MHS’ community spirit evident on Brigada Eskwela’22

BY: KEIRA GRAVAMEN

Manila High School launched Brigada Eskwela ’22 with the theme ‘Tugon sa Hamon ng Ligtas na Balik Aral’ on August 9, 2022, at the MHS Amadome The event was attended by students, parents, teachers, and stakeholders ready to help prepare the school for the upcoming return of face-to-face classes

The event started at 7 o ’clock in the morning for the parade wherein the people involved circled around Intramuros with banners in hand to showcase and encourage people to join Brigada Eskwela

At 8 o ’clock, the program officially started at the Amadome with Mr Juan Carlos Manalad, as the officer of the ceremony Then, the MHS Teachers’ Chorale, led the singing of the National Anthem

Mrs Maria Teresa Leoveras, Master Teacher of the A P Department led happened during a drinking party

"This is one of the examples of why we should have a line drawn between teachers and students," she said

Duterte added, “As a teacher, there must be boundaries between him or her and the learner You should not have a friendly relationship with a student outside the institution”

The new order also established rules for using social media, one of which prohibited posting ‘attacks’ against coworkers and another of which the Prayer Afterwards, Mr Amor P Dugay, School Principal, delivered his opening remarks wherein he emphasized the importance of the event

To ensure the safety of the people at school while cleaning, Mr Raymart M Salvatierra, Master Teacher of the TechEd Department, and Brigada Eskwela Coordinator discussed the safety protocols to follow for the event as Covid-19 is still present in the country

Then, Ms Mary Giselle Esidera, Master Teacher of the Mapeh Department, performed an Intermission Number

Following that, Mr Alex Sangil, President of the GPTA; Mr Ely Anthony Yusoff, Filipino Teacher, and Faculty Club President; Mrs Lady Chris Leonardo, English Department Master Teacher and President of Master Teachers, and Mr George Luiz Mandap, A P Teacher, prohibited "disparagement of DepEd "

Rep France Castro (ACT Teachers party list) denounced the directive, claiming that it " gags " educators and other support staff and Supreme Student Government (SSG) Adviser led the ‘Pagtanggap ng Hamon’ where they spoke about accepting the challenges of this year ’ s Brigada Eskwela, especially with the return of face-to-face classes

Castro asked, "Why does the Department of Education feel the need to create such an order that gags and threatens educators, and treats them as mere creatures of the school and dehumanizes them by preventing them from exercising their right to free speech or expression, to organize and be able to voice out their complaints?"

Ms Dona Mae Carmela Dy, Values Teacher, and Brigada Co-Coordinator, recited the Oath of Solidarity After that, Mrs. Miriam Pascua, Head Teacher of the English Department, and Brigada Eskwela Partnership Focal Person ended the event with her closing remarks

The Brigada Eskwela ’22’s successful launch proved the community spirit of the students, teachers, and parents of Manila High School This event held every year aims to highlight the helpfulness of Filipinos

"What else is left of them," she continued, "if the Education Department insists on gagging its employees both online and off, preventing them from relating to others about things other than the school?"

A DepEd spokesperson clarified that as long as they solely discussed academic matters in group chats, professors and students could continue to be "friends" on social media