WBS Institute for Asian Educators Development
Rebuilding Hope – Reclaiming Spaces – Renewing the Filipino Teacher

Message from the President
“To all WBS members, volunteers, and partners: We began 2022 aware that the world had changed.  The long shadow of the pandemic continued to affect our schools, families and most of all – our teachers.  Many were still grieving, some had left the profession, and those who stayed behind were left to hold together fragmented classrooms and tired systems.  This year, WBS made a deliberate return to in-person presence – not with noise, but with care and discernment.  We wanted to be physically close to the teachers we accompany, not just digitally present.  As you read this newsletter, may you see not just what we did, but how we tried to embody our calling: to stand with the educators of the margins, slowly and faithfully.”

A Year of Transition and Renewal
As pandemic restrictions slowly eased, 2022 became a year of cautious hope and steady rebuilding.  WBS returned to communities – face-to-face, heart-to-heart – bringing the mission back to the ground.  Our priority was to help teachers reclaim their spaces in classrooms, chapels, barangay halls, and learning centers, as we continued to deepen our service in formation, advocacy, and healing.

Face-to-Face Programs Resume: “ Balik-Guro, Balik-Simba, Balik-Bayan”
WBS re-launched in-person gatherings, beginning with small group sessions under our three flagship renewal themes:

  • Balik-Guro – teacher reflection-retreats and teaching circles
  • Balik-Simba – spirituality and recollection sessions for exhausted educators
  • Balik-Bayan – community immersions for teacher-volunteers returning to fieldwork

These events, held in Laguna, Antique, Basilan, and Tarlac, reignited the spirit of service and sacred commitment among 870 participants.

Teacher Formation Modules Updated for Post-Pandemic Context
The WBS team revised and expanded its formation modules to respond to new challenges faced by educators post-COVID.  Themes included:

  • Teaching Amid Grief and Loss
  • Rebuilding Trust with Learners and Families
  • Community-Based Education in the Age of Disruption
  • Environmental Literacy for Rural Educators

Workshops were held in both digital and blended formats, ensuring accessibility for teachers in geographically isolated areas.

WBS Mobile Formation Teams Reach Remote Communities
Partnering with local NGOs and parish schools, our volunteer teams delivered formation sessions to over 1,300 teachers in hard-to-reach sitios and islands across Palawan, Zamboanga, Sulu, and Bicol.  Teachers gathered in open-air chapels, basketball courts, and coastal classrooms – each one hungry not only for knowledge, but for solidarity and affirmation.

Special Focus: Support for Educators in Conflict-Affected and Disaster Zones
2022 was marked by several natural calamities and armed conflicts that displaced hundreds of teachers.  WBS responded with:

  • Emergency cash and relocation aid to 91 teachers affected by Typhoon Odette.
  • Trauma-informed formation for educators in Marawi, Jolo, and Northern Samar
  • A “Guro ng Kapayapaan” training series on peace education and trauma literacy

These initiatives reminded us that educators are not just transmitters of knowledge – they are frontline responders in healing and hope.

Youth Engagement Deepened Through “Mga Batang Guro” Initiative
Building on our golden anniversary legacy program, WBS launched its Youth Educators Caravan, a leadership journey for young aspiring teachers.  The program brought together 45 youth leaders from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao to experience:

  • Field immersion in local schools
  • Mentorship from veteran educators
  • Values-based modules on ethical teaching and servant leadership

These youth now form the first cohort of WBS Youth Ambassadors for Education Justice.

Strengthened Advocacy: Teachers’ Rights and Welfare
WBS joined national advocacy networks to push for:

  • Better salaries and benefits for public school teachers
  • Safer school reopening protocols
  • Mental health support in teacher wellness policies

We contributed position papers and joined public forums in defense of Filipino teachers, especially those in non-formal and faith-based schools.

Publications and Resources Released in 2022

  • “Pag-Asa sa Panahon ng Pagsubok: Mga Kuwento ng Guro Post-Pandemic” – an anthology of real-life teacher testimonies from 2020 – 2022
  • Updated Values-Based Teaching Framework for use in DepEd-aligned schools
  • New Guro Prayer Booklet – a small but powerful companion for teachers returning to classrooms

Looking Ahead to 2023: Teaching for a New World
As education systems shift, WBS recommits to walking with Filipino educators not only through change – but toward meaningful transformation.  Our upcoming focus areas include:

  • Intercultural education for indigenous communities
  • Teacher preparation for climate resilience
  • Strengthening grassroots learning networks

We envision a teacher not as an agent of curriculum delivery, but as a bearer of community healing and national renewal.

To Our Members and Partners
Your faith and generosity continue to fuel our humble mission.  Because of you, WBS is present where it matters most:  among teachers who are often unheard, unseen, and underserved – but who never stop serving others.