel so proud. And it’s a great feeling.” —Norina M. Bintayan, kindergarten teacher, San Fernando Central Elementary School which is a PBSP-assisted school in Tacloban City