June 7, 2008. The diocese sent all its teachers to listen to two people who are willing to share their passion and purpose in life. The theme of the day is "Teaching as a vocation." Whether the(the diocese) wants to motivate and inspire their teachers and staff or to make them think of not transferring to greener pastures, there really are a lot of wisdom learned and inspiration from that day. Well, for this blog, lets set aside first the issue of competitive salary and focus instead on the things I want to reflect from that day.
I would start first with the second speaker who gave her talk in the afternoon. She is Ms. Ma. Lourie Victor. A half kankana-ey and half bisaya who looks like a 19 year old college student instead of a 35 years old lady. She is with the episcopal office of the Indigenoeus Peoples. As she was standing there talking about her cause, I can surely say that all of her energies is geared toward the causes of the IP's here in the Philippines. Brilliant she is, heck she is a graduate of Microbiology in the University of the Philippines. And I am proud because she is also a product of the elementary school where I came from: Benguet State University Elementary School.
She studied in Manila all throughout her high school and college days missing her opportunities to be with her IP culture. And now that she has come back, I can see a lot of hunger to get to know more about her Igorot origins. She encouraged us teachers to help in the preservation of our Igorot culture especially our indigenous values. She gave one example. The value of inayan. A value which made the veterans of WWII not to mutilate the dead bodies of the enemies. A value that prevents one Igorot from giving shame to himself and to his community. A value that promotes respect and humility. But sadly, this value of inayan is being forgotten because it is not being taught anymore to our children. She is full of passion for her cause and she made it her vocation. She answered "yes" where the need is most. I admire her for her strength and her energy. She is older than me but I cannot sense any tinge of tiredness. She is full of life, driven and fueled by her passion: the Indigeneous Peoples, her root and identity.
Comparing myself with her, she made me realize not to give up on my own cause. For the passion will help me overcome my own self. When I was at the age of 23 'till last year, I feel like a 91 year old woman. Soooo tired with all the obstacles and disappointments coming my way. Sometimes, I even think that I am only waiting for my own death. I know prayer will help me but there are days I simply want to let go. Another weakness I have is my depression. I'm like an Irish, happy when she's depressed. I admit depression is one of the factors that's eating a lot of my energy. I stopped practicing karate for around three months because of depression. Hence, I have to condition again my body to be fit for my belt and for the next promotional exam. I'm just lucky my sensei is not a slave driver when it comes to practices.
The second person I learned a lot from is the speaker in the morning. He is a first year English teacher in the Ateneo de Manila high school department. Everybody calls him Sir Pagsie. An 81 years old Dr. Onofre Pagsanjan. For what he is and what he is doing now is because of his own choice. Makes me think where does this old man derive all of his energies when in fact he is supposed to be retired for 31 years now. Not to mention that he volunteers his afternoon time to teach voluntarily in a public school! Going home as late as 8pm everyday. Lucky he is, he is with a wonderful, patient and understanding wife.
Again, what makes this old man going around for 81 years and many more is his PASSION.PASSION coming out from his love to share and mold young people to become good if not better. Passion to share his love for Christ because it is the same love shared with him from people around him and priests who helped and inspired him. Passion rooted in his love of GOD. PASSION being nortured everytime he receives the body and blood of Christ in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. Yes, he is an English teacher talking in front of us but God is always present in all of his sharings. We listened to him from around 8am 'till 12:20(with a snack break of course) and he admits his talk is more of a recollection rather than inspirational, he he he. But hey, what he just shared to us is his own life story, his passion and his cause which is teaching! I realized that if one's life is a journey with God, I say, his life is more of a testimony of God's unending love and even in silence, one becomes a witness of the presence and goodness of God.
Sir Pagsie, though multi awarded and he even beat the late Ninoy Aquino in an oratorical contest, is still best remembered by people and his students as the best teacher around. Even in his speech, I noticed that the words he used whether English or Tagalog are deep vocabularies. Ang lalalim ng mga salita niya. Hinders my mind from wondering around because its busy trying to lunderstand those heavy meaning words. Hmmm...I will read more books to have the same vocabulary as his's.
