18/04/2023
HERSTORY (A Feature Writing Contest-Year 3) Entry #18
2023 National Women's Month Celebration
DepEd SDO Cotabato
Title: THROUGH THE LENS OF EDUCATORS
Author: Angelique J. Tuyan
School: Matalam High School
District: Matalam South District
“'If I died a while ago, I would not have had any regrets because I would have died out of service’, that is what she said”, Sir Eustaquio recounts his memorable experience with then Schools District Supervisor of Magpet West District, Alma J. Tuyan.
Standing five feet and four inches tall, with an average built but stern dedication towards the delivery of quality and inclusive pedagogy, Ma’am Alma has been of service in the Department of Education since 1985.
Since 1985 she has dedicated her life towards the education of the Filipino people.
In 1985 she was ready to rumble.
Her first assignment as a head was at Lampayan Elementary School. In 1995, it was difficult to commute because of the lack of vehicles. It was even more difficult because one would need to cross a river to get to the school. Just so she could get home to her budding family during the weekends, she would ride tall and big trucks that either brought sugar cane or rubber. She would sit at the back where they would usually put their harvests with her co-teacher Mrs. Lechago or sit beside the driver’s seat with half of their butts hanging while inhaling the white gold air.
It was one of the first mild blows she had, one of the first blows she counterpunched.
In 1995, she became resilient.
When she became the Head Teacher of Manubuan Elementary School (MES), she made noise in the arena through her Project AURA (Authority, Responsibility, and Accountability). The project strengthened the relationship between the parents and the school, forming bonds to shape champions. During her leadership, MES became a pilot school too, implementing the Third Elementary Education Program (TEEP) of the government. When the school acquired its first desktop at the time, instead of using it just for administration, she instructed one of her teachers to tutor selected pupils in using the computer. In 2005, computers were expensive, and very few people have access to them. Very few people also did not know how to use it.
There in Manubuan, she received recognitions and awards for education, such as first place in School-Based Management.
In 2005, she stood tall.
In 2005, she was riding the back of giants.
By 2009, her weight division changed, and she became Principal-In-Charge, supervising Alamada West District. Because of the need to reach all the children in the Philippines who have the right to education, Ma’am Alma collaborated with the community. A new school needed to be built. One sunny morning during her time there she gathered at Sitio Mimbalawag with representatives from the municipality and community including, and perhaps, more importantly, Commander Dimanda Bayudan the leader of the armed group residing there. The meeting to put up a new school was composed of women and men in uniforms and in full gear. Guns and rifles were very visible at the end of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and at the end of Commander Bayudan and his people. But it was all for the children, for their rights, for their good; that is why they were able to successfully execute the dream.
Today, the Mimbalawag Elementary School has over 200 students, thriving, and protected by all human forces whose objective is only to give a good life to the youth. Ma’am Alma and Commander Bayudan are still friends up until now.
Through her allied forces, she was able to create an institution.
In 2009, she became a heavyweight contender.
After six years, she became a full-fledged Schools District Supervisor. One of her schools had a concern that needed to be acted upon.
“We were in the middle of a meeting with the people in authority in the Barangay. I was the ALS coordinator of Magpet West District and was there only because Ma’am Alma told me to accompany and drive her since the school was far. I was told to take down notes and record the delicate gathering when my supervisor said, ‘Will it be okay with you all if I give you Mr. Calamba as the school’s new head?’
My knees got weak. I was caught off guard because of the many complications but I was grateful for I realized she believes in me and trusts that I could remedy the school’s concern.” Mr. Calamba recounts.
Sir Eustaquio Calamba remembered a month after the ironing of the concern she came back to check on the school. And there it was an itak held by the hand of the person that needed her help four weeks ago. She should have backpedaled but she did not. She marched forward despite the warning. And then after she clarified, she was told that the itak was there because they needed it to tend the land they were trying to cultivate.
After the visitation, she said to Sir Eus that she would have been okay if the display of pending violence had been executed, all for the service to the children, the community, and the Philippines.
In 2015, she was given a jab, but she knocked it out.
In 2015, she cemented her foot and upheld the title, fighter.
After some years away from home she was finally transferred to the Municipality of Kabacan. There she helped more than 600 pupils through her project “My Honor, My Pride”, coordinating with the Local Government Unit, Local Civil Registrar, and Public Attorney’s Office to give identity to children who are not yet registered in the Philippine Statistics Authority.
In 2017, quite literally, she helped learners have a name of their own.
Right now, she is savoring her remaining days as the supervisor of Kabacan South District. All her life was given to the Department, for the people. In her 38 years in the educational arena, she found herself in the offensive position, but she also experienced being on the ropes. She is 62 years old today and she had a great fight.
She is a teacher, a mother, and a woman. She won the fight and made a name. She advocated for the children, for the parents, and for the schools.
She held the torch. She wore gloves. She wiped her sweat.
She was beaten and broken. But she got up and fought. She had a lot on her plate. But she managed and marched. She had nothing. But she pledged and gave.
She is Alma. She is a woman. And she is the champion.
