Andronico Del Rosario
Another public official is in the hot seat for dissing teachers, and the response from the public is not pretty.
Cagayan Governor Manny Mamba recently got himself into trouble after saying teachers had no reason to complain during the pandemic.
!!!ALERT!!!
Mula mismo kay Governor Manny Mamba, ng Cagayan, ang pahayag tungkol sa mga guro na "nageenjoy sila, nagsesweldo sila, wala silang ginagawa". Ito ay isang pag babalewala sa lahat ng kahirapan ng mga guro, maitaguyod lamang ang edukasyon para sa mga mag-aaral. pic.twitter.com/pv6HFFezKC
— SCMP Cagayan Valley (@SCMP_CagVal) October 3, 2020
In an interview with DZRH, Mamba said teachers were “enjoying” the pandemic, being able to earn money “nang walang ginagawa.”
“Kaya nga dapat, huwag na silang magreklamo dahil sa totoo lang po, I think mayroon tayong law na kapag ganito na work from home, tatanggalan ng kaunti.” He also claimed that teachers were saving money because they work from home.
He even asked teachers to “go out of their way para makatulong sa mga estudyante sa mga bahay-bahay.”
His statements did not sit well with netizens, who advised Cagayan voters to exclude the incumbent governor from their 2022 ballot.
Ano reaction mo sa statements ni Gov. Manny Mamba? — Illogical, detached, and revealing of how we actually value teachers (which is mostly pure sentiment). Teachers, esp. Basic ed teachers, are underpaid. Online teaching made the … https://t.co/w5B2B3XkFY
— chubbaldy (@gooeymike) October 4, 2020
If someone's keeping track of politicians who we shouldn't vote for in the next elections, please add Gov. Manny Mamba's name.
— J.B. Hinacay (@jbhinacay) October 4, 2020
gov. Manny Mamba..An insult to the senses of Filipino teachers…again I call for an Apology… Don't defend your idiotic statement you ignorant turd…Just Apologize…
— clyde sacpa (@clydebsacpa) October 4, 2020
https://twitter.com/pinoyakoblog/status/1312644876735975424?s=21
May pasok na bukas, tapos may pa-inspirational talk na ganito from the Cagayan governor? Are you for real, Manny Mamba? Can we discuss budget cut and allocations for politicians? What a bummer boomer with a selfish disposition! Overpay our educators and underpay the politicians! pic.twitter.com/BoMQfSydBH
— jail sonza (@robismore) October 4, 2020
Sorry not sorry?
Mamba would apologize a day after his interview went viral. He asked for forgiveness from teachers, claiming he thinks highly of education “because I am a creation of education.”
He also said he wanted to “challenge each and every one of us to show our people that we are still relevant.”
"I wanted to challenge each and everyone of us to show our people that we are still relevant despite the fact na walang face-to-face for so many months now. Nakita niyo naman po, I involve you in my programs because I want you to be relavant."
— Explained PH (@explained_ph) October 4, 2020
He would also ask teachers to “work together. Please, let us face all the problems together. Nothing has to divide us at this point of time.”
Netizens were not happy with his sorry-not-sorry apology.
if PAG-EENJOY means:
✓staying up late to accomplish a ton of school forms
✓waking up too early the next day to attend endless virtual meetings/webinars
✓preparing LMs & sending modules kung saan-saan
✓working during weekendsBAKA NGA SOBRANG ENJOY KAMING MGA GURO, GOV. OPO https://t.co/17UJZyyg24
— james (@SerJyms) October 3, 2020
This is an insult to the Department of Education. https://t.co/y0pz3ackfv
— Jeno (@JenoSalessie) October 3, 2020
https://twitter.com/flabulous26/status/1312645354555273216
One statement from Gov. Mamba seems to have slid under the radar of netizens.
"Dahil ako po yung "tatay" na nagse-sermon. Ako po yung "tatay" na nagagalit. Ako rin po yung "tatay" na marunong tumanggap ng kamalian. Ako din po yung "tatay" na naniniwala na may Diyos."
— Explained PH (@explained_ph) October 4, 2020
This statement basically confirms that he wasn’t really sorry about “calling teachers out”.
Teachers have been struggling to adapt their physical classroom lesson plans to one suitable for blended and fully online learning. Most of the older teachers are also trying to adapt their methods, as online classes are now the norm.
Teachers have also said they lacked the resources to produce the modules necessary to conduct blended learning classes. Internet connectivity issues have also hounded teachers who have tried to both attend webinars and conduct online classes now that the school year has begun.
Some teachers have even extended help to students who have had to rethink about enrolling for the school year 2020-2021.
