DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – At the break of dawn, Jonnel Garcia would get out of bed, fix himself up, and be on his way to an elementary school, traveling by land for about 45 minutes, crossing a river by boat, then trudging through a muddy road before finally reaching the classrooms, where about 30 kids would greet him for another day of learning.
“During that time, sobrang hirap nilang ma-access (it was very difficult to reach them),” Garcia recalled.
The place is the isolated village of Buliran in San Antonio, Nueva Ecija. In 2020, its population was less than 5,000. It was not until 2021 when a bridge was finally built, which greatly improved accessibility.
Garcia, who obtained his bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education at College of Immaculate Concepcion (CIC)-Cabanatuan City in 2007, said life in Buliran back when he was teaching there from 2008 to 2010 was uncomplicated. He was 21.
“Simpleng bagay lang, masaya na kami. ‘Pag weekend, papasok kami, magre-review for National Achievement Test (NAT), tapos magbabaon kami kahit sardinas lang tapos magpi-picnic kami sa labas,” Garcia recalls.
(We found joy in simple things. On weekends, we’d go to school, review for the NAT, and we’d bring something to eat like canned sardines, then enjoy a picnic.)
Garcia said reaching out to school children in remote areas is his advocacy.
“I want to teach at those public schools, to be of help to the children. I was actually happy teaching in public schools. That’s where my heart is,” Garcia said in a mix of English and Filipino.
“Kaya lang,” he added, “pare-pareho kaming kapos sa buhay (we’re all in need).”
Garcia is the eldest of four children. Assuming the role of family breadwinner after his father’s death, he sent his siblings to school but he still managed to use a part of his meager salary to have a new classroom built in school or train student-athletes.
Garcia described himself back in those days as a “Loandon” teacher. “Loan dito. Loan doon. Suking-suki ang mga teachers sa ganyan. Hangga’t kayang ibawas sa pay slip, gagawin,” he said.
(Loan here. Loan there. Teachers are very much into that. We’d do it so long as the pay slip could handle it.)
He was making P12,000 a month, less deductions for social security benefits PhilHealth, Pag-ibig Fund and the Government Service Insurance System.
Advocacy
What kept Garcia going was seeing the kids with dreams in their eyes. “Simple lang ang mga bata, pero matataas ang mga pangarap,” he said. (They are simple but they have great ambitions.)
His hard work and resolve paid off. The Buliran Elementary School (BES) had low NAT rankings but Garcia, who taught English, math, and science, turned this around by simplifying complex lesson. This increased enthusiasm among the kids and led to significant improvement in the school’s Mean Percentage Score (MPS).
This achievement marked a small but powerful victory that affirmed Garcia’s commitment.
“Akala ko, walang impact sa mga bata ang mga sinasabi ko sa kanila o mga itinuturo, pero malaki pala,” Garcia said.
(I did not realize that what I have been teaching had such a big impact on them.)
Garcia said he loved what he was doing at BES. “I learned one thing. If I’d be an engineer or a doctor, it would only be me doing good in that field. But if I could be a teacher, I could inspire more, touch my learners’ lives. And they can be productive and responsible citizens of the world,” he said.
Time to leave
Garcia, however, eventually had to leave and join the Filipino diaspora. “Mahal ko ang pagtuturo sa Pinas, pero kailangan kong lumayo para somehow, makabangon at makatulong sa mga mahal ko, kasama na ang mga estudyante ko,” he said.
(I love teaching in the Philippines. But I needed to go away to somehow progress in life and help the people I love, including my students.)
“For how could I give more if I have less?” he added.
Following one more teaching stint at another public school in Nueva Ecija, Garcia flew to the UAE in April 2017.
Watching students become successful
These days, the 37-year-old Garcia, teaches Grade 2 students at Al Maereid School for Basic Education in Ras Al Khaimah (RAK). His wife, Reina Denisse, also teaches at the same school.
Prior to moving to RAK, described as among UAE’s frontier lands with its vast deserts and a population of 400,000, Garcia taught at two Dubai schools and at another RAK school.
“I thought I wouldn’t make it, living here. But one day, I woke up and realized I have been here for four years,” Garcia said.
Garcia described RAK life as laidback and peaceful. “You go to work and all you see are mountains and nature,” he said.
His former BES students are doing well these days, he said. “They are now professionals. Some are teaching, too. I guess that’s our reward as teachers — to see our students become successful in life,” Garcia said.
Up ahead, meantime, are new challenges, and Garcia said he could not be more grateful to be able to bring his advocacy to the next level in another land.
“Thankful because we got the chance to teach the future leaders of UAE,” he said. “Seeing my learners applying our lessons in their daily lives inspires me more. Being appreciated especially in this country is a great blessing and privilege.”
Awards
On October 12, Garcia was honored with the “Outstanding Teacher Award-Best Mentor” during the Teachers Day Celebration at the Migrant Workers Office. It was given by the National Organization of Professional Teachers, Incorporated–Filipino International Teachers Society (NOPTI-FITS)
He also received the 2024 Pinas Cargo Dakilang Mangagawang Pilipino Award, besting 199 other nominees.
Garcia obtained his Master’s degree in Education Management at CIC-Cabanatuan City, and is attending an online masteral course in Special Education at St. Paul University in Manila.
Garcia is a UAE Ministry of Education-certified licensed teacher. – Rappler.com