The Diary Of A Young Wondrous Family: The Aquino-Lazaro

MY LONG JOURNEY TOWARDS PROFESSIONAL GROWTH

I’m really thrilled for I will be trying something new. Now is the beginning of a new path and route I will be taking...

...In a bit different circumstance.

...In. A. Completely. Different. World...

Let me bring you first to a moment of how I made this crux decision of finally pulling out that curtain of fear.

It feels like just yesterday, I was walking across the stage in my graduation gown and hat, the first time in my life when a myriad of people around me were all listening on my speech and I was starting a new chapter in my life.

But when I graduated and got a job, or somewhere in between, things changed. Fear entered in and I was filled with apprehension. Maybe it was that my world got a lot bigger than the small pond I used to stand out in. And that being an early mom halted me awhile and I'm forced to pause this pursuit of chasing my dream. But true it is, that you still have to find the things your most passionate about then do it for the rest of your life.

It took an almost 4 years for me to finally say I’m set for a real-school-job. Perhaps because I was relishing myself sitting, teaching comfortably just to one student per lesson on-line plus of course with a breezy ambiance embracing me. Yes. This I think is one of the best jobs anyone could have.I got to talk to different people which I do really love! Most of these are coming from Japan's biggest companies. Doctors, engineers, business men, even celebrities, etc.

But I have big dreams! I juggle my roles as a mother and wife but apart from it all I too is a relentless dream chaser,developing as an adult and dreaming of a life professionally... in a dream I need not to worry where I will be 5 years from now. But because I tried, slowly my big dream has now becoming real.. I know one day I will also embark in a journey towards my academic goals, and that one day I'll be able to push through with my doctorate degree...In God's time... Now, It will never be impossible!

I press to play it again, and will never stop pursuing a strong finish for this means something to me.

The beginning....

Who would have thought that I would be able to accomplish my docus a week before the cut-off date? Well perhaps my attention to details and this skill in making through deadlines helped me a lot. Lol! Those were days and nights of filling up of forms and checking of certificates with those documents I needed to get done plus the finances I needed to deal with. But with God’s grace I made it and of to my...

Interview-Demo with the Panelists...

First part was on how you market yourself to the panelists. There were 5 of them 4 principals from each schools and the school district supervisor. They asked me to tell something about myself in a very exceptional way I could. When it’s my turn I couldn't help but felt really strained. It's been ages when the last time I spoke in front of a big audience. More than that, all eyes were on me and everybody stopped what they were doing in contrast on how they treated the other interviewees before me.

So that was it! For all the plannings and series of possible interview questions I volunteered as the 5^th demonstrator. 106 applicants (year 2012), the most numbered applicants in whole Davao district.

An eerie feeling I had as I was watching the 4^th demonstrator on that day. As I was getting closer on my turn I kept browsing my phone gazing at my kid’s photos. This helped a lot in making me composed and that has given me so much absorption on my presentation.

I dreaded the panelists, but still I gave my best! I did. Well, I have always been tagged long before as someone who doesn't take things earnestly when doing special tasks. Perhaps because, I hate thinking too much and I almost always do things close at hand. You know I rarely give my best. I give my best where it’s needed and when it is needed and I put the "rest" aside until a more appropriate time. That’s how I make sure my work gets the best of me, but not the rest of me.

So all’s hushed during my demo and I just felt they were quite hesitant to answer my questions. There were some who bullied other applicants’ performances, coz perhaps they know they were far better than them, and their rank status last year is at risk. It’s as if they're on the edge of a cliff with their legs dangling over the side and to survive they're pulling other's down. I’m just lucky as I was not one of their underdogs.

...They. were. all. quiet. listening...looking. at. me.

… with those scrutinizing stares...

...My hands are frantically searching for holdouts as my nervousness consumed me.

We were asked to execute our demo within 15 minutes. Imagine how little the time was… and those who demonstrated early had much stress on how we needed to shorten a supposed to be 45-minute-presentation leaving the panelists satisfied. Good thing I was able to familiarize my Lesson Plan.

But I made it and I just heard clappings around the room and thanks oh God for making me okay despite of being totally sick that day! Hell yeah!!! I got so sick that after my demo-interview I immediately headed to my doctor.

Then came English Proficiency test!...

I realized, there is so much I needed to review in grammar despite of talking in English 8 hours a day, six times in a week, series of grammar discussions with my students.

