Worldwide contest for excellence in teaching and the winner is . . . a Filipina!

Doctor Josette Biyo is a public school teacher in Iloilo. She teaches third year high. She won the "Excellence in Teaching" Award in the US, competing against 4,000 candidates from all around the world. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Laboratory in Boston named a minor planet in her honor. The planet is between Mars and Jupiter. These are excerpts from the talk that she gave at San Miguel’s "Best Practices Forum" held at EDSA Shangri-La:

"I am here to talk about the ‘Power of the Human Spirit’. If you dream big, and you have the determination and the will to pursue your dream, it will become a reality. I dreamt of making stars; I was given a planet.

"I caused a stir to be the first Asian teacher to win the ‘Excellence in Teaching Award’ in an international competition held in the US. Since its inception in 1997, no Asian teacher has received this award.

"What made me win? 23 years of harnessing my craft as a teacher. I want my methods to be interesting, relevant, and fun for the students.

"My first eight years of teaching were spent in a rural school. For lack of teachers in proportion to the number of students, I taught not only Biology but also other subjects outside my field — English, Music, and Physical Education.

"I believe that teaching and learning should not be confined within the classroom. Even during those first few years of teaching, I took an active role in school as moderator of the Rural Health and Science Education Committee. I designed outreach programs for students and teachers. Through these programs, students were trained to teach primary health care to the people in the barangays. They also taught barrio folks how to make cough syrup from plant extracts and soap from coconut oil. Students also gave lectures on environmental protection and conservation.

"Those eight years of teaching in a rural school prepared me for greater challenges ahead. Working with the children of the poor has instilled in me the importance of service, compassion, and respect for human dignity. I have learned to love teaching, and I see it as a vocation for transforming the person and the community.

"I was accepted as an assistant college professor while I was working for my Ph.D. in La Salle. Teaching college students at De la Salle University was an entirely new experience. With modern and sophisticated equipment at my disposal, my world opened to the wonders of scientific research. In my ecology classes, I would bring my students to the seas of Batangas, the rivers of Rizal, and the lahar affected areas of Pampanga to conduct field studies. Pursuing my Ph.D while teaching also enabled me to conduct researches which were presented in the Philippines and abroad.

"Research is very exciting. It means sleepless nights, disappointments, physical and mental exhaustion. But the joy of discovering something new in nature makes it all worthwhile.

"While Manila has provided me with opportunities for professional growth, I still feel that my heart is in Iloilo. So, with an additional degree and one additional son, I brought back my family to Iloilo.

"One day, I received a letter from the students. The letter said: ‘Dear Ma’am Josette, we know you are being groomed for directorship of the school. The thing is, we don’t want you to be the director. We just want you to be a teacher. We need teachers like you. The Philippines needs teachers like you’. Their letter touched me deeply.

"I won the Metrobank Foundation Award in 1997. In 1998, I won another national award as one of ‘The Outstanding Filipinos’, formerly known as the TOYM, in the field of Secondary Education. Last year I won the 2002 ‘Excellence in Teaching Award’ in an international competition held at Louisville, Kentucky, from May 10 to 17.

"In Kentucky, I presented to the panel of judges and to about 150 teachers from all over the world my method of teaching Science Research to my students in Iloilo. I told them that the Philippines is a third world country blessed with abundant natural resources. However, we face pro-blems such as the rapidly declining environment and the lack of equipment and facilities for scientific endeavors.

"Faced with this situation, I introduced innovations. These innovations included:

a) building a scientific library
b) conducting field studies
c) establishing linkages with research institutions
d) holding science forums in school
e) teaching students laboratory and field techniques which would help them in their research work.

"The judges and teachers from different parts of the world were amazed that even in the absence of sophisticated equipment, my students were able to produce quality research outputs beyond their expectations.

"May 17, 2002 was a glorious moment for the Philippine delegation in the US. When it was announced that the student from Iligan won second place grand award for microbiology, our delegation was ecstatic. When it was announced that the student from Manila Science won first place grand award for Physics, our group was delirious.

"When the grand award for "Excellence in Teaching" was announced, and for the first time in the history of the event an Asian teacher won, and a Filipino, there was a standing ovation from the crowd as the Philippine flag was waved in the air.

"What am I telling you? That despite our country’s limited resources, Filipinos can compete globally given the proper training, support and exposure. Our wining at the international scene may not reflect the general condition of science education in the country. But with our concerted efforts, we can show the world that we are a globally competitive race.

"Being world class is passion and commitment to our profession. Being world class is giving our best to teaching. Being world class starts right inside the classroom.

"In winning this award, I believe I was just commissioned by somebody up there to deliver the message that Filipino teachers can be world class teachers. In winning this award, I have shown to the world that Filipinos can be world class if they choose to be. If we do our best, we can conquer the world.

"During the panel interview in the US, one judge asked me: ‘You have a Ph.D. in Biology. Why do you teach in high school?’ I answered: ‘And who will teach these kids?’ Another judge asked how much am I paid for all my pains. They were shocked when I told them that I am getting a net pay of not more than $300 a month.

"When your job becomes your mission, your primary concern is giving your best in everything you do.

"Believe in what you are doing. Believe that you can make a difference. Believing is improving your skills and maximizing your potential. With determination and the will to win, you can conquer the world.

"Your skills as a teacher do not only contribute to the development of the country. You also bring the spirit of joy and laughter into the lives of your students.

The Filipinos as a people are intelligent, hard working, passionate, fun-loving, creative, innovative, magaling.

"Be proud!"