From USTP to the Nation: Dr. Angelo Mark Walag named 2025 Metrobank Outstanding Filipino Teacher
By Zebeth A. Miranda, USTP System STRATCOMM
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The University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP) proudly honors Dr. Angelo Mark P. Walag, Professor VI of the Department of Science Education of the College of Science and Technology Education, and Director of Publication (Mindanao Journal of Science and Technology), for being named one of the 2025 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipino Teachers. Dr. Walag received the prestigious award on September 5, 2025, at the Grand Hyatt Manila in Makati City. Following the ceremony, he was also honored by the House of Representatives, the Supreme Court, and the Senate of the Philippines. A recognition ceremony at Malacañang Palace is set this October — a fitting culmination to a series of national tributes to his excellence and service in education.
At just 32 years old, Dr. Walag is among the youngest professors at USTP to achieve the rank of Professor VI, a distinction that speaks volumes about his dedication to teaching, research, and innovation. His influence extends beyond the university walls — reaching 14 Department of Education (DepEd) divisions across Northern Mindanao and numerous alternative learning centers where teachers often rely on improvised materials.
Through his programs such as the Instructional Technology and Educational Content (iTEC) and the Continuing Professional Learning Course (CPLC), Dr. Walag has designed modules, digital resources, and educational games that make science learning more interactive, accessible, and enjoyable. These initiatives are not confined to theory — they are tangible teaching tools that have found their way into classrooms, helping teachers simplify complex concepts and inspire curiosity among students.
From storybooks about diseases to climate change board games, the innovations developed under the iTEC program breathe life into science lessons and nurture a deeper understanding of the world among learners.
To his colleagues, Dr. Walag is known as a quiet yet inspiring mentor — one who listens before he speaks and leads by example. To his students, he is a guide who empowers them to find their own answers while walking alongside them in the process of discovery. His mentorship has created a ripple effect, equipping teachers who, in turn, empower their own students with knowledge and confidence.
Within USTP, Dr. Walag’s dedication has been consistently recognized. In 2021, he received multiple awards during the USTP PRAISE Awards, including those for Research Productivity, Publication, Citation, Intellectual Property Rights, and the Global Citation Award (AD Science Index). This year, he was also honored with the Student Recognition for Excellent Teaching under the Teaching Excellence Awards (TEA) 2025 — a heartfelt testament from his students themselves.
For Dr. Walag, recognition goes beyond awards and titles. What matters most to him is seeing teachers gain the confidence to teach science with ease and watching students discover their potential to become scientists and innovators.
His selection as a Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipino is both a personal milestone and a reflection of USTP’s mission to nurture trailblazers who inspire change through education, research, and innovation.
Keep moving onwards and up, Trailblazer!
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