Some contributions are seen in classrooms. Others are carried onto the court, the field, and spaces where the University represents itself beyond campus.

Agusan del Sur State University (ADSSU) marked World Teachers’ Day during its Monday Flag-Raising Convocation on October 5, putting the spotlight on faculty members whose work continues to shape students long after a class has ended.

Organized by the Human Resource Management Office, the celebration took on a personal note as students offered flowers, sweets, tokens, and simple gestures of appreciation to their teachers. More than ceremonial, the moment reflected the relationships built through years of instruction, guidance, patience, and everyday encounters inside the University.

Returning to ADSSU for the occasion was Prof. Gloria E. Toyong, a retired faculty member whose teaching career and service to the institution span more than four decades. Speaking from both experience and memory, she reflected on the lasting place teachers occupy in the lives of their students.

“𝘛𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘶𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘶𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦.”

University President Joy C. Capistrano, Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Carmelo S. Llanto, and Vice President for Research, Innovation, Development and Extension Affairs Dr. Ferdinand A. Dumalagan also shared reflections on the role of teachers in developing not only capable graduates, but people prepared to contribute meaningfully to their communities.

The convocation also recognized another group that carried the ADSSU name beyond the University grounds. Participants and winners from the recently concluded LGU Sports Fest received certificates and tokens in recognition of their participation and achievements. The inter-agency and interdepartment sports activities formed part of the celebration of the 126th Philippine Civil Service Anniversary, bringing public servants together through competition, camaraderie, and shared institutional pride.

In one morning, the University recognized different expressions of service: teachers shaping lives through education, and personnel representing ADSSU through teamwork and sportsmanship.

The flowers, certificates, and tokens may be simple. The work behind them is not.