19/08/2026
"Teaching respect does not mean surrendering the ability to think."
A message to our community from Dr. Oliver B. Abad on the true heart of education.
We stand with our teachers in expressing concern over the remark that some educators are supposedly teaching learners to “maging walang modo.”
As educators, we understand that teaching children to think critically, ask questions, express their views respectfully, and understand their rights is not the same as teaching them disrespect.
Critical thinking is not “walang modo.”
Asking questions is not “walang modo.”
Expressing an informed opinion is not “walang modo.”
Standing up for what is right, with respect and responsibility, is not “walang modo.”
Teachers are entrusted not only to teach lessons from books but also to develop learners into responsible, respectful, and principled citizens. We teach courtesy and discipline while also encouraging our learners to think independently and make sound judgments.
If there are individual cases where a teacher has genuinely encouraged disrespectful behavior, these should be addressed based on facts and through proper procedures. But a sweeping characterization of what teachers supposedly teach risks overlooking the daily sacrifices of thousands of educators who continue to nurture our children with patience, compassion, and dedication.
Our teachers do not teach children to be disrespectful. They teach children to be respectful—but not silent when something is wrong; obedient to what is right—but capable of thinking for themselves.
Let us therefore be mindful of our words. Public officials and educators share the same responsibility: to model the very values we expect from our children—respect, accountability, humility, and responsible speech.
To our teachers: You teach manners, but you also teach courage. You teach discipline, but you also teach discernment. You teach respect, but you also teach learners that respect does not mean surrendering their ability to think.
And that is not teaching children to be “walang modo.”
That is education.
Oliver B. Abad, PhD
Principal I
