I AM a nurse, but I have always loved Guidance and Counseling. Hence, when I became a licensed nurse in 1999, I opted to work at St. Peter’s Counseling Home.
I remember I was very young then, and I was so eager to do counseling as well. And I am lucky because I was trained by Dr. Felomino A. Gargar, an intellectual and passionate guidance counselor.
I remember years ago when Dr. Gargar would do counseling to patients, I would always make sure that I would be scheduled as the nurse on duty. Thereby, when the client enters the counseling room, I can observe at a distance and listen to how he begins and terminates it professionally, with a caring touch. I am genuinely amazed at how he changes the lives of lost, forsaken, abused, and shattered people.
That is why when I heard lately that Dr. Felomino A. Gargar, IABMCP, Fellow PCHA, RGC, RPm won the outstanding professional of the year (OPY) in the field of Guidance and Counseling, I felt so proud to be a part of his team years ago. Remembering his academic background, experiences, training, research, publications, and professional integrity demonstrated his professional competence. His leadership of the honor society in counseling for several years, his projects and accomplishments having co-founded St. Peter’s Counseling Home in Davao City and the HCCB New Wine Counseling Home in
Butuan City.
His “Counseling On-the-Air” Project, having facilitated bringing the guidance counselors in Ground Zero in Marawi City to advocate Peace, having served the Muslim Guidance Counselors in Utara, Malaysia, having organized national and international conferences in Guidance, touched the lives of many to become channels of Peace and sources of inspiration. Wow, how to be you?
And the very extensive involvement of Dr. Gargar in the community and other socio-related activities demonstrated his passion for service and excellence. His silent efforts to make the lives of others better made him a “beam of light” in the community.
Indeed, the OUTSTANDING PROFESSIONAL AWARD honors him for his distinguished contribution in the field of Guidance, and his exemplary services in his profession, such as counseling drug users, confused adolescents, depressed retirees and the elderly, married couples in crisis, the abused youth facing an identity crisis, among others. The award recognizes his acts of charity and community service which made him a source of inspiration to many lives.
The award shows his professionalism and commitment and professionalism in his field. His competence, excellence, and commendable track record have earned him various awards and recognition, such as the Dr. Lily Rosqueta Rosales Counselor Leadership Award, Most Outstanding Alumnus of the University of Southeastern Philippines, Diamond Cross Award, Award of Recognition and Honors for Professionalism and Integrity of the Counseling Profession, Loyalty Award, Service Award, International Award for Promoting Excellence of the Counseling Profession, Philippine Association for Teacher Education Award and Council of Deans in Graduate Education Award, among others.
Dr. Gargar is a life member of the Chi Sigma Iota Academic & Professional Honor Society in Counseling International, a Diplomate in Professional Psychotherapy from the International Academy of Behavioral Medicine Counseling & Psychotherapy (IABMCP), and a Fellow of the Philippine College of Hospital Administrators.
I missed the old times when I could see Dr. Gargar every day and see the clients in the rehabilitation center. He is currently the Co-Founder or Vice-President of the Holy Child Colleges of Butuan (HCCB) and the Co-Founder/Hospital Administrator of HCCB Hospital. I heard he also had published his latest book entitled “The Wounded Healer” (2021) and “The Heart Speaks”(2022). I am genuinely excited to grab a copy of these inspirational books, which I am sure can create changes in the lives of many.
Ahh, I will never forget the words of Dr. Gargar when I asked him about his source of energy to do all his advocacies long ago - he readily answered with an honest smile, “when you are happy with everything that you do, energy is unquenchable... life is finite, hence, do what you can with God’s grace because all of us will never pass this way again.”