As I was answering the tests, there I was, kept reading each questions… reading and reading.. And I realized it didn’t make sense to me at all… Why? Damn! That exam I could say is a matter of luck, I guess not a test of someone’s proficiency in English.

I was welcomed by the word “bedlam” … and many words I heeded for the first time. I skipped and I skipped until I skipped 20 items of it perhaps. And obviously, there was complete bedlam running through my mind.

If you can't believe in miracles, then believe in yourself. When you want something bad enugh, Let that drive push you to make it happen.

Sometimes you'll run into brick walls that are put there to test you. Find a way a round them and stay focused on your dream. Where there's a will, there's a way.

- Isabel Lopez

Yet I am a firm believer too that every thing has its own season. Despite of getting good points on my demo-interview and exam (as I checked my points in each category at the district office) , I lack certificates of trainings corresponding to 5 days/48 hours (which you can just actually borrow from someone and scan it and do some editings with the dates and submit it along with the other requirements.. but I didn't!). And so I cried of the thought that my rank dropped to the 30^th of Category B. I’m far behind of getting that chance to be in public school.

A part of me once told that I should give up but something whispers to try it one more time….

But when a great blow in this area of my life came, I have learned to counter despair quickly with other option and a word of hope. And so the week after I made plans together with a dear friend way back in college who also applied on the same year in different district. Like me, she too failed to submit the needed requirement for the training. I requested to have my Saturday off in the company where I worked for me to be enrolled to ALS for about 3 months to comply the mentioned training.

So I worked my ass off six times in a week and took my training during my holidays considering the distance from my home to downtown. I go one more round and that made a difference in my life!

I began, but a month after, I found myself almost quitting. But the goal of pursuing the training, completing all outputs and strongly resisting those mind-numbing days of lectures I finished the training. So ayan, dugo't pawis ang puhunon just to have that certificate. And to my dismay, mali pa jud akong apelyido pagka type.

A relative once even promised to help in my submission but after series of follow-ups never I heard of from that person the help he/she used to offer on me when I asked about it. And I lost optimism. But with my endeavors in life I was never been the kind of person who would desperately ask someones's help. But of course, it would still be appreciated if one will offer. For in times of despair you will know the people who would really be there in your down moments.

I mention my story because I want to encourage others that while I may have missed out on a lot of things, (In my case, I married early, gave birth early, put off my dream of becoming a public school teacher for a while) ... I see nothing lost .... For in those years where people my age were pursuing dreams in the more common way, my God also put me through the real work of life... I consider it as great adventures My God offered me.

Yet despite of what happened I still tried my luck. The next year I started complying once more the requirements needed. Woke up at 2 am, rode a motorcycle with fears of traveling alone just to finish in advance all the things needed to be done.

I thought of my future, I thought of my children’s future and my family’s comings… apart of truly being delighted as a wife, I also thought of me growing professionally, as Oscar would always tell me that I should never limit myself after marriage. With so much persistence and so much efforts and hopeless failures I gained back that hope. I kept going… Because I know I can!

I took an examination once more. I was seated at the back, distinctly watching my co-examinees with the same aim. On that very moment I assured my self that that would be the very last time I will take the exam. In my mind, I was secretly and extremely hopeful that everything would work out and I could do this full fledged from here on. I was determined... and I did surrender all my best to God.

But on a sad note, 3 weeks after, I started complying my résumé for private school application. For the second time, I was tempted to give up. A part of me was filled with wistfulness, melancholy and sadness. I didn't know but that's what I felt during that moment. Little did I know that upon that very moment my breakthrough was just around the corner. My God showed his grace and mercy and this boosted my faith to the extreme!!! God heard my prayers. A dear friend sent me a message.

“Adang congrats! Rank 2. Category A.” These were the words that registered from my inbox. I couldn't contain the happiness I had on that very moment. With my own hardwork with the help of my Family I made it.

I ranked 2^nd from an almost 250 applicants in our district (2013), where only 2 of us made it to Registry A. I still marvel the fact on how God placed my name on the second spot despite of me lacking teaching experience in a real school.

In DEPED memorandum, if you can't provide a COE (Certificate of Employment) with your earned teaching experience in schools under DEPED, then you will have 0 point. For every month rendered, that is (.10 ). So if you have rendered 20 months of teaching and you have a COE for it then it translates to 2 points additional. This may be small, but ranking is competitive, even the slightest difference would matter. And I got totally a BIG ZERO on this account.

