Passing on the torch: How mentorship and support draw teachers back to the Philippines’ last mile schools
What inspires new waves of educators to dedicate their efforts to last mile schools? In a country with underserved public schools in remote and indigenous communities, educators face multiple challenges to help students gain equal footing with their urban counterparts.
Yet, for many, returning to their roots is an opportunity worth grabbing. This World Teachers’ Day, we put the spotlight on Analyn Miñao and Jonel Elnar, whose path back was lit by a torch passed on by their "second parents"—teachers whose acts of love and devotion paved the way.
Echoes from a second grade classroom
The inspiration for Analyn, who grew up in Punta Baja, Rizal, Palawan, came from a teacher she encountered in only one school year. Her second-grade teacher Sabina Lugo Lorenzo became her earliest mentor, guiding her on cursive writing and learning English. Having no electricity in their remote community and no other means to access information during that time, the young student clung to her teachers' words of wisdom as guidance.
Analyn carried her teacher’s reminder by heart: "Kapag ikaw ay inutusan, dapat ito ay sundin mo nang may paggalang, na may kasamang ngiti sa mga labi at hindi nang may pagsimangot at pagdadabog.” When her parents—both of whom were unable to finish elementary school—told her to study hard and do what she can to rise from poverty, she followed with a smile, in many times selling banana cue at school to earn money for pencils and papers that she would use for her lessons.
The lack of electricity and other equipment hamper the learning outcomes of students, but for Analyn, the reward is seeing her kindergarten students learning how to identify letters, numbers, and symbols, and even start to learn how to write despite these challenges. "Lubos na kasiyahan ang nararamdaman ko tuwing nakikita kong dahan-dahan silang natututo dahil sa unang araw ng pagpasok nila, karamihan sa kanila 'di pa marunong humawak ng lapis o hindi nakakakilala ng kahit na anong simbulo, numero, o letra. Napapangiti ako dahil nakikitaan ko sila ng kumpiyansa sa kanilang kakayahan, lalo na kung meron nang marunong magbasa sa kanila ng mga salita."
Potential found in a young island student
Jonel Elnar calls the islands of Calaguas in Vinzons, Camarines Norte his home. The Eugenia M. Quintela Memorial High School served as his second home, where he learned about the world through his teachers’ lenses.
Finding himself teaching in his former classrooms, he credits two people for sparking his interest in education: Teacher Eunice Elep who taught him English, and Teacher Michelle Orsolino, who taught him Science and honed his communication skills. He remembered how they instilled confidence and challenged him to become the best student he could be, encouraging him to join storytelling competitions and besting other students in science quiz bees. "Tumatak sa isip ko ang sabi nila na mag-aral kami nang mabuti para maging maayos ang aming buhay at makawala sa kahirapan," he recalled.
Inspired, he left the island to pursue a degree in education on the mainland. Seeing a computer for the very first time was a realization of how lacking the learning experience was on his island, affirming his decision to go back and serve as an educator.
"Na-realize ko po na kahit sino ay may kakayahang maging guro, pero hindi lahat ay kayang maging guro sa island schools. Maraming kakulangan sa facilities at mahirap ang pagtawid, pero matututo ka na pagbutihin at mahalin ang trabaho mo dahil makikita mo ang tiyaga ng mga mag-aaral mo," said Jonel, fondly called by his students as Sir Jones.
“Masaya po sa pakiramdam kapag ‘yung mga students ko noon ay nagme-message sa akin na Sir, I’m taking education po, lalo ‘pag English Major and sinabing na-inspire sila sa akin.”
Re-energizing education for a brighter future
Jonel experienced firsthand the difficulties studying without electricity, and he can only marvel at the change light has brought to their island: "Namulatan kong mag-aral nang tukarol o gasera (kerosene lamp) lang ang gamit kapag gumagawa ng assignment. Ngayon, mas maliwanag na ang bukas ng aming mga estudyante. Hindi lang po ang mga classroom namin ang lumiliwanag, ganun din po ang future ng aming mga mag-aaral," he shared.
Gone are the days when teachers were the only source of information; students and teachers can now use gadgets to supplement their learnings. “Ngayon, ang mga estudyante may awareness na malayo pa ang mararating nila dahil nagkaroon na sila ng mas malawak na perspective dahil sa edukasyon. Ang iba sa kanila nangangarap na ngayon maging engineer, pilot, o pati flight attendant.”
Analyn, who for years lamented the scarcity of resources in their school, is now hopeful that her students will be more excited to attend classes where multimedia equipment is used, and that teachers can provide better learning materials thanks to electricity and technology.
With these opportunities given to the Palaw’an children, Analyn is also hopeful that the parents would be encouraged to invest in their children's education beyond elementary school. "Sana'y maging hamon ito sa mga magulang na makita ang ganda ng mundong naghihintay sa kanila dala ng maayos at may de kalidad na edukasyon, na ang biyayang iyon ay mapatapos nila ang kanilang anak na magiging daan para makahanap ng marangal na trabaho na maaaring magpabago sa takbo ng kanilang pamumuhay."
Light that sustains comes in different forms: from the sun that powers schools, to the inspiration given by teachers who change lives with their kind and encouraging words. For dedicated teachers like Jonel and Analyn, the sparks of hope are enough to sustain their hearts for their students and their community. More than just a profession, teaching is truly a calling.
"Ang inspirasyon na nakuha ko noon kay Ma'am Lorenzo, at ang mga tulong na pinaabot sa aming munting paaralan, lahat ng ito ay nakatulong para maging mas epektibo akong guro para sa susunod na henerasyon. Taos puso akong nagpapasalamat sa inyong pagmamalasakit at inspirasyon sa guro na tulad ko,” a grateful Analyn shared.