“Gaano katagal na po kayong nagtuturo?”
“I think [it has been] 26 years.”
“What makes you stay in the profession?”
“It’s human engineering, actually. Siguro, kung ang mga konsepto ay parang hollowblocks, you really are helping, especially nagla-layer ka ng foundations and I see it as crucial for nation building. Kasi kung kulang or hindi naman gaanong good quality ‘yung ituturo sa mga kabataan, what do you expect for the next generation? I believe my generation should not be better than yours. Your next generation must be better than us. That is why I stay.”
“How do you measure your success as a teacher?”
“In teaching, hindi mo siya masusukat sa kung gaano karami [ang] doctorate degree [mo]. It’s more on touching lives, making [a] positive impact. Na ‘yung pananaw mo sa buhay […], nagkakaroon ka ng mas malaking pag-asa na ma-i-instill mo rin sa kanila.”
– Emer Gonzales, Assistant Professor, Department of Philosophy
Interview by SYRAH VIVIEN J. INOCENCIO and JULIA MARI T. ORNEDO
Photo by ANA BARBARA S. SAN DIEGO
This interview is part of Faces of Dapitan Special: Anecdotes from the Academics done by Flame staffers in line with the celebration of National Teachers’ Month.