Even at that age, he talks with so much energy and he continiously moves his hands and body. He even sings some line to make us grasp and remember the point. The atmosphere he creates is gay and lively! Makes me doubt if he really is an 81 year old.
For half a day, there are a whole lot of things learned from sir Pagsie. Classroom management, the mission vision of the American Jesuits summarized in 5 C's, living a simple life, psychology of the students, the concept of not forgetting to integrate in our lessons the significant human experience, availability of the teacher to guide his students, his childhood and what he (and us) learned from his mother that if you want to reach your dream, you should do it with capa y espada! (Like a hero going to a battle with all cape and sword.)and yes, teaching as a vocation. And, many many many more wisdom he shared.
Well, for that morning, we have had an incidental recollection, entertainment, inspirational talk and of course, the five C's imbibed in our hearts. Sir pagsie inspires us that the five C's be one of our objectives for our students. That is to make or mold them to be a wo/man of...
1. Christ centered
2. Conscience
3. Compassion
4. Competence
5. Commitmment.
As for me, these five C's will not only be a goal to my students but also for myself. To check myself if all of the things I do and all I am is Christ centered. Sir Pagsie, I assume delivers well C number one simply by being himself. All he does and all of his talk leads to Christ and is centered on Christ! He even manages to tag along with him some 20 plus of his students to have a "penitensya" and have an incidental lesson on religion and theology at the UP chapel during holy week. Telling also the life story of the priest who touched him who is also the priest who founded that chapel.
Conscience. The diocese doesn't want us to produce people who are successfull
only. But people who are successfull but at the same time, people with conscience. Not thinking only for themselves but also taking into consideration the others especially the less priviledged. Sir Pagsie is proud of his former students who grew up with conscience but for the others (and many of them)who are unfortunately even in the congress, he said: "i'd rather not remember them". Well, values formation is the hardest part of teaching but as my SI(Supervising Instructor, Dr. Schlaaf) said when I was a practicumer, "If there is even one student who becomes a follower of Christ, it is still a success on the part of the teacher." Hmmm...have I one? I wish I have...
Compassion. Love even when not said is felt if it is genuine. One thing that makes Sir Pagsie the best teacher for his students is the love he have for them. The father in him and his availability to listen to his students. He know very well that these richy-rich sons of the elite are neglected when it comes to the attention of the parents. If there are doting parents, it is onely a few of the many. He does this without neglecting his role as a father and husband to his own family. And he even have time to share this love and love of God to the poor in the slums.
Competence. As a teacher, Sir Pagsie gained numereous medals and awards. Remembering what his mother said about capa y espada, he always make sure that his grade is in the line of 9 even when he was included in the lowest section in his entry as a freshman in the Ateneo high school. As for me, I cannot undo anymore my failures in my transcript but while I am still breathing, I am determined to continue improving myself aiming that I will also be included as one of the best. I believe it's never too late.
Committment. Here comes the challenge. It is not just a matter of being a committed teacher but staying committed to San Jose High School. I know the calling is to stay in my alma mater for sometime. After some thinking, well I guess it's worth the sacrifice to forego of that high salary in exchange of the service I can render to my school. I will not yet join the exodus to greener pasture. Mas madali sanang umalis kung hindi lahat sila nagsisi job-hoping. Oh well, i'll just entrust then my future to God. Anyway, it is his calling. My yes to the vocation He is asking from me. For how long? Only God knows. But I strongly believe He will not forsake me.
To sum up in two lines the things that I learned from Ms. Victor and Sir Pagsie is a quote from Roldan. Who is Roldan? Well, "if you don't know him, never mind as long as you remember these two lines," as sir Pagsie said.:
LOVE your CALLING with PASSION
it is the MEANING of your LIFE. - Roldan
