ILOILO – An advocate of reading from the municipality of Pavia, Iloilo has been chosen as one of the Ten Outstanding Filipinos this year.
Pavia National High School’s Alma Janagap, Ed.D., is an English teacher and remedial reading adviser who developed an innovative school-based Reading Clinic—a first of its kind in Western Visayas and is now being replicated in 149 other schools in the region.
Today, Dr. Janagap and nine others would be conferred with the prestigious award that annually recognizes responsible citizens, exemplary public servants, and agents of positive change in their communities.
A Master Teacher II, Dr. Janagap is an advocate of a culture of reading among students. She believes it is the backbone of all wisdom and learning.
Her Reading Clinic is a one-room reading haven equipped with books and multimedia materials ranging from interactive videos, charts and games. It provides a conducive, reader-centric environment for academically struggling students to improve not only their reading but also other skills applicable in non-academic situations.
The Reading Clinic was recognized as “Most Effective Remedial Reading” program in the province of Iloilo, and Janagap was cited as “Most Outstanding Remedial Reading Teacher” in Iloilo in 2013.
The innovation eventually became a benchmarking model in the Department of Education’s Division of Iloilo and has been replicated by 149 out of 179 schools.
Janagap’s remedial classes have also extended through her immediate communities. Taking another shape through “Project Mind, Body and Soul”, she personally visits houses in the neighborhood — where she does lectures on reading and writing skills, hygiene and nutritional needs, and building of spiritual character.
Outside her reading advocacy, Janagap actively promotes responsible parenthood and successful marriages among families through the conduct of seminars in the local parish.
Joining the ranks of 655 outstanding public servants recognized by Metrobank Foundation Inc. since 1985, Janagap and the night other awardees will be honored at a formal conferment ceremony today at the Metrobank Plaza in Makati City.
Each awardee will receive a cash incentive of P1 million, a trophy, and a gold medallion.
Janagap graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education, cum laude, at West Visayas State University.
She earned her Master’s degree in Education and Doctor of Education degree with specialization in Educational Leadership and Management at the University of Visayas in Cebu.
Janagap earned the citations Pambansang Ulirang Guro 2016 and the Most Outstanding School Paper Adviser of the Philippines. (Iloilo Capitol/PN)
