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"The Power of the Human Spirit"
Dr. Josette T. Biyo /24 October 2003
Edsa Shangrila, Manila
Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. For a high
school teacher to speak before a large group of business executives for the
first time is overwhelming. But it is indeed a great honor and a privilege to
spe ak to the group of people who is responsible for making San Miguel
Corporation the top food and beverage company in the country, and on its way to
becoming one of the top companies in the Asia-Pacific.
I am here to talk about "The
Power of the Human Spirit." Indeed, the human spirit has no limits. If you dream
big, and you have the determination and the will to pursue your dream, it will
become a reality. I dreamt of making stars; I was given a planet.
A few months ago, I was featured in the local, national and international
newspapers. I caused a stir to be the first Asian teacher to win the "Intel
Excellence in Teaching Award" in an international competition held in the U.S.
Since it s inception in 1997,
no Asian teacher has received this award. But I think what created waves was, I
am a Filipino, and I defeated 4,000 other teachers from around the world,
including the American finalists in their hometown. Because of this, the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory in Boston named a Minor
Planet in my honor. There is now a Planet Biyo rotating around the sun which is
located between Mars and Jupiter.
What made me win in this international competition? What made me stand out from
among the best teachers in the world? My road to attaining this international
recognition is a very long 23 years of improving and harnessing my craft as a
teacher. I consistently study and learn new skills to improve my method of
teaching. I want my methods to be interesting, relevant, and fun for students.
For just like any product, the measure of teaching success is clientele
satisfaction.
I finished a B.S. Biology degree from U.P. in the Visayas hoping to be a medical
doctor. For lack of financial resources however, I took the first job
opportunity available- teaching. Never did I regret this twist of fate. The day
I entered the classroom, I knew I would be an excellent teacher.
My first eight years of teaching were spent in a rural school. For lack of
teachers in proportion to the number of students, I taught not only biology,
but ; also other subjects outside my field such as English, Music, and Physical
Education. The materials, equipment, and facilities for the type of effective
teaching I had in mind were absent. These challenges however did not dampen my
enthusiasm for the job. In fact, I became more creative and innovative.
I believe that teaching and learning should not be confined within the
classroom. Even during those first few years of teaching, I see to it that the
science concepts I discuss inside the class would have social dimensions. Thus,
I took an active role in school as moderator of the Rural Health and Science
Education Committee. I designed outreach programs for students and teachers.
Those eight years of teaching
in a rural school has prepared me for greater challenges ahead. Working with the
children of the poor has instilled in me the importance of service, compassion,
and respect for human dignity. I have learned to love teaching, and I see it as
an instrument for transforming the person and the community.
After eight years of teaching however, I felt I had nothing more to give to my
students. I resigned from my teaching job and enrolled as a full time M.S. in
Biology student at De La Salle University in Manila. I was lucky to get a
scholarship which included free tuition and a monthly stipend.
To augment my stipend, I taught as part-time lecturer in the Biology department
and worked as research assistant under one of the senior researchers in the
university. This I did on top of my full-time MS load. I was so engrossed with
my studies however, that I finished my M.S. degree in one year and five months
only, after which, DLSU took me in as a full time assistant professor.
While Manila has provided me with opportunities for professional growth, I still
feel that my heart is in Iloilo. Thus, with an additional degree and one
additional son, I brought back my family to Iloilo in summer of 1995.
In June 1995, Philippine Science High School Western Visayas hired me as a
Special Science Teacher. Only on its third year of existence, the school
welcomed my suggestions and expertise. I helped develop its Science Research
curriculum and introduced some innovations&n bsp; for teaching the course.
Barely a year of teaching at Pisay, I realized that my role was not only to
teach students but to train teachers as well. This I do by organizing workshops
for teachers in the region.
One day, I received a letter from the students. The letter said, "Dear Ma'am
Josette, we know you are being groomed for directorship of the school, and you
would want to be the director someday, given the chance. The thing is, we don't
want you to be the director. We just want you to be a teacher. Pisay needs
teachers like you. The Philippines needs teachers like you." Their letter
touched me deeply.
When I won the Metrobank Foundation Award in 1997 as one of the outstanding
teachers in the country, the Pisay community gave me a poster. The poster was a
white cartolina filled with signatures of students, teachers, and the
non-teaching staff. In the center was a painting of a rose, and the message
which says, "You are the song that plays so softly in our hearts; that gives us
inspiration to aim for greater heights and bigger dreams. Congratulations. We
are so proud of you."
In 1998, I won another national award as one of "The Outst anding Young
Filipino" formerly known as the TOYM in the field of Secondary Education. Last
year, I won the "2002 Intel Excellence in Teaching Award" in an international
competition held at Louisville, Kentucky from May 10-17.
In Kentucky, I presented to the panel of judges and to about 150 teachers from
all over the world my method of tea ching Science Research to my students in
Iloilo. I told them that the Philippines is a third world country blessed with
abundant natural resources. However, we face problems such as the rapidly
declining environment and the lack of equipment and facilities for scientific
endeavors. Faced with this situation, I introduced innovations and strategies
for teaching the course. These innovations included: a) building a scientific
library, b) conducting field studies, c) establishing linkages with research
institutions in the country, d) holding science forums in school, and e)
teaching students< BR>laboratory and field techniques which would help them in
the conduct of
their res earch work.
