Fallar teaches, explains teachers' inspiration

Adelia Fallar expounds on what inspires teachers to do their job

A classroom can just be anywhere and everyone and anyone can be students at any time or all the time. 

That was the message given by Adelia Dell Fallar, past president of the Filipino-American Community of the Carolinas Inc. (FACC) as she held an impromptu class during her inspirational message at the Teachers Appreciation ceremony sponsored by the FACC at the Asian Library last May 20.

Fallar started her message with the question “Why teach?” and when the audience looked back with bewildered amusement, replied that there is no need to inspire teachers to teach since they are already inspired with their work.

Each of the teacher honorees starting from Mirasol Abogi to Reymond Anthony Quan started answering the question from one line to a paragraph. 

The answers ranged from teaching being a noble profession to teaching as a means of employment to provide for one's family. The teacher honorees became students again, answering questions from a teacher.

Fallar didn't stop and asked a second question; “what do teachers make?” and she also directed that question to past FACC presidents Dr. Nini de Bautista and Wally Penilla and both gave their respective answers. 

She synthesized these questions and answers in her message explaining the whys and hows of teaching. Her engagement kept the audience attentive and responsive as well. 

The FACC which is celebrating its 30th gala this year hosted the first appreciation day for teachers in the Charlotte, North Carolina area. 

Among those awarded were Mirasol Abogi of Ridge Road Middle School, Liza D. Capacia of South Mecklenburg High School, Dr.Tereso Casino of Gardner-Webb University, Adelia Fallar, who retired from teaching at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools;

Cynthia Bacalzo Germaine of Huntersville Elementary School, Dr. Lorene Pagcaliwagan of Gardner-Webb University, Reymond Anthony Quan of Garinger High School, Cielo A Sides of Christian Montessori School of Lake Norman;

Cristina Sloan Huntingtowne of Farms Elementary School, Roditha Lourdes Fuentes Terado of Harding University High School, Edwin Tranquilino of Harding University High School and Myra Tranquilino of Lincoln Charter School. 

The honorees were each given gift cards from an anonymous donor and art tiles lovingly made by the FACC Board of Directors under the tutelage of artist/designer/art teacher Edelweiss de Guzman, 2nd VP. 

FACC secretary Carllyn Ave showed a painting that they considered a work of love—a burning love for teachers who help their students and community. “It is about appropriate to honor them with a work of love as well. A work of art by the FACC board of directors,” she said.

The honorees were given French chocolate that bore a label “merci” which means thank you and an IHOP gift card for them to enjoy with their family. IHOP as in “Inspirational Heart for Some Outstanding People,“ as Ave said./Susan Palmes-Dennis

The assembled teacher honorees with FACC members. Photo by Carilyn Ave