National Teachers College unveiled the restored Tanglaw Monument on April 29, 2025. Students, faculty, and administrators gathered to reminisce about the monument’s initial dedication, which took place during the festive celebration of the school’s 74th founding anniversary on September 29, 2002. The monument serves as a testament to history, the enduring strength of a mother’s love, and the transformative power of education. This beacon is known as Karunungan ay Tanglaw, which translates to Knowledge is Light.
The sculpture near the facade of NTC is not merely an embellishment; it strongly embodies a fundamental truth. This piece is a heartfelt tribute to Doña Teodora Alonzo, the remarkable mother of our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. It reflects her unwavering commitment and selfless dedication to nurturing her son’s intellect. Her early lessons and constant guidance ignited a passion within him, empowering him to wield his pen as a guiding light, illuminating the path toward Filipino enlightenment with his powerful and sincere words.
The statue of Doña Teodora and the young Jose Rizal is a Filipino interpretation of the Madonna and Child. It embodies a timeless theme that expresses the purest form of love and the deep bond between a parent and their child. There is a protective gentleness in the way Doña Teodora held the young hero by her side as the world of letters began to open before him. His eyes reflected the silent yet tangible pride in his emerging ability to read and grasp the concept of triumph. His mother achieved that victory through painstakingly patient instruction. In the woman’s eyes, we see the purest joy, the finest praise, and the deepest love a mother can have for her son’s accomplishment.
The monument visually represents the pride of the National Teachers College (NTC) every time an NTCian achieves a milestone, whether big or small. It embodies the institution’s spirit, guiding philosophy, and unwavering belief that “Ang Karunungan ay Tanglaw” – Knowledge is Light! This motto, which is central to NTC’s values, is beautifully displayed on the facade of the main building. NTC believes in the transformative power of education, which illuminates minds and futures, just as Doña Teodora illuminated her son’s path, and by extension, our nation!
NTC’s mission goes beyond simply teaching facts and figures. It aims to educate students to become nurturing individuals, much like a loving mother caring for her child. NTC fosters a strong academic and ethical foundation that empowers its students to achieve their personal and professional aspirations with integrity.
Furthermore, the inspiration for the sculptor, Paul Quiaño, whose academic journey took him through the esteemed halls of the University of the Philippines and further down to the classical discipline of the Florence Academy of Arts, was drawn from the age-old allegory of the moth and the flame, a beacon of yearning, sacrifice, and the often dangerous pursuit of enlightenment.
Nevertheless, the evolution of the narrative was matched by this evolution of the project. Under the wise guidance of Dr. Priscilla Y. Arguelles, the former president of NTC, the creative direction took on a more nuanced change: rather than embodying the metaphor of moth and flame, sculpture would embrace a less grandiose, more intimate, and thus more human face of knowledge. The new interpretation was kindled by Simon Flores’ “Primeras Letras”: an evocative painting showing a mother teaching her daughter. In that stilled act of learning through generations, Dr. Arguelles perceived the soul of NTC reflected: education not just as instruction, but as a bond, legacy, and a joy.
The Tanglaw Monument also evolved into a testimony of the values of the college as a whole. Every curve and contour embodies the institution’s dedication towards excellence, persistence, and purpose. It is also a symbolic representation of the future NTC strives to illuminate. It is evidence of the institution’s commitment to using education as a means of transformation. This very concept conjures images of a teacher’s gentle guiding, the strength of the Filipino family, and a lifetime endeavor of teaching that shapes not just individuals but entire communities.
The narrative behind Karunungan ay Tanglaw reminds us of the great responsibilities that teachers and institutions carry. It also sends a message to preserve our history, to raise and elevate generations through wisdom, and to look at knowledge as it deserves: a shining light that takes us toward a more educated and kinder world.
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