God knows how intensely difficult to reach a certain point just to be in Registry A. Promise!!! Okay ra jud ang regular size na drink. Pero Si God, up-size drink jud ang gi-offer. Wow naman! Yes, I was just actually and honestly praying for atleast the 10th spot, but yeah, Si God full of surprises! Walang 10th spot but miraculously only the 2 of us. Di naman kami nalalayo nang points ni Rank 1. Hmmm... Dikit-dikit lang! Lol! So feeling ko din parang it's a tie!!!! Haha! Kidding! Well, this experience encouraged me again to believe in miracles. Just pray and trust that God is working for you and definitely believe in your capacity that there are still things you're about to discover.

With all these challeges I learned to gave up and that the theory of trust seems to be very slow. As in super give up na jud! Kasi naman the journey was no joke! It was completely hard. And!!!! Considering the "palakasan/padrino" in the DepEd system. The Ranking, localization Law, and even computation for the said ranking, is sometimes rigged. Buti sana if may kapit ka, e di much easier na at siguradong pasok agad sa banga!

Mahirap maghintay lalo na kung alam mo na mas alam mong karapat-dapat ka sa nauna na hire saiyo (dahil sa may "padrino" siya). Saddening. Sa totoo lang nakakawalang pagasa talaga. And so I once thought of working in a government agency para magamit ko lang ang pinaghirapan kong board exam. But these circumstances I know are beyond my control.

... and so the best thing I did is to turn all my worries over to the One who controls evrything, My God. Nasa saiyo na yan kung idaan mo sa dasal o sa galit ang ating kondisyon sa ngayon bilang mga propesyonal na gurong naghihintay ng pagkakataon na makapagtrabaho at makapag-lingkod ng totoo sa ating bayan.

Beyond the better package and compensation, I chose to dream of this job because this has always been my dream. And Yes!!! It's so true na frustrating makita na 'yung plans mo nag co-collide right before your eyes. Pero dapat mauna kang maniwala sa kakayanan mo. I know it's the lack of faith why sometimes I'm afraid to meet challenges. Perhaps, I'm just too fearful for the odds, but deep within me I know that if I will let these odds keep me away from doing what I know in my heart I'm meant to do, I will never grow.

But true indeed that God will put everything into proper place. The challenges I had, stretched me and I go beyond the norms. And Success is sweet. SWEETER if long delayed and attained through manifold struggles and defeats.

My journey didn't end there, I waited for months. Looonnggggg months. Like an athlete, I didn't wake up just one day with large, strong arms or legs. I use hard work to build my muscles. There is no secret here and definitely no short cuts. Lucky are those who were able to get the job without difficulty.

So I rode a long ride from home going to the District office just to visit for a short while, sometimes even drop their for just few minutes and say "His, Hellos" to the teachers. Yes, dapat jud mag-pabaga, act as if long time best friends mo na sila Ma'am and Sir sabay tap sa shoulder and say " Kumusta mam?" Sabay singit nang " Naka item na si rank 1" and I will take a long ride again to return home. I spent a year with that kind of scenario. Just receiving a very short reply from them like " Wala pa Langga." Until I found myself truly determined in achieving that goal and this breathes into the cores of my desire.

Others may have a different stories to tell on how they had successfully got the position, and with this is a realization that whether you graduated with Latin honors or the other way around, you have to play fair and the road to honest success will never be easy but when you are just truly sincere with your intention , God will reward you and he will give you assurance, it may be through the people you met:"

Wala pa si rank 1, pero hapit na jud mong duha. Hapit na..."

You see? The question I have been asking for quite sometime now, and the prayers I have been waiting for long has been answered, it may be just expressed indirectly but it gave me hope to push through with my very goal and work hard in achieving it.

I was blessed not because I am good , and not because I deserve it,

but because my God is an unselfish God who loves every bit of me.

Then came the biggest blow!...

July 28, 2013 when the Department of Education publicized a memorandum on Professional Teachers who have not practiced their profession for the past five (5) years. Enclosed in this memorandum is the Republic Act No. 9293 or An Act Amending Certain Sections of Republic Act Numbered Seventy – Eighty Hundred and Thirty –Six (R.A. 7836), other wise known as the “Philippines Teachers Professionalization Act of 1994.”

