Pearls of wisdom from Teacher Nelia
Educator, businesswoman, philanthropist, civic leader, artist, mother, wife and friend Prof. Nelia Cruz Sarcol is a jack of all trades, master of many. Known to many circles as Teacher Nelia, she is the founder, president and CEO of CIE British School, of which the main branch is located in Cebu City, with locations in Tacloban and Makati City. In an age where altruism, hard work and a high view of education are sorely lacking, Teacher Nelia points her captured audience to the Pearl Principle, a systematic and well-organized elucidation of her life principles and beliefs, which she learned from the wonderful and colorful life she has lived.
Teacher Nelia practices what she preaches with much integrity, and shares it with anyone who will listen with much passion and gusto. Perhaps those two words best describe this modern-day Renaissance woman – passionate and purposeful, with a love and compassion for people that translates to action and generosity, which starts with the people around her – a living, breathing example of what she has always been saying: “Everyone must be socially engaged. Our life’s work must not only benefit us and our families, but [it] should have a positive impact to uplift the quality of people’s lives especially to those within our spheres of influence – not as an act of charity, but as an act of reciprocity – because what we do everyday must create an intrinsic value to the community we serve.”
At a sit-down interview in her cozy office at CIE British School Makati, the University of the Philippines Diliman (UP Diliman man) magna cum laude talked to your columnist about her vibrant personal history, love for education and her country, and why she feels a responsibility to care for the people around her first and foremost.
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