TRAILBLAZER as is her nature, Dr. Ester B. Velasquez set up the Doctor of Science in Nursing, major in gerontology. Cebu Normal University (CNU) is, thus, the only school offering this program in the entire Philippines. Already it has attracted over 40 students from far and wide, including Baguio.

Before this, she had put up customized Nursing programs for health-allied professionals and for medical doctors. They would need only 24 months and 18 months, respectively, to finish Nursing. Not surprising a feat. From an initial 800 students, CNU’s graduate school now has over 1,800.

As a child, however, she remembers her mother always pointing out to her the people who had done good, big or small, to their family. And so, she learned that even without strings attached, people can be generous and helpful to others. And that the beneficiary must never forget to be grateful.

So, to those who contributed to what she became and achieved, this daughter of a humble dressmaker in Ozamis will make a gratitude journey.

This she promised when Dr. Velasquez finished her second term as CNU president last September. In making her journey, CNU will not be far from her thoughts.

There’s the income-generating “Amuma,” the aptly called care-giving program earning the support of the Canadian Consulate through fellow Ozamisnon, Honorary Consul Robert Lee.

There’s the very-first-in-Cebu vertical mural dubbed as “Cebu Legacy.” Markedly visible and impressive even from across the street, this project was executed by the artistic and expert hands of UP Cebu’s Fine Arts graduates and Prof. Carl Roque. All these as a labor of love, gratis et amore.

CNU further spread its wings by creating two campuses in Balamban and Medellin. This, upon the request of their municipal officials.

To boost the country’s need for good teachers, Dr. Velasquez set up the Center for Teacher Excellence. Willing supporters were the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc., the Philippine Business Society for Progress, City Savings Bank and the Coalition for Better Education.

Communication skills being a must-have for global competitiveness, the lady president built another speech laboratory for CNU’s increasing number of students. Sharing her dream was Rep. Prospero Pichay who used his Countryside Development Fund.

From the Commission on Higher Education, she got funds for the creation of the Knowledge Development Center. Funding support came, too, from the Advocates of Living Values for the construction of CNU’s Values Boulevard.

CNU also instituted the Beam (Basic Education for Assistance to Mindanao) program. Through this, about 35 qualifiers from among 80 applicants from Mindanao are trained to teach. After two years of training at CNU, all funded by the Australian government, they go back with a certificate in teaching, equipped to teach English to their Muslim brothers and sisters.

Clearly, Dr. Velasquez’ gratitude journey also meant a paying forward.

(lelani.echaves@gmail.com)

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(November 24, 2008 issue)
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