SMART 2A - MODULE 2

Response to the Ramon Magsaysay Foundation Award

LEARNING
OBJECTIVES
At the end of the lesson, you are expected to:

a. Research on the citation message on why Dr. Pedro T. Orata was given the Ramon Magsaysay Foundation Award;
b. Identify the factors that led Dr. Orata to deliver his response to the award; and
c. Reflect on Dr. Orata’s response by writing a journal entry.

TOPIC
OUTLINE
Lesson 1: Response to the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation

OVERVIEW

Hello, students! Welcome to the second module of SMART 2A. Through this course, we hope to instill the spirit
of nobility among you. Along with this goal is the aim for you to understand the history of our University as well as the
roots of its philosophies and values.

In this module, we will review Dr. Pedro T. Orata’s response to his Ramon Magsaysay Foundation Award. After
that, we will draw out the factors that led Dr. Orata to his response by backtracking his life and experiences from the
previous modules.

ACTIVATING PRIOR
KNOWLEDGE
Before we proceed with the lesson, please answer the short question: If you were to receive an award at this
moment in your life, how would you respond to it?

LEARNING ACTIVITY 2.1

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH
In 1971, Dr. Pedro T. Orata was awarded by the Ramon Magsaysay Foundation for Public Service. By this time, he
was already dubbed as the “Father of Barangay High School” because of his advocacy to open public high schools in
every barangay.

The Board of Trustees of the Ramon Magsaysay Foundation cites why Dr. Orata deserves the award. Research
what the citation says about Dr. Orata by looking it up on the foundation’s website. Check this link: bit.ly/35dcHjM
After reading the citation, partner with another student and answer the following questions:

1. What prompted the Ramon Magsaysay Foundation to award Dr. Orata for Public Service? Do you think Dr.
Orata deserves the award?

2. What core value of the University do you think did he display in the achievements mentioned in the citation?

Post your answers on our discussion board (Online Learning) or write them on a sheet of paper, and submit it to
me (Offline Learning).

Assess each other based on each other’s performance in this activity using the rubric in the next page:

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 Rubric for Peer Assessment
(Adapted from iRubric)

Criteria Needs improvement Acceptable Excellent

(1 point) (3 points) (5 points)

Involvement Minimally involved in the Involved in the work and Extremely involved in the
work. Submitted own work contributed to the output work, took a leadership
but otherwise not actively through comments and role, and made significant
involved. suggestions. contributions to the output.

Respect Ignored or disrespected Respected other member’s Actively sought the other
other member’s opinions. opinions, accepted them and member’s opinions and
made modifications. ensured that input was
incorporated into the output.
Gave positive feedback and/
or encouragement.
Attitude Displayed a negative attitude Displayed a compliant Displayed a positive attitude
about the assignment and attitude about the about the assignment and
working with a partner. assignment and working working with a partner.
with a partner. Fostered communication
and staying on task.

Total Points: ________________ This peer assessment shall be part of your grade in class participation (15 points).

RESPONSE TO THE RAMON MAGSAYSAY

AWARD FOUNDATION
Read Dr. Pedro T. Orata’s response when he received
his award:

I am unable to find the right words to express my

gratitude for the honor which you have bestowed upon
my humble self. All I can say is that I will do my utmost to
continue deserving the foundation’s confidence.

As I have said from the beginning of our work seven

years ago, it has been possible to accomplish what we have
done because of several very favorable conditions: first,
the permissive atmosphere provided by the Department
of Education, from the Secretary down to the Division
Superintendents and their staffs; second, the wholehearted
response and cooperation of the parents, students, and lay
leaders who have worked very hard to provide the necessary
financial support; and third, the backing of the President,
Congress, governors, city and municipal mayors, barrio
captains and councilmen, who invariably have put the
interest of the people, especially the barrio (village) people,
above all other considerations.

This being so, as I announced in Singapore, the award

really belongs to all the people who made it possible to
operate the barrio high schools, community colleges and
preschools–despite the opposition of vested interests.
Very fortunately, these vested interests are now our allies It is for this reason that I have decided that every cent
because they, themselves, are benefiting from these projects of the award will be spent towards the extension of the
in more ways than one, which need not be mentioned. The projects, not only in the Philippines but abroad as well. The
fact is that there is very little opposition to the continuation people in the remaining barrios that have no high schools
and extension of these projects. Our people–all of us– have as much right to education at all levels as the ones in
realize at last that unless we help the barrio people in their the 1,600 that have them now. What form the aid will take
effort to lift themselves up, they will continue pulling us–all will be decided in due course, and you will be informed.
of the rest of us–down. Our well-being and welfare are
dependent upon their having equal opportunity to develop Again, permit me to thank you most sincerely for this
their capacities to the utmost for the welfare of all. award, and I hope I will continue to deserve your confidence.

2 SMART 2A
 LEARNING ACTIVITY 5.2
MODULE QUIZ

Write TRUE if the statements on Dr. Orata’s response is accurate, FALSE if not.

___________ 1. The success of Dr. Orata would not be possible without the help of the officials from the Department of
Education (DepEd), Office of the President, the Congress, and other government officials involved; and the
support of the communities.

___________ 2. Dr. Orata was grateful, but at the same time, expectant of the award granted to him.

___________ 3. Dr. Orata did not mention further projects in relation to the programs that he was able to establish in the
Philippines.

___________ 4. Dr. Orata did not take credit for the award and recognized that his success should be attributed to the effort of
the barrios and communities where the schools were established.

___________ 5. Dr. Orata kept the monetary incentive from the award with the hope that the government will continue the
extension programs.

SUMMARY
Let us see if you can remember the main points raised
from the lesson provided. Below is a summary of the topic
given:

• Dr. Pedro T. Orata thanked the Department of

Education (DepEd) and the Office of the President and
government officials for taking an interest and
providing financial support in the projects concerning
the establishing of barrio and community schools.

• Dr. Orata offered his award to the people from the

communities who helped to operate the schools,
especially the parents and the students.

• Dr. Orata pledged the monetary incentive from the

award for the further extension of the projects
particularly in the remaining barrios that do not have
access yet to higher education.

REFERENCE

Dr. Pedro T. Orata (1971). The Ramon Magsaysay Award

Foundation (1957-2020). Retrieved from:
bit.ly/35dcHjM

Dr. Pedro T. Orata receiving the Ramon Magsaysay award.

(October 18, 1971). Pammadayaw gapu iti serbisio
publiko. [Photograph]. Bannawag magazine, cover
page, pp. 12-13.

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