In Davao City Back To Teaching

THE very first time I ever handled a class as a teacher was as a young seminarian. Part of our exposure in our seminary formation program was to teach. Incidentally, it was in San Pedro College in Davao City that I had my teaching exposure. I handled a couple of classes in Ethics for first year nursing students. It was in summer that we went to Davao City to teach. San Pedro College is administered by the Dominican Sisters of the Trinity. It was also an opportunity for us to interact with the Dominican Sisters since we had to live with them for the duration of our teaching stint. We prayed with them, took our meals with them and had recreation with them.

After I was ordained, I was assigned in Letran College in Manila. Since it was a school, obviously part of our job in the school is to teach, aside from being school administrators and chaplains. Dominicans all over the world are identified in the field of education. When St. Dominic formed the first band of preachers, among his recruits were university professors. After their religious and priestly formation, he sent them back to the universities to teach.

Being assigned in the school for fifteen years, I have handled subjects in Theology like Salvation History, Sacraments and Philippine Church. I have also taught subjects in Communication Arts like Basic Photography, Television Production and Radio Production. Teaching is sometimes fun and a lot of times tiring, especially when it is time to make examinations, check papers or projects and compute grades. But for me, teaching is an opportunity to be able to continue studying. And the real reward of teaching for me is when I am able to make a difference in the life of a student, and when I see them being successful in their chosen field of endeavour.

After my assignment in the school, I was assigned as a parish priest in our mission area. Since there is a high school attached to the parish church, I was also at the same time the school director. Although I did not have a teaching load with the high school students, I sometimes pitch in as a substitute teacher whenever a teacher is absent. I thought that was the last time I will ever teach in school, since in the mission areas, the ministry is more pastoral than educational.

Seven years after I left Letran College, I am back to teaching again. And what a coincidence, since I am teaching in Davao City again, where I had my first teaching experience. But this time I am handling a class in Homiletics for Fourth Year Theologians at St. Alphonsus Theological and Mission Institute. I was actually pitching in for a confrere in Davao City who was transferred to a new assignment in Iloilo City. Upon his recommendation and upon the invitation of Bro. Karl Gaspar, CSSR, I suddenly found myself teaching again.

At first I was a bit hesitant to accept the job, since I am based in Gen. Santos City and had to travel for three hours once a week to meet my class in the Redemptorists’ seminary in Davao City. But on second thought, teaching is an opportunity for me to continue studying. And besides, I will get to visit our two Dominican confreres in Davao City at least once a week.