BUZZ BEAT MEDIA

With the strong support of the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos in the education sector, the Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday launched a new national recognition program that aims to find and honor the country’s unsung champions of education.

Dubbed “DepEd Heroes,” the program will celebrate teachers, parents, and community partners whose courage and service have transformed lives in and beyond the classroom and whose extraordinary dedication often escapes the spotlight of traditional award-giving bodies.

For its maiden roll call of heroes, DepEd conferred the title to Ma. Lourdes D. Rola, Master Teacher II of Caloocan High School, and Dea Gavas Solayao, a parent-volunteer from Maybancal Elementary School in Morong, Rizal.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the initiative is meant to give lasting recognition, not fleeting applause.

“Panahon na para kilalanin ang kabayanihan ng mga guro, magulang-volunteer, school heads, at education partners hindi lang sa iisang petsa, kundi sa buong taon. Dahil hindi tumitigil ang kanilang trabaho, at hindi rin dapat tumigil ang ating pasasalamat,” Angara said.

Heroic Acts: The Stories of Teacher Rola and Mommy Dea


Teacher Lou, a veteran educator with over 15 years in both secondary and tertiary teaching, has built her career around the belief that learning is as much about mindset as it is about mastery of subjects. Her flagship advocacy, Project LET IT GROW, instills resilience and a “growth mindset” among students, teachers, and parents.

She is also the driving force behind Project ALAB (Alay-Lingap Alang-Alang sa Bata), a teacher-led adopt-a-child program that provides school supplies, transportation support, snacks, and sustained mentorship for disadvantaged learners.

“To be called a hero is something I never imagined because for me, being a teacher has always been about, not about recognition, but more about commitment and love for our learners,” Teacher Lou said.

Meanwhile, Ms. Solayao, affectionately known as “Mommy Dea” in her community, began her volunteer journey in 2020 when the pandemic disrupted face-to-face classes. Initially serving as a Gabay Aral tutor, she helped struggling learners bridge gaps in their lessons. Over time, she found her calling as a storyteller, joining the school’s Barangayan para sa Bawat Bata Bumabasa (BRB4) reading program.

Armed only with her voice, and an unwavering belief in the power of stories, Solayao spends hours reading to children after class and in community gatherings.

“Sa ilalim lang po kami ng mga puno ng mangga dati, walang silya, walang blackboard, pero puno ng kagustuhang matuto ang mga bata. Kasi sila po mismo ‘yong gumagawa ng paraan para makasali doon sa ginagawa kong pagtulong,” Mommy Dea said.

Through DepEd Heroes, the Department hopes to find more individuals like Rola and Solayao—people whose acts of service might never make headlines but whose impact is quietly transforming the future. The search extends beyond the corridors of top-performing schools into the unseen corners of communities. 

*All Photos from DepEd