Remarks by Ambassador Kristie Kenney

at the Launch of the Mindanao Teachers’ Workshop

Marco Polo Hotel, Davao

May 19, 2008

 

As delivered

 

First and foremost I want to thank the extraordinary teachers that we have here today.  This program had so many applicants, but, unfortunately, we couldn’t possibly take more than thirty-five.  So, you are not only the dedicated professionals, you’re people at top of your field.  The good news is you’ll be able to share your experience with some of the other participants and work on the problems to share all the course materials so that everybody can benefit.  Those of you who are teachers, not only get a workshop this week, but you are going to go on to become master teachers, and to teach other teachers.  It’s an extraordinary project.

 

This project was begun by Secretary Rice, thinking as she traveled around the world, of how important science and the environment were and how the countries that really worked at protecting their environment, training scientists and gaining the tools to do it, were the countries that developed faster and better.  The Philippines is the third country in the world to be selected by the Department of State for this program which is very exciting for all of us here this evening.  I think it’s a perfect choice for so many reasons.  First of all, this is a text country.  How many of you who are here are texting while I am talking? (Laughter.)  Probably a lot.  You talk to the world through text and this country is very text-savvy.  It’s also a country with extraordinary natural beauties and wonders.  This is one of the countries where the environment matters.  It is used as a source of income for those who are fishermen and for others it is a source of tourism, the incredible natural beauty that makes the Philippines so special.  It’s also a country, frankly, where the environment is threatened from factors way beyond our control; typhoon season is not something we can not do much about; global warming is something we can each do a little in our own way, but it is much bigger than each of us.  There is also the threat of deforestation, logging, poor fishing practices that not only degrade the environment but, in fact, they threaten sources of income for the years to come.  This project is particularly an important one because it combines great aptitude for technology and science with a great need to protect the environment of the Philippines.

 

It has a couple of other really exciting features.  First of all, we are taking some of the best environment teachers here and they’re going to become even better.  And I hope that it will inspire generations of students to become scientists, environmental experts and certainly to be champions for the environment after seeing so many places.  And second of all, America-and-Philippine friendship was built on teachers.  The Thomasites were really our predecessors; they were the first American diplomats in this country.  They came here to teach us and they made a name for themselves, doing what they love to do.  I think if we look at the great connection between the two countries then what better way to continue it than through teachers, teachers who will do wonderful things through science and protecting our environment.

 

I want to thank all of you for being here with us; your commitment to a great future for the Philippines and especially in Mindanao.  And I want to say how wonderful it is that we’re doing all of these in Davao, a city sometimes called the Royal City for its many attractions.  I’m going tomorrow to see one of the kings, the Philippine Eagle - another important environmental issue.  I’ll see what queens there are, your famous orchids.  And thanks to some friends here in the audience I even have an umbrella in my honor back in Manila.  It really is an extraordinary city, a gateway to a beautiful Mindanao, and a wonderful region.  There are so many factors that combine for me to make this an exceptional and a special evening.  And I want to thank all of you for being here; for caring, for having the interest, for supporting our spectacular teachers.  And I want to thank the teachers, for what you do and for the students, like myself, who because of your hard work giving fully each day, grew up and went on to be employed in work that is wonderful and that brings a smile to my face every day.

 

Again, thank you very much. Congratulations to those of you who were picked for the workshop.  Thank you for letting us be your partner and now go out and makes us proud!

 

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