ROXAS CITY, Capiz — The atmosphere at Villareal Stadium is electric as thousands of newly promoted teachers and school heads from across Western Visayas gather this morning for one of the largest mass oath-taking ceremonies in recent history. The event, unfolding now, has turned the stadium into a sea of educators donning their finest attire, their faces beaming with long-awaited recognition.
An Unforgettable Morning for Thousands of Educators
Currently underway at the 8 a.m. ceremony, the program is running smoothly, with Education Secretary Sonny Angara officially leading the oath-taking of what officials confirm to be 8,566 newly promoted public school personnel. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., who is also expected to deliver a keynote address, is present to personally witness the historic induction. Many participants formed long queues as early as 5 a.m., eager to secure seats for the life-changing moment.
Among the participants are educators coming from eight Schools Division Offices across the region: Capiz, Aklan, Antique, Guimaras, Iloilo, Iloilo City, Passi City, and Roxas City. The sheer size of the crowd—estimated to be well over 8,000—makes this easily one of the largest, if not the largest, assembly of promoted education personnel in the country this year.
The ceremony was originally scheduled for April 19 but was moved to today to avoid conflicts with the Capiztahan 2026 celebration and the National Festival of Talents. This adjustment appears to have worked in the event's favor, as the venue is now packed with a palpable sense of celebration.
A Safe and Orderly Venue for an Historic Event
Every inch of Villareal Stadium is currently buzzing with controlled energy. The Capiz Police Provincial Office (CPPO) has deployed 578 personnel—500 from the Philippine National Police and 78 from other partner agencies—to maintain peace and order within the venue. Help assistance desks have been set up around the stadium perimeter, allowing lost attendees and those needing medical aid to receive immediate support.
Security at the entrance points is tight, with personnel diligently conducting bag checks to ensure prohibited items do not enter the premises. Provincial officials, led by Governor Fredenil H. Castro, have coordinated traffic management strategies to handle the influx of vehicles and spectators, ensuring that those coming from as far as Antique and Guimaras can access the venue without major delays.
For those who cannot be physically present, the Provincial Information Office has set up a live feed, allowing the family members and supporters of the promoted teachers to witness the oath-taking from home.
A Strong Signal for the Future of Public Education
The backdrop of this ceremony is the government's Expanded Career Progression (ECP) System. This reform program bridges the career gap between Teacher III and Master Teacher I by establishing new position titles—Teacher IV through VII, and Master Teacher V—providing teachers with clear, data-driven pathways for career advancement. For many of the educators present, today's oath-taking more than doubles their previous salaries and opens the door to leadership roles they could only dream of a few years ago.
Moreover, the event is a testament to the government's commitment to a pledge President Marcos made during his previous State of the Nation Address: not to let any teacher retire from the entry-level position of Teacher I. Since August 2025, over 65,000 teachers and school heads nationwide have been promoted under the ECP system. The president is scheduled to deliver his keynote address following the ceremony, where he is expected to reaffirm his administration's ongoing budgetary support for the education sector and discuss the newly released PhP10,000 teaching supply allowance currently available for the 2025-2026 School Year.
As the echoes of the collective oath fade into the Roxas City sky, the event organizers are already preparing for the rice distribution activity at the covered gym in Barangay Milibili, which the President is expected to attend within the hour. For the thousands of newly promoted educators, the journey to better compensation, better training, and a better public school system has now officially begun.
