IN THE AWARDING ceremony of the second Rector-President’s Areté Awards, two professors hailing from the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), Prof. Joffre Alajar, Ph.D. and Assoc. Prof. Bayani Matitu, Ed.D., were accorded with recognition at the Abbot-Lopez Hall last February 12.
The Areté Award, which is deemed as “the most prestigious award that San Beda University (SBU) could offer to its faculty,” was given to a total of six Bedan professors, two of whom were from the CAS.
Prof. Joffre Alajar, Ph.D.
In an interview with Prof. Alajar, he mentioned that he was “utterly grateful to San Beda” for recognizing him to be worthy of an Areté. With 42 years of experience under his belt, he has displayed a mastery over the craft of teaching, deeming him worthy of an Areté for “Teaching Excellence.”
“This one award [is what] I treasure the most because this is given by San Beda, my alma mater; plus, this award is the ultimate recognition that a teacher would ever receive.,” Dr. Alajar said. But even despite this, Dr. Alajar argued that the flowers and the awards given to him could not simply outweigh his joy in teaching, for what mattered to him most was that “his students and San Beda itself, recognized his efforts.”
During his interview, Dr. Alajar became slightly emotional as he expressed his gratitude, appreciation, as well as the warmth that “fueled his calling” that was being reciprocated by his students and colleagues. Moreover, with him nearing retirement age, he is “grateful” to the years he has spent in the institution, stating that “this important chapter in my life in San Beda my efforts have paid off.”
Assoc. Prof. Bayani Matitu, Ed. D.
With an Areté for “Community Engagement Excellence,” Dr. Matitu also expressed his gratitude to San Beda. For his 34 years of teaching, he executed community engagements highlighting the importance of health and wellness to its beneficiaries.
Dr. Matitu passionately expressed his delight on how he desired to teach people how important the cause he is preaching is for.
He revealed that during his youth, his “underprivileged life” drove him to give back. Through his own means, it resulted into the very existence of the annual “Pista ng Santo Niño” in San Beda celebration that he has been conducting every 3rd Sunday of January, from the streets of Tondo to the gates of Mendiola. He sees the Sto. Niño as his greatest achievement in his long years of serving through community engagements.
“If you give, if you support them, it will be continuous… Most probably, my legacy is all about the Pista ng Sto Niño. For me that is the most fulfilling thing in my entire life,” Dr. Matitu expressed.
With him being an Areté-awardee, he expressed his feeling of fulfillment, while being sentimental towards the children that made him proud.
“The most important [for me], they were saying ‘Thank you, Sir. Thank you for everything.’ The words ‘Thank you’ are enough for me. It cannot be bought, hindi mabibili. It came from their heart,” Dr. Matitu said.
As an expression of love and appreciation by the Bedan community, the Arete award exists not just to confer a prestigious trophy, but to show how much valued, respected, adorned, loved, and appreciated, the contributions of a faculty member towards the Bedan community.
(with Rcee Umali Tenefrancia)