From Luzon to Mindanao, teachers’ unions under the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) celebrated World Teachers’ Day on October 4 with various protests, activities, and gatherings. Their demands included significant salary increase, adequate benefits, the scrapping of the Matatag Curriculum, and an end to attacks and violations against teachers’ and employees’ rights.

“On World Teachers’ Day, we show our recognition and tribute to the teaching profession by collectively demanding an end to the state’s neglect of the education sector and its continued exploitation of teachers, employees, and Filipino youth,” ACT chairperson Vladimer Quetua said.

“This is accompanied by our fight for sufficient budget to improve the quality of education, decent and living wages for teachers and employees, guaranteed budget for additional benefits and improved working conditions, the scrapping of the flawed MATATAG curriculum and the promotion of patriotic, scientific, and mass-oriented education, and an end to state repression and the advancement of our democratic rights.”

In Metro Manila, hundreds of teachers gathered in Mendiola for a “storytelling protest.” They told the story of teachers’ miserable situation and urgent needs through a satirical play that used comedic elements.

The play, titled “Teacher and the Villains in Teacherlandia,” featured characters such as Alamano Alango, who depicted President Ferdinand Marcos Jr; Shimenet Pusit, who roleplayed Vice President and former DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte; and Impeng Matsing, who represented US imperialism. These three characters were portrayed as responsible for the low wages and inadequate benefits, low education budget, the education system’s colonial orientation, and state repression in the sector. The play showcased the teachers triumph over these characters through their collective action.

Earlier, ACT Teachers Partylist and ACT-Philippines, along with teachers, launched a protest rally in Philcoa, Quezon City.

In Bacolod, teachers warmly welcomed Rep. France Castro, the current ACT Teachers Party representative in Congress and Makabayan senatorial candidate, at a gathering to celebrate their day.

ACT-Cordillera teachers gathered at the Baguio Convention Center, calling for wages, jobs, and progressive changes in the education sector.

Teachers also marched today, October 6, to the Commission on Elections to submit papers for ACT Teachers’ candidacy in the 2025 party-list elections.