CAINTA, Rizal — A 43-year-old gradeschool mentor from Cavite captured one of the Top 10 awards in the “2009 Metrobank Foundation Search for Outstanding Teachers in the Philippines”, it was reported.

Department of Education (DepEd) Regional Director Paraluman R. Giron of Southern Tagalog-A (Calabarzon) identified the top Cavite tutor as Gemma G. Cortez, a Master Teacher II in Grade 5 of the Dasmarinas Elementary School in Dasmarinas, Cavite.

Giron said Cortez was one of four elementary school tutors who made it in the national competition’s 10 winners who included four high school and two tertiary school teachers.

Giron said Cortez, together with the other winners, went through a rigid elimination process participated in by some 800 other top-performing educator-aspirants from DepEd’s 17 regions.

The selection culminated in a day-long interview of 20 finalists with the national board of judges co-chaired by Supreme Court Justice Teresita Leonardo-de Castro and Muntinlupa City Rep. Rufino Biazon.

Now in its 25th year, the Metrobank annual search for the country’s top teachers primarily recognizes Filipino educators for their contributions to the teaching profession, personal integrity and character, instructional competence and professional and community involvement.

Giron said Cortez was a consistent achiever, having been, among others, a winning teacher-coach in pupil academic contests in the school, district and division levels; an organizer of in-serive teacher training programs; a developer of instructional and testing materials, and a regular resource speaker and demonstration teacher.