The Other Side of Mae: A Reflection on "Frère: De La Salle Patron Saint of Teachers'

Thursday, January 28, 2016

On Being Destined to Be a Teacher

This was our board at the MatSci Department yesterday. I was not there when these words were written. I wasn't there to contribute any of these sentiments and realizations. I wasn't there to pour my heart out but these were more than my very own hugot lines! Because first and foremost, I did NOT choose to become a teacher. I never ever wanted to be one! However, I already had this gut feeling when I was still in high school that God wants me to become a teacher. So I left Ozamiz, studied in MSU-IIT, took up Chemical Engineering, became a licensed Chemical Engineer, landed an engineering job in Manila, and had another in an industrial plant in Cebu. I wandered far and long from the will of God. I tried everything just to keep away from what He wants me to do. Long story short, I never felt at home in all those places I went to. My ending, went back home and did nothing for 7 months!

Then I still didn't want to become a teacher. I did data-entry encoding, call center, secretary, online writing, and entrepreneur wannabe (now wannabe no more). I tried all jobs not related to my field, kulang nalang was to apply as a domestic helper. Promise, I was also willing to be one if only I had my own money to pay for the placement agency at that time. Kaloka talaga my tambay days back then! Until came such a time that I suddenly went to MUHS and applied as a secondary science teacher. So I did become a teacher!

Teacher, teacher, teacher! I was already a teacher but I didn't act like a teacher. I just did the profession out of necessity so I've got something to do because at that time, I didn't care if I have money or not. I'd rather not have money than do things I hate. But I had nothing else to do and I also didn't want to forget what I've learned in college. Blood, sweat, and tears lang naman ang ipinuhonan sa IIT, noh! So I also wanted to share whatever knowledge I have.

Then off I went from school to school! From MUHS, Medina College, to La Salle University. OMG! I just realized! I am now on my 7th teaching year! On my first job, I only spent 10 days. Second job, 11 months. And now, it already took me years in this teaching job?! Oh, what a surprise! Isn't it obvious that this is where I should be? In 7 years, quota na ako! Well actually, when a high school batchmate visited me at the store last Monday and asked me why am I settling for less here in Ozamiz 'coz she knows my potential earnings when I do a chemical engineering job abroad, it was my very first time to finally give an answer! With conviction, I told her that this is where I'm meant to be! First time ever, through my words I've come to realize that I had already accepted that I am a TEACHER! This is my fate. This is my calling. This is my vocation. This is my mission. Though it took me 7 years to understand, I now have the heart for teaching!

Anyway, you might be getting me wrong in this. I am not only saying this because my energy is still too high from yesterday's celebration of Catholic Teachers' Day. I'm not only saying this because I was super happy during the celebration and super delighted with my students' surprises. But I am saying this to officially decide to myself that I'll keep teaching until there are students who are willing to be taught. When momentum gives way to gravity, I fall! Fall in love with the teaching profession because I am destined to become a teacher!

The Day Started with This

And This

Then Ended Up Like This!

The friendship I have with the MatSci Department keeps me going through these years!

Once again, thank you so much to the Supreme Student Council for the very bongga Catholic Teachers' Day celebration! And to my Physics majors who never fail me all this time! Thank you so much, guys for the effort, hard work, thoughtfulness, and love. Your love notes truly inspires me to continue being a "mother" not only to you but also to all my other students as well. As always, it is my students who are my dear inspiration! :)

Balloons by Fascino

Feeling Old and Sentimental on Catholic Teachers' Day

World Teachers' Day 2014
When Teaching Was So Hard Yet Super Fun For Me!

When I Was Pharmaseeing
Whatta Labbing Feeling

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

A Reflection on "Frère: De La Salle Patron Saint of Teachers"

Two weeks ago in our Lasallian Philosophy of Education class, we were told to write our reflection on a certain film that we had viewed during our class' second session. Last Sunday, our teacher, Br. Jaime Dalumpines, FSC returned our papers but before handing the papers to us, he read to the whole class my work without mentioning my name. He said that it was well-written and deserves to be posted in the school's website or make it into a tarpaulin even. I was so elated by his words and was about to shed tears of joy. But I pretended not to feel those things of course so my classmates won't tell that it was my work Br. Jimmy was reading.

While my work was being read, I couldn't describe what I felt for such recognition and honor. I had been writing all my life but it seems like I am a clanging cymbal just making noise in this universe. It seems like I'm always knocking and knocking for people to let me in. It seems like I'm posting and posting to get attention for this little blog of mine. Not that I don't have readers. Of course I have! But it's different when you will be applauded for a job well done.

So for those who want to read what I've written, here it is. I'll just take the effort in posting this here in my very own website so you will be the first readers of this "workmanship".

I'm fond of collecting quotations and these are the lines I picked up from the short animated film, Frère: De La Salle Patron Saint of Teachers:

"They carry my loads but I don't carry theirs."

I may not be the child who was born with a golden spoon in the mouth but I do have house help and store help. Sometimes, I take them for granted and miss to communicate the language of love to them. I think I must be more understanding when they ask for cash advance. Hehe.....

"Sometimes, it's hard to discern God's will."

Whenever I'm in doubt of this teaching profession, I just remind myself to just go on. Until now, I'm still asking if this is really God's will for me. But I am now on my sixth year so I guess, this is according to His plan.

"Life moves in cycle. Life and death and new life."

Apart from the Rel. Ed. classes I had way back in high school, I gained more understanding from the life and works of St. John Baptist De La Salle now that I am already working here. It's just so great to take part in his mission. Though St. La Salle left the world ages ago, his mission lives on through the brothers, faculty, staff, and students of the De La Salle schools.

"LOVE the young people you teach."

In fulfilling God's call and St. La Salle's mission, LOVE is all we need. Without love, it would not be easy for us to heed the call.

Though you might say that this is only shallow, think what you think it is. But for me, I am not writing to please everyone because I do know that there is that someone, somewhere who will be touched if I am writing from the heart!

Now here's the trailer of Frère: De La Salle Patron Saint of Teachers by the School of Design and Arts Animation Department of De La Salle-College of St. Benilde via YouTube.