The judges and teachers from different parts of the world were amazed that even
in the absence of sophisticated equipment, my students were able to produce
quality research outputs beyond their expectations.
I went to Kentucky with three high school students from the Manila Science High
School, and one student from the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of
Technology. These students competed in the International Science and Engineering
Fair which was held back to back with the teaching
competition. The students from Manila Science competed for a team project in
Physics, while the student from Iligan competed for the individual category in
the field of Microbiology. These students were competing with 1,200 other
students from around the world.
May 17, 2002 was a glorious moment for the Philippine delegation in the U.S .
When it was announced that the student from Iligan won second place grand award
for microbiology, our delegation was ecstatic. When it was announced that the
students from Manila Science won first place grand award for Physics, our group
was delirious. When the grand award for "Excellence Teaching" was announced, and
for the first time in the history of the event an Asian teacher won, and a
Filipino, there was a standing ovation
from the crowd as the Philippine flag was waved in the air.
The Philippine delegation's road to success in Kentucky was far from smooth. We
almost never made it to the U.S. Our visa interview was scheduled on&nb sp; May
29 when we were supposed to be competing in the U.S. by May 10. Almost
desperate, we went to the Department of Foreign Affairs for help, only to be
told that the Office cannot give us an endorsement letter to the U.S. Embassy
because they cannot guarantee that we are coming back.
It was a painful experience for me and the students. Anyway, we were able to get
our visa on the last minute the most unconventional way, and brought glory to
this country.
Let me show to you the scenario during the first day of the teaching
competition?.
When I entered the judging area, one table in front was occupied by the board of
judges. At the right side of the room, the table was occupied by the finalist
from China and her supporters. The table at the left side was occupied by the
finalists from U.S.. and their supporters. The center table for the Filipino
finalist was empty. I sat there alone.
I went to the U.S. bringing a CD for my presentation. I also brought some
transparencies and a white board pen in case my CD won't work. Coming from a
third world country, I was prepared for the worst. It turned out, I was the only
finalist without a notebook computer. Luckily, one American finalist lend me
his computer; but before doing so, he gave me a brief lecture on the parts of
the computer and its use.
I was the fourth presenter. When it was my turn to present, a panel member asked
if I needed an interpreter. I said, "No thanks." A personnel from Intel
volunteered to run my presentation. I said, "I can do it." After my
presentation, they said, "Wow, yo u're so cool. You know more than us!"
What am I telling you? That despite our country's limited resources, Filipinos
can compete globally given the proper training, support and exposure. Our
winning at the international scene may not reflect the general condition of
science education in the country. But with our concerted efforts, my dear
fellowmen, we can move this country forward and show the world that we are a
globally competitive race.
Last May, I was in Cleveland, Ohio to present my methods of teaching to 150
teachers from 17 countries. I also served as the team facilitator for the
Spanish-speaking teachers from Brazil, Costa Rica and Argentina.. Last August,
I gave a demonstration lesson t o educators from the third world countries of
Laos and Cambodia.
Filipinos are indeed talented and will excel at the international level in their
individual capacity. But as a country, we lag behind. This is because we lack
the spirit of community which is very strong among progressive nations.
When I went home to Iloilo after the competition in the U.S., my school gave me
a very warm welcome. During the convocation, students and teachers expressed how
proud they are of me. I told them, "I am very proud of you too. It is you who
has brought me to where I am now. Our experiences together has brought world
attention to the fact that hey, there's a world-class school out there in
Iloilo; a school with world-class teachers
and students.
I told the teachers and I quote Mr. De Quiros that "being world-class doesn't
mean going internationally and showing our best out there. Being world-class is
passion and commitment to our profession. Being world-class is giving our best
to teaching. Being world-class starts right inside the classroom."
In winning this international award, I do not claim to be the best teacher of
the land. There are thousands of best teachers out there, working silently,
giving their hearts to teaching, without thinking of benefits or rewards. I
salute these teachers. In winning this award, I believe I was just commissioned
by somebody up there to deliver the message that indeed, Filipino teachers can
be world-class teachers. I n winning this award, I have shown to the world that
Filipinos can be world-class if they choose to be. And more importantly, I have
shown to my fellow Filipinos that
they can be world-class if they choose to be. That if we do our best, we can
conquer the world.
During the panel interview in the U.S., one judge asked me, "You have a Ph.D.
in Biology, why do you teach in high school?" I answered, "And who will teach
these kids?" Another judge asked if how much am I paid for all my pains. They
were shocked when I told them that I am getting a net pay of not more than $300.
a month.When your job becomes your mission, your primary concern is giving your
best in everything you do. Knowing that you have contributed significantly
towards the creation of a produ ct which can make a difference in your company
and the larger community is reward in itself.
Believe in what you are doing. Believe that you can make a difference. Believing
however doesn't mean you have to stop from where you are now. Believing is im
proving your skills and maximizing your potential. With determination and the
will to win, your company can conquer the world.
You could paint one bright picture of this country and its people – by your
achievements in the workplace, your teamwork, integrity, passion for success,
and your discharge of civic responsibilities. You can show the world that you
are the new technocrats, capable and willing to meet the challenges of the new
order of market globalization. You can show the world that you ; are the new
citizenry, capable of making this country a worthy member of the league of
peace-loving nations.
Be proud!
Thank you very much.
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