“TEACHING IS A very noble profession that shapes the character, caliber, and future of the individual. If the people remember me as a good teacher, that will be the biggest honor for me,” once remarked former Indian President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on describing the value of a recognition to be a teacher.
Last October 3, San Beda University (SBU), along with most educational institutions worldwide, celebrated World Teachers’ Day to commemorate the month-long celebration for National Teachers’ Month 2023.
Three outstanding professors in their respective fields have shared all their inspiring experiences over the years. Let’s take a look into the inspiring stories of our educators.
The “sweet side” of discipline
Asst. Prof. Carissa Cabaysa, an Assistant Prefect of Student Discipline and a professor from the Department of Languages and Literature, shared details of her 15 years’ worth of service to the Bedan community.
With an experience amounting to 30 years’ worth of service, she told us that her day-by-day accomplishments make an educator’s life worth living. The satisfaction and pleasure that come from her accomplishments, whether minuscule or massive, lit her inspiration. “There’s nothing greater, there’s no greater pleasure than that which comes from achieving something, even if the achievement is small as long as it makes you happy,” she said. Behind these accomplishments, she told us where she gathered her strength from: prayer.
Prof. Cabaysa emphasized how she wanted to be remembered as someone who is able by the end of her tenure as a professor. She also wanted her students to remember her by having mastery over her teachings. “I have the expertise, and well, very importantly, my students understand what I’m teaching. If I know it and they don’t understand, that doesn’t mean anything at all,” she said. Overall, she saw herself, after retirement, as an equivalent exchange, half from her students’ opinions and the other from her own.
Inspired the most as an educator by her success in the classroom, Prof. Cabaysa mentioned in her earlier years that she taught the arts subject—without that satisfying fervor. Ultimately, she wanted to speak more with her students, to engage with them more.
That thought alone served as the catalyst that led us to this point. Nuns recommended her to teach and take language subjects, and it was when her career started to pop off.
Coming from the clan of teachers, even before, as a child, Prof. Cabaysa always wanted to teach. And when asked of her most memorable moment as an educator, she responded through her most recent memory she had. “When my thesis students succeeded in their defense. It’s memorable for me. That’s what I remember. I’ve been teaching for years. I was happy about their success,” Prof. Cabaysa said.
The three “love languages” of teaching
Prof. Marvin Reyes, PhD., the Prefect of Student Activities, has two decades worth of service in the Lion’s Den under his belt. Throughout his 23 years of experience as an educator (with three years outside the University), he understood that the life of an educator is “worth living” by means of satisfaction.
The professor, who also teaches under the Department of Languages and Literature, emphasized the concept of “liking and loving,” and this is what makes the life of an educator worth living as this is where he gets satisfaction from.
Dr. Reyes said that no matter how stressful things get, may it be in the field at work or with personal matters, doing something that you like and love will allow you to live the life that is worth living, making his life as an educator worth living.
Essentially, Dr. Reyes exclaimed how he got his strength from teaching a positive outlook. Before that positive outlook came, the sense of fulfillment and acceptance over specialty came first since love, desire, and passion for the profession later flows from such.
Currently at 44 years of age and still 21 years away from retirement, he doesn’t know yet what is in store for him in the future. By the time of his retirement, he still doesn’t have a concrete idea of who he will be when that time comes. Be the President of the Philippines? Maybe. Go to another country? Probably. However, when he does retire as a Bedan professor—it ends there.
There is “life after school,” he shared. Doing it with love, passion, and quality is enough for the life of an educator. There is no need for one’s life to be sold for an institution because they won’t be there to create a monument for a professor.
Dr. Reyes then diverted back to our original question. He said that he would still be a teacher despite that. He, however, may no longer a Bedan; though admittedly, he affirmed that his heart will always have a piece of the Lion’s Den.
When asked what inspired him the most as an educator, he shared that being an educator has always been his dream. Roleplaying as a teacher has always been a part of his identity to the point that Dr. Reyes admitted that he cannot see himself in any other field.
Dr. Reyes then shared with us his most memorable moment during this time as a Bedan educator. “A student of mine messaged me, and he thanked me so much about his—parang naging inspirasyon niya ‘ko, and he graduated, I think, less than ten years ago. Meron din isa, seven years ago grumaduate, and she thanked me, and she said, Sir, you’re my inspiration, that’s why I’m a doctor,” he recollected.
For the youth, for their future
Heading into her 13th year as a Bedan educator, Asst. Prof. Pamela Tendero, MBA, the College Administrative Officer, started her career during the second semester of the 2010-2011 academic year (A.Y.) when she started as a Bedan educator.
Prof. Tendero had difficulty sharing her thoughts as our questions made her eyes heavy. She confessed to us how her life was worth living as an educator.
“Ah siguro ‘yung thought na, with the thought that you are helping other people live their dreams or reach their dreams, and you have the chance to make this place or world a better place,” Prof. Tendero said.
She then affirmed that not everyone has the ability, capability, the availability to influence the youth – but she does, as a Bedan educator. This is where she is reminded that there is hope in the future generation – which, for her, gave purpose to her being an educator.
In return, Prof. Tendero desires to do the same for the youth by reminding them that they are the hope for the future. This may have been the reason why she sees her students as one of her strengths. She shared with us that the job of a professor is not only to pass information or to share knowledge; it is also to allow students to see the beauty in learning. She invests in her classes by incorporating games, shows, videos, and others so that the students can see the value and joy in learning.
She also mentioned how her colleagues were one of her sources of strength because they fuel her inspiration. Surrounded by great colleagues, who she sees are even smarter than her, Prof. Tendero felt the satisfaction knowing how she can learn and develop herself from them, not merely as a professor but also as a person. However, the source of her strength that stood out the most was her service to the country. Prof. Tendero, an Iskolar ng Bayan, sees herself serving the country by repaying the people who funded her education onwards becoming a Bedan educator.
By the end of her tenure, she wants to be seen as someone who challenges and inspires students under her tutelage. Prof. Tendero wants to be seen by her students as someone who made them see just how beautiful and valuable the light that education can bring them. In fact, when asked about her inspiration as an educator, she immediately thought about her students. Specifically, she was pertaining to the ‘eyes of the students’ as she sees their eagerness to learn.
“I always tell my students na this is not a one-way thing. Mas maraming pagkakataon without you realizing and without you knowing marami kayong bagay na natuturo sa amin, sa akin,” she says.
Conceivably, her most memorable moment as an educator still boils down to the success of her students. On once account, she shared how the organization, that she was moderating to be, rose to the top. To Prof. Tendeor, it wasn’t special simply because of the achievement, but it was because of the ‘heart and soul’ that the students spent in making everything possible.
Now you’ve seen what goes behind the minds of our Bedan educators. The life of an educator is no easy task. Sacrifice is their go-to breakfast when they start their day – fed to them daily. They could have gone to greener grass, where money is abundant yet they stood still in the lion’s den for San Beda, for the country, and for God. Cheers to these brave souls! Cheers to our second parents! Cheers to our Educators!
(with D.S Elijah de Castro)