(A glimpse of the life of Edgardo Sara, a public school teacher of Gov. Nonito D. Llanos Sr. National High School, now in Padada National High School)
THANK you Jesus. Thank you Jesus. Thank you Jesus.
I believe in the power of prayer. It is because this prayer is my only weapon to fight against trials and difficulties and most especially to my victories in life.
I would like to start my sharing with an inquiry, “How do I become a mentor?” I could not answer it directly but I spent more time to go back the path that I had taken in order to pick up and carry some significant values in life that moves me to pursue in my journey.
One day I realized that the most fundamental quest in life is only to answer “Who am I?” Perhaps this is also the most difficult question to ponder on. This is not a quest for what I have, or what I can do now but it is all about me as being person.
As I have observed that human person nowadays likes or is very interested to know the life of others but not of his/her own self. Identity crisis may come to the life of every person when a self-realization of the real quest in life is not apparent and logical as well.
Each of us had learned and gained moral values from our very own family.
Yet, I belonged to the poorest of the poor families. My parents had gone to school and reached grade three (3) level. But I have grown with rich culture of human values of respect, obedience, understanding, patience, humility, generosity, and trust in the Lord.
My family was a nomadic one. We relocated ourselves from one region to another seeking refuge in order for us to survive from sober poverty. The only thing that I had in mind during those times was I wanted myself to be in school always.
I took my studies in elementary school in Argao, Cebu and concluded it in Baganga, Davao Oriental. I graduated in the secondary school at the age of 15 in Argao, Cebu. Fifteen years gone by, I resumed to study college and graduated at the Holy Cross of Davao College in Davao City.
At the same school, I finished my Master of Arts in Theology in the school year 2010-11. I also graduated Master of Education at Spamast in Digos, City.
My life of a school teacher had begun when I had first my PRC license in the year 2005. I was employed in the Holy Cross of Davao College, The Philippine Women’s College, Archdiocese of Davao – (Davao Catholic Herald as Digos Bureau Chief, JCC Formation Center as Coordinator) and IIREF Vicariate School of Theology).
My experiences in the private institutions were appearing to the eyes that led to an understanding that these communities were properly inculcated and upheld solid faith and values formation to their constituents. This logical statement of mine had made me become bias against public school institution.
But, I come with a realization that public school institutions need my aptitude, skills, and expertise as a teacher of values and of formation. I started to apply in the School Division Office of the Department of Education (DepEd) Davao del Sur in the year 2009.
I found it so hard in applying at the government agency. I thought my capacity and capability appeared in my pertinent papers were enough to tell them about me. But I was wrong because applicants were prioritized according to the quantity of friends and not by the quality of the documents presented. I am so sorry to tell you that I never heard a public school head or even a public school teacher in secondary school telling me that his/her school is in immediate need of a teacher for ESP, Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao.
Allow me to have a great appreciation and thankful to the optimistic effort of the Department of Education in giving the importance of the ESP in the school curriculum. But if you noticed, an evolution not only from the equivalent of 0.6 unit to 1.0 unit but also from Edukasyon sa Pagpapahalaga to Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao had made to us a deeper understanding that it would serve as the core subject of all subjects.
Sad to say, that in reality, our public schools need more teachers with expertise in handling ESP to inculcate moral values and formation to every member of the school community. Many times the ESP subject was considered as less priority than of others. Moral values in life however cannot be taught but they are caught.
I had undergone the hiring process through demonstration teaching, panel interview and English proficiency examination for four consecutive years.
While waiting, I sought help from the office of the congressman. I strived to visit the office to sign up for the daily attendance as much as possible. I had to have classes voluntarily on Sundays at Hagonoy National High School. On week days, I had to catch passengers by driving a Maligaya taxi throughout Davao City. And on Friday nights, did you know where I go? I had to facilitate a retreat and recollection for the graduating college students of the non-sectarian schools within the city of Davao.
Once I was designated to Alberto Olarte Sr. National High School in Sarangani, Davao del Sur, commonly known as “Balot Island” to be a substitute teacher for one month, I was hoping for my teaching career to be permanent. I have never gone back home after a month but to voluntarily hold classes until the school year ended without any single remuneration from the school.
I never lost hope. I believed that God has always a special plan for me. “Don’t be too hasty.” God said to me, “Be humble and you will be blessed”.
I was so independent then in my own journey. I had no family and even relatives to rely on during those times. Many times I forgot God is my saving companion. But I saw Him along my way comforting and saving me.
In the year 2013, I finally was appointed as permanent teacher to be assigned at Gov. Nonito D. Llanos Sr. National High School in Balasiao, Kiblawan, Davao del Sur.
For being a teacher, it is my precedence to bring always the value of openness, honesty and sincerity. I started to create an office of the Campus Ministry, as the only office in the entire Schools Division of Davao del Sur, for the nourishment of spiritual values and formation of every member of the school community.
A great opportunity was offered to me when the inspiration of the senior high school in the Schools Division of Davao del Sur was officially unlocked. I was humbly designed for a promotion by chance. I had to be human in facing the challenges and in entertaining the feelings that suddenly occurred in the process of my application. I had to humbly wait in the duration of 45 working days for the approval of my documents from the Regional Director of the Civil Service Commission.
Today, I am standing before you to say “Thank you so much” for your warmed welcome, acceptance and most of all, recognizing myself to become part of your family during my first day of service in the (Gov. Nonito Llanos Sr. National High School and Padada National High School). I am happy to meet my old and new friends here in school.
The war against bad conduct and sets of values is here and now. I feel that I am on the forefront as a mentor and companion of yours. I believe that the very foundation of educating values at home and in school community begins with the right organization and development of our healthy self-concept.
I think, you and I are the reasons why we celebrate Teacher’s Day. The way we talk, the way we listen, the way we behave, the way we appreciate life and the way we develop in us a healthy self-concept are indeed the most fundamental values that every 21st century teacher must hold.
As we continue to our journey, let us unite ourselves in attaining the vision, mission and goals of the school by showing God’s love to one another, a kind of love that is never conditioned by our own interests. Let us teach peace and joy in our hearts rather than hatred and anger. Let us build a habit of prayer in our daily lives.
Stand for something. Believe in yourself. Have faith in your abilities. Always have class and be humble. The members of this school community need you most in order to touch and heal their needy hearts. Saint Mother Teresa, “Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely, and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed to do the humble work”.
Hey, please look at me and think you know me. But you don’t at all. This is the real me. I am a humble person, a feeling person who cares about others and wants to help others.
Thank you Jesus. Thank you Jesus. Thank you Jesus. Amen.
Happy teacher’s day to everyone. (Ed Sara)