Within the classrooms, laboratories, and Science and Math Faculty room of St. Mary’s College of Baliuag, the periodic table is more than just a chart. It’s a language, a story, and a tool for unlocking the mysteries of the world. 

For Mr. Christian Jem Ramos, a dedicated chemistry and science teacher for over a decade, it is also his mission to make science simple, relatable, and unforgettable.

For his students, chemistry and physics were once intimidating subjects. But when Sir Jem takes the chalk, atoms suddenly make sense, formulas become manageable, and science becomes fun.

Mr. Ramos never planned on becoming a teacher, but someone else did—his mother. 

“She wanted to be a teacher,” he recalled. “But she was the only one in the family who knew how to handle business, so she gave up that dream and pursued a business course instead,” he added.

That inherited passion began to surface during his high school years at the Philippine Christian University in Malate, Manila, where he served as a student mentor in physics and biology. 

“That was my first glimpse of the teaching world,” he shared. 

He got to experience checking, recording, and preparing documents—just as a teaching professional would. 

Another core memory from that time was tutoring his classmates. While Mr. Ramos loved chemistry and physics, his peers often found them difficult. Teachers frequently asked him to explain the lessons to the class with his classmates often requesting his help. 

A teacher's words still echo in his mind. 

“Jem, nakikita ko na natutuwa ka nung nagtuturo ka sa mga classmates mo. Why not become a teacher? Why not pursue the dream na binigay o ipinasa sa’yo ng nanay mo,” another teacher added. 

“If you find the science subject easy, why not pass your values and virtues to others? If others are struggling, make it easier for them.”

Those words stuck—and it guided him. When he finally became a teacher, Mr. Ramos committed himself to simplifying the lessons so his students could truly understand.

Now, in his 11th year of teaching, he handles chemistry in Grade 12 while teaching science to Grade 8 students. Bringing the same passion and clarity to every lesson, his approach remains simple yet effective. Students, year after year, recall how much easier science became under his tutelage and guidance.

Mr. Ramos fondly shares, “At the end of each school year, I get messages from my former students who are already in college. They say thank you for how useful the lectures and notes were during their senior high school. Some even visited me during their breaks and holidays just to say thank you.” 

Many students struggle with science but thanks to Mr. Ramos’ teachings and motivation, most feel ready for the upcoming challenges they need to face in college. 

“One student told me, ‘Sir, your classes were hard, but they helped prepare us. College feels easier because of how you taught us.’” These moments and testimonies are what make the work worthwhile.

Like everyone else, teachers also face challenges. For Mr. Ramos, a challenge that he struggles with is paperwork. 

“Even if the topics have been taught before, or during the previous school years, you always need to start from scratch. Preparing a table of specifications, questionnaires, periodical examinations, and lesson plans is not easy.” Mr. Ramos stated that with the limited amount of time and piles of work to do every school year, it is difficult to reach all deadlines and submit the paperwork on time.

 But perhaps the most painful challenge is the lack of trust that some parents have toward teachers. 

“Why is it that when parents go to a doctor, they don’t question the diagnosis. But when they talk to a teacher, they question everything we do?” Even if the teachers are trying their best to explain to the parents that their children lack initiative and motivation and need encouragement, parents often believe what they want to believe.

“Teacher, seven letters, but a very heavy responsibility,” Mr. Ramos reflects.

He also shared that being a teacher has also shaped his entire life. 

“People expect a lot from teachers. People often say, ‘Teacher ka pa naman.’ It’s like you always have to be a role model; not just inside the classroom, but outside of it too.” It’s a life of constant self-awareness, of being mindful of your words and actions.

“Being a teacher is both a blessing and a burden,” he said with honesty. 

As a teacher, you have the chance to touch your students' lives and help them change for the better. 

Sometimes, students tend to believe their teachers are more than their parents—which is why it is truly challenging to live up to the expectations of your students. 

On a positive note, one intangible reward that a teacher can receive is to be recognized for their help and contribution to making the life of their student a better one.  

To those who wish to follow the path of teaching, Mr. Ramos offers heartfelt advice drawn from experience and faith.

“From the show 3 Idiots, there’s a line that goes ‘All is well.’ Your heart can get anxious, especially when you’re unsure about decisions in your life. So place your hand over your heart and tell yourself—All is well.”

He also remembers a powerful quote from one of his college professors: “Success comes to those who finished what they have started.” 

To this day, Mr. Ramos brings those words with him. “I started this life with this career,” he shared, “and I will also end it with this career.”

 And in moments of doubt, pressure, or even joy, he always returns to one grounding reminder: “This too shall pass. Whatever it is, sadness, happiness, struggles, it will pass, and life goes on.”

Mr. Christian Jem Ramos is more than just a science teacher—he’s a mentor, a life-changer, and an inspiration to his students. In every simplified physics equation, in every comforting reminder, in every former student’s thank-you message, he lives out a dream that once belonged to his mother—that now lives on in every classroom that he enters. 

In his own words, and in the words he uses to teach his students, Mr. Ramos leaves them the motto: “All is well, This too shall pass. Just finish what you started,” which still lingers on the mind of every student, long before senior high school is over. Mr. Ramos is truly an inspiration for many, worthy to be recognized as both a teacher and a hero.