By Clyn Joy R. Faraon

“It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.”

​​​​​​​​​​- Albert Einstein

​Children are often asked by everyone around them what they want to be when they grow up and answer them with the first thing that pops out of their young minds. And the most common response that I hear every time this question is being asked is, “I want to be a teacher someday.” But of course, as children having innocent and clueless minds, the struggles of reaching their dreams to be an educator are nowhere around their thoughts.

Low-profile, a so-so profession, a career wherein your future is uncertain-only a few phrases that people relate to the idea of someone being a teacher, especially we’re living in a generation wherein everyone can almost learn everything without the help of anybody. This can be seen through the gradual decrease of students taking up teaching courses and trying to be a manager or an engineer instead.

​But for people who never cared about what others would say and always did whatever they love to do, being an educator means everything. They found home in teaching and giving knowledge to children thirsty for information. It is like a parent trying to mold his children, guiding their path, and carving their mind and emotion. And one of them is Dr. Bernadette Patalot.

The start of a lifetime career

​The 1978 Philippine Board for Teachers (now Licensure Examination for Teachers or LET) passer has been teaching in the University of Perpetual Help System-Laguna since 1999 but traced the start of her teaching career in 1979 at an all-boys school in Don Bosco. Motivated by the very first director of Perpetual to continue her studies and not settle for a Bachelor’s Degree only, the University of Santo Tomas alumna took up a Master’s Degree at the University of Perpetual Help Las Piñas and a Doctorate Degree at the Philippine Women’s University.

From the maestra herself

​As the old-school style of teaching is reaching its twilight years, educators are slowly upgrading their teaching style and trying to plug in the idea of using gadgets and other fruits of technology in giving information to students. But when asked if the idea of eliminating the traditional way of teaching should be considered, Dr. Patalot answered, “Pwede, kaya lang as I move in the length of time that I have been teaching, parang shortchanged kayo sa technology kasi mas malawak at mas marami ang information sa libro. Kahit sabihin pa nating obsolete ang libro, there are things that cannot be found on the Internet.”

​She then continued and said, “Ang laki ng pinagbago. You have to invent so many things kasi short lang focus ng mga estudyante ngayon.”

​As a senior professor continuing to teach in a generation wherein technology conquered almost all aspects of life, the 40-year pioneer in education showed that she can still keep in line with the new and young professors and the modern way of teaching. “It’s very helpful lalo na yung may mga technology. But kung minsan, incapacitated kaming mga elders na kasi di kami madaling mag adept but we really did try. Tried having film showing and assigning my students to create individual reflection papers afterwards”, she explained.

Teachers being teachers

​Philippine History and Rizal are the subjects Dr. Patalot love to teach. Although these particular subjects seem easy and passing requires minimal effort unlike what your major subjects require, some students still fail to reach the requirement this former College of Arts and Sciences and College of Education has for the each Perpetualite she handles. “Very very sad. Kasi I’m not only thinking about my students but their parents as well. Sa bawat subject na nalalagpak ko, nasasayang yung pera, yung pinaghirapan nila”, Dr. Patalot stated.

​You think your professors are happy with you failing their subjects? Think again, kid.

Dr. Patalot described her former teaching ways as strict and rigorous. But as the years pass by, she slowly understood the struggles of her students and tried to loosen up her stern personality. “Natatawa na lang ako. At this point of my life as a teacher, natatawa na lang ako. But before, pinapagising ko. Nagagalit ako. I’m very strict lalo na nanggaling ako sa all boys school sa Don Bosco”, she said with a smile.

Passing the torch

​As she looks to hang her spurs up one day, the number of new and young educators entering our beloved university is gradually increasing. This issue makes the senior professors consider passing the torch to the younger ones anytime soon. When asked if she has any advice to the novice educators, she answered, “Be more patient, be more understanding of the situation. Napakaraming factors that impeach learning, kaya nga ang dapat hahanap ka ng paraan para makaya mo sila na mag-aral. Sa aking pagtatagal dito sa Perpetual, natutuwa ako at this point of time, nakakakita ako ng mga potential, na magagaling.”

Of course, she also has words for her beloved students for Dr. Patalot won’t be Dr. Patalot if not for the Perpetualites absorbing the knowledge she’s giving to them. “Makinig. Makinig. It has to be like that. Pag nakinig ka, matuto kang mag isip. ‘Yun bang sinabi sakin ni Ma’am, ni Sir, makakatulong ba yun sakin?’ Kasi kung di ka makikinig, walang epekto. And dun sa pakikinig mo, do something about it. Dapat dina-digest mo. Dapat iniisip mo rin yung mga naririnig mo”, she said.

The master teacher being taught

​Indeed, experience is the best teacher. With more than 40 years of teaching experience, Dr. Patalot never closed her mind in gaining more knowledge from her experience and everyone around her. Highlights from her experience include having her own sons being her students and becoming the Officer-In-Charge of two big colleges.

​“What I would like my students is to remember me for encouraging them to study very well. Yun ‘yung number one sakin. Then the values, sana may natutunan sila sakin kahit konti”, Dr. Patalot uttered. Just shows that great teachers do not only teach, they also try to touch the lives of their students.

​“From the mouth of my children, kasi sila lahat established na, sabi nila, ‘Mom, no matter how much you train and make us who we are right now, if we refuse to do it, worthless.’ I learned from that also”, she preached.”