On the third week of September 2005, my husband and I decided to start with the construction of our dream house. It was a tough decision to make considering financial constraints but we both believed that our growing kids need a better place to stay.
I felt a bit nostalgic thinking that in less than a week, our small house would be demolished to give way to our dream house. As I started packing up the books in our library that morning, I saw clippings, articles and photos depicting the events in my life, as well as our struggles and triumphs as a family that took place in that unassuming house. I placed those memorabilia in a big box for keeping. That very morning, I wrote an essay entitled, "Moving On."
I wrote that piece not because I knew I was publishing a book. Until that very moment, I never realized I would be writing one. I have always thought of writing my story, but school work, talks, workshops and mothering left me no time to sit down and put my thoughts in writing. I wrote that article to express how I felt at that moment- the packing up and the demolishing of our old house symbolized another journey that my family had to take.
On September 29, 2005, I went to Cebu to give a talk at the national convention of the Personnel Management Association of the Philippines. The event which was attended by about 1,500 personnel coming from over 1000 companies all over the country was held at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu. My talk was well-received. The audience gave me a long standing ovation and I was in fact literally mobbed right after my talk for picture-taking and for my signatures.
As I went out of the Convention Center, I saw a woman rushing towards me. She expressed her thanks, and how she felt proud to be a Filipino after listening to my speech. She handed me a book with a letter and a poem she wrote tucked inside. She was Susan Romero-Vidal, an author.
I kept her book inside my bag and rushed to the airport for my flight back to Iloilo. When I opened her book at home the following day, I saw a letter with this message, "If you happen to ask me what my dream is. I dream that next year, you will come back in this forum to launch your book- BE YOU!. And I would like to volunteer to be your midwife in birthing this dream ."
I sent Susan Vidal my first email on October 10, 2005 thanking her for the poem. I also told her that I wanted to write a book, and in fact, I attached the article I wrote entitled, "Moving On." She immediately replied saying my story was very inspiring and that I should write MORE! Each time I would send her a piece, she would reply "MORE! MORE! MORE!" Without realizing it, I was writing two to three stores a day on top of my very busy schedule. On October 11, Susan and I defined the vision and the mission of my book.
The production of "A Trip To Planet Biyo" came with a divine intervention. I started writing on October 7, 2005 and finished all the articles of the book on November 6, 2005, exactly one month. Where did I get the energy for writing this book? Where did I get the time? Where did I get the inspiration so that even though I was dead tired on several occasions, my mind continued working with fresh insights? I realized then that it was not me writing the book. God was using me to write His message of love, compassion, courage, determination, hope and triumph found in the story of my life. To God be the glory!
In the "Brothers Karamazov," Fyodor Dostoyevsky wrote: "The purpose of man's being is not only to live, but to live for something definite." Indeed, the human spirit is in constant search for meaning for its existence.
Thus, while Manila had provided me greater opportunities for professional growth, my heart was still in Iloilo. After seven years of teaching in Manila, an additional degree and finishing a second one, plus an additional son, I brought my family back to Iloilo in summer of 1995.
I remember bringing my application letter to Philippine Science High School Western Visayas (PSHSWV) one very hot day in April. Located outside the city, PSHSWV at that time was difficult to reach. There was no concrete road leading to the school. One had to ride a jeep and drop off at a certain point, then walk on top of the rice paddy ( pilapil ) leading to the school.
So there I was on top of the pilapil , walking in my high heeled shoes- the ones I used for walking in the decent corridors of De La Salle University in Manila. My eldest son who was nine years old at that time came tagging along. While we were walking, he kept on mumbling, "I really wish you wouldn't get accepted in that school mom. We can't even get a decent ride coming here."
My son graduated from PSHSWV three years ago. According to him, the four years that he had spent in this school were so far the best years of his student life.
Dr. Diana Aure who was the director then told me that I was overqualified for the available position. But I said, it didn't matter. So in June 1995, PSHSWV hired me as a special science teacher. Only in its third year of existence, the school welcomed my suggestions and expertise. I developed its science research curriculum and introduced innovations for teaching the course.
Teaching third year high school students to learn the principles underlying the research process was difficult. The school did not have adequate scientific literature and research facilities. I remember bringing my personal collections of journals, research papers, and books for students to use. In fact, I brought my entire library collection to school.
I also sought the help of my former professors. Dr. Ebonia Seraspe (Genetics), Dr. Minda Formacion (Physiology), and Dr. Florenda Espanola (Chemistry), all from UP in the Visayas, came to our school to speak at forums I organized for my students. They also critiqued my students' research proposals. Dr. Florencia Claveria, a former dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at De La Salle University (DLSU) in Manila, Dr. Lawrence Liao, a former colleague at DLSU, Dr. Wilfredo Licuanan, my Ph.D adviser also from DLSU, and Dr. Rene Rollon, another adviser from the UP Marine Science Institute in Diliman, visited PSHSWV upon my invitation. They talked to our students and gave suggestions on how to improve our Science Research Program. These professors did not receive honoraria. They were just too willing to help our students
A few years later, some research institutions like the Southeast Asian Fisheries and Development Center in Tigbauan, Iloilo, and the National Mango Research and Development Center in Guimaras opened their laboratories to my students . To date, we have already established linkages with twenty two academic and research institutions all over the country. These institutions allow our students to use their library and laboratory facilities. They also provide technical assistance, and allow our students to work as understudies of their scientists. In July 2005, Pfizer Incorporated donated a research hub complete with computers and internet facilities to the school. The company is also giving a yearly grant to PSHSWV students with the best research proposals.
We are very proud of our students. Since 1995, PSHSWV scholars have been winning in research competitions at the regional and national levels. In 2004, one of our students represented the country in the International Science and Engineering Fair held in Portland, Oregon, USA.
Barely a year of teaching at PSHSWV, I realized the reason for coming back to Iloilo I would not only teach students, but train teachers as well. For many years now, I have been receiving invitations to share my teaching methods with other schools as a resource person in seminar workshops. I have also organized workshops for teachers in the region.
One day, I received a letter from my students. Their letter which touched me deeply said:
"Dear Ma'am Josette, we know that you are being groomed for directorship of the school, and you would want to be the director someday, given the chance. The thing is, we do not want you to be the director. We just want you to be a teacher. Philippine Science High School needs teachers like you. The Philippines needs teachers like you."
Yes, teaching may not be a lucrative profession. It cannot guarantee financial security. It even means investing your personal time, money, and other resources. Sometimes it means heartaches, disappointments and pains. But opening the minds of children and touching their hearts, give me joy and contentment which money could not buy. These are moments I teach for. These are moments I live for.
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