I had my DEPED application year 2013 for Teacher 1 position. I have been through series of process before I was able to fortunately get the second spot for the RQA Category A from approximately 250 applicants in our district. Then, I was finally requested to comply all the needed requirements for my DepEd appointment. Fortunately I was able to submit all my requirements to DepEd Personnel Department. The officer-in-charge, have checked if I did completely submit all the documents necessary for my appointment.

A week after, I got a call from DEPED Administration Officer In-charge informing me that I couldn't be able to get an item for this school year as I have not practiced my profession for more that 5 years.

According to the Administration Department, when they reviewed my pertinent documents submitted for Public School Item, one ground for my disqualification is that I have not practiced my teaching profession for more than 5 years (as DepEd interpreted this from my 2008 licensure examination to present) which was their sole basis to disqualify me from obtaining an Item in Public School for this year.

As provided in Sec 26 (b) Paragraph 2 of RA 9293, Professional Teachers who have not practiced their profession for the past five (5) years shall be required to take at least twelve (12) units of education courses, consisting of at least six (6) units of pedagogy and six (6) units of context courses.

I graduated April 2008, passed the Licensure Examination for Teacher, September 2008 and I had my initial registration for my license at the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) on September 09, 2010 and the date of my registration was specified on the certificate I requested from the PRC and on my Professional License ID.

PRC personnel have explained that I was only a “passer” in between year 2008 to 2010 but a “duly registered professional teacher” on September 09, 2010. Distinctly, I am still qualified for an item as I have not practiced my Profession yet for more than 3 years.

DepEd-Davao City Administrative Officer GP has advised me to write a letter to the PRC office to grant a certificate or letter “detailing” that in between 2008-2010 I was only a LET Passer, that the effectivity of becoming a Professional Teacher commences from the day I was enrolled in the Roster of Professional Teachers dated September 09, 2010 provided that I did not register late even though I had my initial registration in the year 2010, as this is needed for the preparation for Report on Vacancies in DepEd.

I have discussed this matter to the PRC Personnel In-Charge and submitted my letter to the commission asking for an urgent reply on this matter. Unfortunately, I was told that they could not provide any certificate/letter to my concern as this was out of their jurisdiction.

And so I asked the assistance of Civil Service Commission regarding the matter and have presented to them a copy of the letter I had given to the PRC. As my concern is urgent, I have discussed this matter to their Assistant Regional Director and was kind enough to help connect to the PRC regarding the licensing as this is still under the jurisdiction of the PRC according to the Asst. Regional Director.

The next day I was told that the PRC Legal Department will give their reply through a reply-letter. Few days after I got the letter and submitted it immediately to DepEd but there was no guarantee whether I could have the item.

It's always best to trust your instincts...

Few weeks after, hopeful, I went to DepEd unknowing of what could be the result….

And oh!...

A Big YES finally arrived...

March 26, 2014 I officially had my appointment letter.

The winning formula? PRAYERS... and Learn to enjoy the journey and be committed to the long haul to achieve your heart's desire. Most specially, never give up your dreams. Set your mind, soul, and heart upon doing everything necessary to become your best.

YOUR BEST...

Look at yourself with no excuses. Just because I made a family life early, and people surrounding me thought that I will stay that way, but NO. I didn't think of that to myself. Instead, I attacked it to better myself.

Sometimes I get in a hurry, I take matters into my own hands and trying to force things to happen. Remember, as Joel Osteen have said, "if something is not happening on your timetable, God knows what He is doing. He has your best interest at heart."

PHOTO: From Mr. Google

Though sometimes in our lives we are forced to take time away from our dreams,

these stops should never be more than temporary.

Oh yes!!!
Life totally knocked me down on my knees.

But with that, I was in the perfect position to drop it off on ground and prayed.

With the only weapon I have, I made it!

...I'm now officially a DepEd School Teacher

in a small elementary school, very close to my home,
with few student population for about 30 students per class.
(Parang private school lang ano? Ayan!!! Bawion nako tanaaaaan nakong kahago!!! LOL!)

Hintay ka lang! Your miracle is on its way!

" When i think back to the times in my life when i felt most nervous and anxious, or back to the times when my challenges and situations felt too difficult to handle, i realize that i am also thinking back to some of the most amazing times in my life."