RESILIENT CHARACTER

 Emily Repondo

Quinto

DepEd Cavite - Program Supervisor of  Araling Panlipunan

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“If you want to succeed in life, maging mabuti kang anak.”

THESE WERE the words of the Department of Education (DepEd) Educational Program Supervisor (EPS) in Araling Panlipunan of Cavite since 2011, who is a dedicated figure at the ripe age of 49, who embodies inclusivity and positivity as she shares her “matatag” foundation as she went through everything that could ever be—from discrimination, uncertainty, and even financial problems in life—something that starkly contrasts her resilient character and smile today. In a throwback, she was once a struggling teenager at the time, and she faced uncertainty when her mother was diagnosed with stage four kidney failure.

In 1993, when she was at the ripe age of 19 years old, it was her first year living her job as a teacher who was the underdog and familiar in the realm of education. Alongside this, she was also met with a monthly income, which aside from being insufficient for the treatment of the sickness, was also far too long before she could get her hands on any tangible payment for the treatment, despite this she still kept her chin up high yet still hoping for a blessing.

“Masiyadong matagal ang monthly na sahod [bago mai-receive] lalo na’t mayroon sakit ang mother ko, kaya I had no choice but to venture out or find another alternative dahil mababa na nga ang sahod, matagal pa ito bago ko ma-receive,” the now-EPS shared while she was explaining that she was quite doubtful as she entered the teaching.

[Monthly income was too lengthy of a wait before it was to be received, which was emphasized by the fact that my mother was ill; that is why I had no choice but to venture out or find another alternative because, while the pay was quite low, it was also too extensive before I had been dealt my income.]

Due to this, as the youngest of her siblings, she was secretly praying that maybe one day she would be placed in a new school because she had already known that she would not reach anything if she stayed in that particular school, but she was still happy for whatever may come, as she was someone who learned to accept things the way they are. Unbeknownst to her, her unsung prayers had seemingly been answered, as she did not know that she was being observed by a supervisor of another district, something which was seemingly a payback from her optimism. Consequently, redirection did come in her way, proving her dream of helping her mother closer to reality.

“Sabi noong isang supervisor sa akin, ‘wala kang mararating kung mananatili ka rito, sumama ka sa akin.’ Kaya ayun, sumama ako, dahil I was secretly hoping for this [sic],” Emily said as she underscored the fact that she was already capable of being a great teacher, which made her be recognized and relocated to Noveleta High School, and eventually Tanza National Comprehensive High School (TNCHS).

[One supervisor said to me, “you won’t reach anything if you stay here, come with me.” And that was it, I came because I was secretly hoping for this.]

Additionally, she said that throughout this, she stayed optimistic and thankful for what she had—because Emily believed that God had a purpose for her in being placed in another district where she was to teach. Furthermore, she was also weary of the fact that she was going to teach computer education, which was far from the ideals she had. Another thing that crossed her mind was doubt in her skill—the fact that she was weary of her skill because she had always been placed in the lowest sections, yet she still kept her faith in God.

“That time may asawa na ako eh, tapos sabi ng asawa ko sa akin na siguro hindi ako magaling mag-turo. Dahil doon nilalagay ‘yung hindi marunong ‘di ba, sa lower sections? Kaya mediyo nalungkot ako,” the DepEd official said while she recalled the difficulties she had encountered, but soon she was promoted to handle the top sections in TNCHS, which were the Special Science Curriculum and even the Special Program for Journalism classes.

[That time I already had a husband, and he said to me that he felt like I was not well-versed in teaching. Because I was placed where the subpar educators were, in the lower sections? That is why I was miserable.]

She also stayed optimistically positive despite having experienced discrimination as a resource speaker in Tagaytay but was belittled as she shared that she was “only’ a Teacher 1 in the eyes of the fellow educator she was talking to.

“I recall na sinabi niya sa akin na, ‘Teacher 1 ka lang pala, bakit ka pa magiging speaker kung Teacher 1 ka lang din pala.’ Kaya nasaktan ako roon,” she shared but also explained that she became positive and humble because Emily believed that God had a plan for her—which she later realized was to become a master teacher.

[I recall that they said to me, "you're just a Teacher 1; why would you be a speaker in the first place if you were only a Teacher 1?"]

From this, she applied to being an EPS amongst other schools, which was also then belittled because she was quite new in the field and the already-standing higher-ups were not kind to outsiders like her. But she still believed that, above all, she was to become an optimist and kind to others because two wrongs won't make a right.

She was initially at the third ranking from the first assessment, but what she then realized was that there was a lapse in judgement during the evaluation of potential EPS candidates, for which she reached out to the officials. To her surprise, she eventually came on top during the rankings and was consequently promoted to the EPS in Araling Panlipunan, something which she believed was a testament to her hard work and lively personality.

“Dati naisip ko na kahit school na ang labanan at minamaliit nila ako, ‘okay lang, dahil at least lumaban ako,’” Emily explained while she was sharing that in life, you should be optimistic and never let yourself fight fire with fire because, at the end of the day, you’ll realize that being mad is futile and you'll end up regretting your decisions in the first place.

[Before, when even if school was the battleground we were competing in and they were belittling me, I thought that “it was okay, because at least I fought.”]

For her, it was all about being truthful to herself and even her family because she was a devoted follower of God who stayed optimistic amidst her mother's health troubles, with the family scrambling to find financial support. In the end, she thanked her creator for bestowing the gifts she only once has ever fathomed, proving that in the wide tapestry of education and even the uncertainties of life, only the victors are weaved into the very fabric of success by standing strong against uncertainties in the name of being “matatag.”

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