'The Best Lessons I Learned from my Teacher'
By ANGELO G. GARCIA (article from Manila Bulletin)
October 4, 2010, 12:01pm
MANILA, Philippines – Aside from academics, teachers educate us valuable lessons. Be they simple or complex, these lessons will forever be implanted in our minds and hearts. To join in the celebration of World Teachers’ Day today, we ask personalities what was the best lesson they learned from their teachers.
WILLARD CHENG, ABS-CBN news reporter: “My history teacher in Saint Jude Catholic School, Ms. Anelyn Javillonar, introduced me to “The Winner’s Creed.” We were then intensely preparing for a history quiz bee. It was not easy given a wide scope to study and master but Ms. Javillonar motivated me and taught me never to give up. Given a huge obstacle, I just remembered the creed: “If you think you’ll lose, you’re lost; Since out in our world we find success begins with a person’s will. It’s all in your state of mind. Life’s battles don’t always go to the stronger or faster hand; but sooner or later the person who wins is the one who thinks ‘I can.’” We won the quiz bee. I still carry that winner’s attitude in everything I do.
It also helps when a teacher gives her constant encouragement and words of support, or simply believing in her student. My journalism mentor in high school, Mrs. Adela Collada, also from Saint Jude, did just that. She trusted me with huge responsibilities she knew I could carry by naming me as editor-in-chief of the school paper for two years. She simply believed in me. She also taught me to always strive for my best, and enhance my skills by constant practice and reading. “Read, read, read,” she would always say. All the knowledge I gained from reading paid off. The stock knowledge I have gives my pieces today the needed perspective and depth. When there are things I don’t know, I go back to the books. Mrs. Collada taught me how to quench that thirst for knowledge.”
JED MADELA, recording artist/singer: “One thing I learned from my teachers is the ability to be ‘selfless.’ They spend most of their lives molding us into better persons and tend to forget their own selves. I’ve learned to appreciate that most especially when I came back from my homecoming and saw them full of pride when they saw me!”
VIC DE LEON LIMA, radio anchor of Pasada Sais Trenta, DZMM: “The best thing I learned from my teacher is to pursue what I want. When one of my teachers found out that I have, modesty aside, the voice, she encouraged me to pursue my inclination. I was able to develop myself and now I have been in the industry for 25 years.”
ARNOLD CLAVIO, news anchor/TV host, Tonight with Arnold Clavio, QTV 11. “The best lesson I’ve learned from them is to accept that death is inevitable in order to enjoy life. They say, you will never be happy living unless you will realize that everything is not infinite and must come to an end. Be aware that you have a soul and you are responsible for its destruction or its salvation,”
KARA DAVID, news reporter, OFW Diaries, GMA-7. “‘No matter what other countries say, the Filipinos are a brave, heroic people.’ From my Grade 5 history teacher Ms. Rose Tadena,”
KIM ATIENZA, anchor/TV host/reporter: “The best lesson I learned from my teachers, especially in high school, is to strive harder. Whenever you fail, strive even harder. Whenever I would, I kept on trying and trying and trying. In the process I learned EQ more than IQ. And EQ is more important in life.”
QUEENIE PADILLA, young actress: “Respect, that’s the best lesson I learned from my teachers.”
ATOM ARAULLO, ABS-CBN news anchor/reporter. “Ang course ko is Applied Physics. Typically, yung mga nagpa-practice sa ganung klaseng field, very involved sa research, sa culture of research. Yung teacher ko, si Prof. Giovanni Tapang, very active siya sa advocacy about developing science in the Philippines. Sa kanya ko natutunan na kahit na anong nangyayari, dapat ang mahalaga, dapat nakikita mo yung importansiya ng ginagawa mo hindi lamang para sa school kundi para sa ibang tao.”
YOLANDA QUIJANO, Department of Education Undersecretary for Programs and Projects. “Be the best of whoever you are.”
ERVIC VIJANDRE, model/reality show star, Survivor Philippines Celebrity Edition. “Give respect to get respect.”
JESUS LORENZO MATEO, DepEd Assistant Secretary for Planning and Development. “To be humble, truthful and honest. It is from my parents. Though they are not teachers I consider them to be one. This is consistent with what I learned from my class adviser.”
KAREN DE LOS REYES, model/reality show star, Survivor Philippines Celebrity Edition. “I took up Photography course at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde back in 2006. I was a full-time student back then. No showbiz, no modelling. I didn’t have the luxury of spending a lot of money to buy photography equipment like black and white films, chemicals, and photo paper. My mentor, sir Reynaldo Castaneda told me ‘Wala sa pana, nasa kumakana...’. So instead of buying three rolls of film, I only used one per class. He told me that you should challenge yourself and make every photo that you take is the best.”
REYNALDO LAGUDA, DepEd Assistant Secretary and Chief of Staff. “Integrity more than knowledge, values and character.”
DR. FERDZ RECIO, TV host/reality show star, Born To be Wild and Survivor Philippines Celebrity Edition. “Speak your mind and never be afraid to stand out,”
ELMA MUROS, athlete/reality star Survivor Philippines Celebrity Edition. “Of the lessons I’ve learned from all my teachers since elementary up to college, most important of all is to be RESPECTFUL always. Respect our parents, our elders, respect also ourselves, all our teachers. Also, study and educate ourselves to finish our studies in order to have a better future. I have learned also to have a strong faith and trust in God, to be humble despite everything you have achieved. Help people who are in dire need.”
AHRON VILLENA, actor/reality show star Survivor Philippines Celebrity Edition. “Siguro the best lesson I’ve learned from my teacher was teaching us how discipline ourselves, to have good morals. She taught us how to develop our skills and to gain more knowledge for us to be able to learn a lot of things,”
TONY UMALI, DepEd Assistant Secretary for Legislative and Liaison Affairs “The best lesson that i learned from my teacher is to always remember how great our country is. Social Studies, particularly Philippine History and Culture, was my favorite subject when I was in elementary and high school. I distinctly remember my teacher telling me that the time would eventually come where Filipinos would be able to ‘establish a country with a government that we would be truly proud of.’ I hope that that time has now come considering the reforms in government that President Aquino intends to implement.”
