The theme for this year’s celebration is “The teachers we need for the education we want: the global imperative to reverse the teacher shortage.” It is indeed an appropriate theme for us to reflect on amidst the difficulties and challenges we face in Philippine education landscape. It reminds us to pray and give thanks for our indefatigable faculty and staff members across all our University units—Basic Education, the Colleges, the Graduate School, and our College of Law—who have truly shown great creativity, compassion, and courage during these trying times.

Let us pray as well, in this month of the Holy Rosary, that more young women and men will be attracted to the noble mission and vocation of teaching.

A blessed teachers’ day to all our Ateneo de Naga faculty and staff! May Jesus, the Divine Teacher continue to inspire all of us, through the intercession of our beloved Ina. Deo gratias!