MANILA, Philippines - Respected educator Dr. Samuel Soliven may have come from a poor family, but he never let poverty hinder him from finishing school and having a better life for him and his family. In fact, this situation served as his motivation to work harder in achieving his dreams.
“We were poor but I never gave up dreaming and working. I believe that my perseverance and proper nutrition have helped me go this far,” says the Nueva Vizcaya-based principal and an advocate of Laki Sa Gatas, the nutrition education advocacy initiated by Bear Brand Powdered Milk Drink.
Soliven grew up in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya where his family made sure that nutritious foods like fruits and vegetables are on the table. Milk, on the other hand, was regularly given to him in school.
“My classmates and I were asked to bring our own glasses so the school could give us free milk. I think drinking milk somehow helped me to become healthy, achieve good grades, and make my dreams happen,” related the Laki sa Gatas advocate.
Dreaming a better life
Soliven said that because of his nutritious diet, he was able to develop a strong mind and body that helped him deal with his struggles in life. Even as a young boy, after all, he already needed to be brave in facing the many challenges that came his way.
A few years after his biological mother died of leukemia, his father took him and his brother to the mountainous part of Bayombong to start a new life with their stepmother.
“I learned how to farm when we lived in the mountains. I collected rattan, banana blossoms (puso ng saging), edible fern, and taro shoots. I also did basket weaving,” Soliven recalled.
His perseverance in finishing his elementary and high school education was duly rewarded with numerous awards and distinctions.
After graduating from high school, Soliven didn’t know if he could pursue a college education. For one, his family didn’t have the money to send him to school.
The Laki Sa Gatas advocate, though, didn’t lose hope. He applied for a scholarship in Saint Mary’s University (SMU) in Bayombong where he also worked as a student-librarian and successfully completed a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education degree. On top of that, he was honored as one of the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines by the Rotary Club of Region 2 and Most Outstanding SMU College Student.
Education and proper nutrition
“I love being a teacher. I love inspiring the youth to promote peace, love, and justice through their God-given talents,” said the Math and Science teacher.
With the help of the scholarship given to him by the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute, Soliven pursued post-graduate studies at the University of the Philippines in Diliman where he finished a Master of Arts in Education in Physics.
After finishing his masters degree in UP, he went back to Bayombong to teach and at the same time pursue a Doctor of Philosophy in Science Education degree.
In 2004, he was appointed the Principal of SMU High School/Science High School. Aside from academics, Soliven made sure that the school would likewise emphasize the value of proper nutrition and he believes that educators should be good role models in encouraging children to eat nutritious foods and drink their milk.
Soliven is now on his 17th year as a teacher and principal and his work had been recognized by different local, regional, national, and international institutions.
In 2003, he was one of the recipients of the Outstanding Teachers of the Philippines award given by the Metrobank Foundation. In the 20th anniversary of the foundation’s search, he was awarded as one of the 10 Outstanding Filipino teachers. Soliven was also chosen by the US Embassy to participate in an educational tour in the USA, He has likewise been honored as The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) Philippines in 2006. This award made him one of the 12 nominees in The Outstanding Young Persons of the World.
The Laki Sa Gatas advocate added, “I wouldn’t be able to accomplish all these without God’s help and the support of people who have always believed in me.”
Laki Sa Gatas goes to different public schools nationwide to hold activities that are meant to teach schoolchildren, teachers, and parents the importance of proper nutrition and milk drinking. Since it was established in 2006, the nutrition education advocacy has visited close to 3,000 public schools and has reached out to almost 1.5 million kids; more than half a million moms; and thousands of teachers.