Monday, February 25, 2008 Mentoring with faith By Strawberry G. Yap
WHAT she had was a dream roused by the passion to attain learning. Looking into the life of Dr. Fe Lumagbas, a realization comes to mind: when the tiniest of stones is cast into the vast ocean, it creates ripples.
Lumagbas started out her career as a classroom teacher in City Schools back in 1948. After a decade of practice, she proceeded to become the principal of Cebu Institute. In 1987, she became the Vice President for Administration at the Cebu State College and a year later joined the US Peace Corps as an English Technical Trainer. Presently she is holding office as the Principal of Bethany Christian School.
Although Lumagbas has already made her mark in teaching, her first love was music. As a young girl, she wanted to become a pianist. Years of hard work and perseverance enabled her to integrate music into the extensive list of her work experience. Included, are records of various musical compositions namely, the Cebu State College Hymn, the Cebu Normal University Hymn, the Bethany Christian School Hymn, and the Kalipay sa Rehiyon, all of which held primary awards in competitions.
Having been an educator for almost 60 years Lumagbas has authored books, written musical compositions and created declamation pieces. Attributing to her successes is her firm faith in God. According to her, “Without God, one can’t hold up in life. Constant prayer is needed.” She often times emphasize related Bible verses to stories discussed in class, letting students gain insight not just on worldly concepts but inculcating in them spiritual perspectives as well. She shares her most loved chapter of the Bible, Psalm 91. According to her, the chapter is a comfort. “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” (v. 1) To aspiring educators, she leaves a piece of advice in the words of John 15:14: “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. -- Abide in the Lord.”
Now, past the retirement age, Lumagbas, aside from being a principal, can still be found legibly scribbling intuitive lessons on the black board with a chalk in her hands. As long as she has life in her and physical dynamism intact, she vows to continue on, imparting ripples of knowledge to those young minds who find their way into one of the vacant seats in her classroom.
