2024 TAG Educators’ Forum and Awarding Ceremony

Charity B. Duremdez, SDO-Escalante City
December 9, 2024

The Fo Guang Shan (FGS) Foundation Inc. concluded its 2024 TAG Educators’ Forum and Awarding Ceremony with a grand parade of participants on November 30, 2024. Held at the Fo Guang Shan Mabuhay Temple, Manila, Philippines. The event recognized the 28 Schools Division Offices with 300 public and private elementary and secondary schools all over Philippines which will be able to implement projects in line with the principles of the Three Acts of Goodness for 2024 with the theme: “Radiating Kindness: The Power to Ripple Effects.” The Project aims to encourage participating schools to hone their learners into holistic and noble Filipino youth through the implementation of school-based value-driven programs and projects; and to mold their character and improve their well-being by doing good deeds, speaking good words, and thinking good thoughts.

The ceremony commenced with the singing of National Anthem with the Philippine flag, Buddhist flag and TAG fag through an Audio Visual followed by Teachers’ Prayer. Venerable Yung Guang (Adviser-Three Acts of Goodness Project), delivered the opening remarks, highlighting the significance of the project. He said, “For more than a decade, Fo Guang Shan and the Buddha’s Light International Association have organized a variety of activities. It is hoped that everyone can regard the Three Acts of Goodness as a part of their daily life, and constantly put them into practice. Fo Guang Shan advocates the "Three Good Practices," which are saying good words, doing good deeds, and having good thoughts. To do good deeds is to generate good physical karma by not killing, not stealing, and not committing any illicit acts. Instead, one should practice doing good by benefiting others with kind and beneficial deeds. To say good words is to cultivate good speech karma, which means one should not lie, nor engage in duplicitous, harsh, or trivial speech. When one speaks, one's words should be kind, rational, wise, and truthful. Bearing good thoughts refers to cultivation of the mind. A mind should be free of doubt, jealousy, greed, anger, and hatred, and instead have compassion, kindness, benevolence, motivation, and vows. Cultivating these qualities is the practice of bearing good thoughts. Therefore, following the three good practices affects our futures immensely. It even affects the whole community and nation, for the positive or negative morale of a society depends on the three karmas of body, speech, and mind of its citizens. If we all say good words, then what we always hear will be music to our ears. If we all do good deeds, then through helping one another valuable friendships can be established. If we all bear good thoughts, then we will find respect, peace, and harmony anywhere we go.”

A wide range of activities were held throughout the three days, including the Educator’s tour in Tagaytay, Educator’s forum, Song competition, Creative Writing and the Siddhartha Musical Show.

Dr. Kirby Yung, Chaur-Shin, (TAG Chairman), one of the VIP’s during the awarding congratulates all the awardees. “Being good in what you do, say and think is the ingredient and important thing to succeed in life. The movement to pursue the "Three Good Practices" is one that will purify and improve the morale of society. Therefore, if one person cultivates the three good practices, then one person will find peace and freedom, and when a country follows the three good practices, then the whole country will attain peace and unity,” Dr. Chaur-Shin added to his speech.

Certificate of recognitions were given to Fo Guang Shan, Inc., DepEd of the Philippines and Dr. Cecilia B. Manikan awarded by Dr. Kirby Yung, Chaur-Shin, Venerable Miao Jing, Director Graciela Mendoza and Dr. Cecilia B. Manikan. Next award, the Certificate of appointment and Certificate of Acknowledgement were given to Dr. Marsette Sabbaluca, Dr. Genis Murallos and Dr. Marjorie Evasco, awarded by Venerable Yung Guang, Head Abbess.

Director Graciela Mendoza, External Partnership Service Department of Education in the Philippines, Representative of Honorable Secretary Sonny M. Angra was the guest speaker during the event. In her speech, “Being a human we are, we have to transform lives and nurture goodness in everything we do.  Doing a good deed every day may seem like a lofty goal to achieve but when you really think about what a ‘good deed’ is, it would usually only take you a few seconds or even a few minutes to accomplish. A daily ‘good deed’ is very rarely extravagant, or expensive but rather good deeds are often simple courtesies, pleasantries, and small acts of kindness that have a large impact on a person’s life. You can really make someone’s day especially if they’re feeling down by lifting their spirits with a good-hearted deed that is genuine. To go out of your way for someone else will not only make them feel better but it will make you feel better as well.”

Vice Mayor Yul Servo, represented by Sir Jhay Balboa Po, Executive Assistant at Manila City Hall read the message from the Vice Mayor’s Office. The content of the message highlighted on sending best regards to the Fo Guang Shan, Inc. and the TAG Awardees. Servo’s message stated that, “In a world where it is often difficult or near impossible to control the events and conditions that we experience on a day-to-day basis, doing ‘good deeds’ is a great way of responding to our environment in both a healthy and positive way. Good deeds are not flashy, they may not be recognized, and it can be hard to find them every day but it’s about looking out for your fellow man or woman with no expectation of a reward. Doing a good deed shows that we are all part of the same community, the same society, and the same world and that when we look out for one another on a human level, we all benefit as a result. Good deeds are a start but that’s just one part of being a good human being. However, doing a good deed daily will exercise our empathetic core, heighten our awareness of relating to others, and to be more aware of how we can positively influence our environment.”

In an interview given to Sir Deodato Sta. Iglesia Flandez, Jr., Teacher-In-Charge, Baybay City, Leyte, he said, “Truly amazing experiences with Fo Guang Shan. Since day zero, I am humbly grateful and witness the generosity of the Technical Working Group members. As I see the students, they are dreamers, future leaders and become somebody. Looking their way of life is safe and secure at Guang Ming College. You all making a big difference in changing life for every JUAN who believing their dreams to make into reality. Grateful to Fo Guang Shan Foundation to counting Department of Education. Rest assured that we will continue to propagate the Three Acts of Goodness in our schools to resonate kindness to everyone that may we be progressive and attain global peace. As we go to our station, we continue to serve our community, our stakeholders, our teachers, our learners and our world to live with kindness. TAG is a way of life. It touches lives beyond borders. MABUHAY FGS!”

The awardees received certificate of Recognition and a check of Ten Thousand Pesos (10,000.00) grant. Top Ten (10) Best TAG implementers for cycle 8:  Daga ES, Severino Escario ES, Mabini NHS Alimatoc Ext. HS-Elem, Department, Hinadu Daku NHS, Conception NHS, Sultan Ali Akbar Sinenggayan NHS, Manila Science HS and Balo-I NHS. Schools Division Offices awardees are the following: Antique, Bacolod, Bago City, Bais, Baybay, Benguet, Cadiz, Calbayog, Cebu Province, Cotabato, Escalante, Ilocos Norte, Lanao Del Norte, Leyte, Maasin, Mabalacat, Masbate, Navotas, Negros Occidental, Pampanga, Roxas, Sagay, San Carlos, Silay, South Cotabato, Southern Leyte, Sultan Kudarat and Zamboanga Del Sur.

The 2024 TAG Educators’ Forum and Awarding Ceremony marked a triumphant end, leaving the participants with unforgettable memories and a renewed sense of goodness, love, peace and unity.