Monday, October 06, 2008 Dr. Dum and the rewards of perseverance By Luis A. Quibranza III
HE'S no comic-book villain. Nor is this a movie review of a local super-hero flick to hit theaters this Christmas. This is one man’s tale worth bringing to mind whenever you feel like facing a wall in your life. The message? There is no substitute for perseverance.
Dr. Teoddie B. Dumam-ag, the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences of the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R), kindly spared some time for the conversation coming fresh off a business trip from Shizuoka, Japan.
The ninth out of 11 siblings of a family based from Siquijor, Teoddie never could have imagined then the life he is living today. He shares about how the kids toiled in their family’s farm and piggery back in the day to make both ends meet.
Sustaining a family of 13 is no easy task. But what’s even harder is sending all 11 children to school. But Teoddie was determined to achieve greater things despite the hardships.
He had his college education in USJ-R. But it didn’t come as easy during his freshman year.
Though his first year was fully sponsored, he had to attend school with only a 10-peso-a-week allowance. He claims to have walked, rain or shine, from where he was staying in R. Landon to the university downtown.
The money that he saved, he utilized for projects and other requirements needed from him in school.
In his second year, he had to apply to be a working student in the university.
By doing so, he attained his scholarship for his education but in return he had to render service to the university. He was assigned in the priests’ convent and he recalls himself as the boy who cleaned the priests’ comfort rooms.
Life went on for Teoddie as he worked like no other. But just when everything seemed fine, a financial hurricane overcame him during his last year in the university and he was caught in a desperate situation.
So desperate in fact that it was enough to convince him to attempt ending his life.
“I was on the sixth floor of the school: confused, teary-eyed and clutching a rosary. I was a few feet from the edge — and suddenly — a gust of wind came stopping me in my tracks. That was when I felt God speak to me: ‘You have a big future ahead of you; don’t do it’.”
I hinted a crack in his voice as he recalled details in a soft voice in the hush of day.
“I really believe there’s a God. Because the following day, the money arrived,” he testifies.
It’s true when they say (again banking on clichés) that “life is what you make it.”
He once professed a promise to himself that he wanted to be a doctor of philosophy before he reached 30.
He became one at 28.
Teoddie claims that “never in his wildest dreams did he think of attaining such a position like the deanship.” But I guess that’s where perseverance gets you in the end, with you reaping the rewards.
Right now, he is busy with the academe and has his hands full.
But in spite of this, he still manages to make time to enjoy life with his wonderful wife and three energetic boys.
His gratitude also goes out to Dr. Mila Espina, whom he considers as his mentor; and Dr. Estrella Navarro, who trained him to become who he is today.
“Set your aims and goals in life. Try to come up with steps and methods to reach those goals one at a time. And, of course, a dose of prayer is very important.
“You can never forget prayer,” Dr. Dum ends the interview with a message to inspire.
Looks like it’s not only Spider-Man’s Uncle Ben who’s got words of wisdom.
