Close Encounter with an Expert/Sterling Teacher
Dr. Enya Marie Dinglasan Apostol is currently
an Associate Professor at Mindoro State College of
Science and Technology – Calapan Campus. Ask if
she is satisfied with her job as a professional teacher,
she stated, “There is nothing more satisfying than to
be able to mould the minds of the youth to prepare
them for what lies ahead in the future and become an
influence. I have been teaching for more than 20
years, there were countless of mentees I have honed
and touched lives, it is indeed rewarding to see most of
them on the height of the ladder of success looking
back that I was there to give them a push and a pat at
the back. Aristotle once said that “The one exclusive
sign of thorough knowledge is the power of teaching”,
being given the chance to teach is noble and the
opportunity to pour wisdom and knowledge is
priceless, these thoughts makes me satisfied as a
teacher. A career that can make someone a
somebody. “
As an expert professional teacher, the things
that make her happy is to see her work published and
other’s citing her name and influence their works. Her
answer quoted,” A friend once told me that you will
appreciate your contribution as an educator in the
scholar community if you could search your name and
find published papers with your name on it. I then
strive to do so and challenged my self to become a
part of the scholar community (search google scholar if
you want to check 😊) but what makes me happy is
seeing people be able to cite my published work and
acknowledged how my study influence theirs. This also
opens the doors for me to collaborate with international
authors to conduct and publish papers. Being
acknowledged as a researcher and be invited as one
among the pools of paper reviewer in an international
journal puts an icing on the cake of my scholar
journey. Being able to guide other educators and
students to conduct researchers also makes me glad.”
And what make her sad is quoted,” It then becomes frustrating when I realized that still some
educators refrain from conducting relevant studies due to lack of interest and being slack. In spite of the
fact that doing so will benefit them they still tend not doing so just because they believe that it is a waste
of time or they just can't find a reason to do so. Being able to hone mind is the job description of all
teachers that correlates to efficiency, being able influence and motivate people to strive hard and reach
their goal is effectiveness but contributing more in the scholar world defines expertise and excellence.
Dr. Apostol’ s most unforgettable experience as a professional experience is quoted,” Every
single day as a teacher is an unforgettable experience, but to choose among these experiences is being
able to reach far places and meet lots of people. Being chosen to represent the institution I am connected
and country as well to a competitive international scholarship heightened all of the experiences I had as a
teacher. Not everyone was given such opportunity and this once in a lifetime chance opened more doors
and windows for me. The time spent with fellow educators like me from 20 different countries gave me a
glimpse of how our education system were similar or different. The learnings I took away from it gave me
a chance to train other educators as well. “
Her most significant contribution to the teaching profession is quoted,” There were a handful of
contributions I made as a team archer but I would cite two of my most significant contributions in this
profession. First was to had established a strong international partnership with one of Vietnam’s
specialized Universities through my Project CBoL (Cross-border for Learning) where through this
collaboration I was able to send other faculty members and key officials of my institution to train and
immerse in other University and be able to accept faculty and students from Vietnam through an
exchange program duly approved by CHED. Through this I built a pool of experts who can train and teach
internationally. It was also rewarding to inculcate to the minds of both Vietnamese faculty and students
the significance of the English language to be internationally prepared to explore opportunities beyond
their country (most Vietnamese cannot speak and understand English).
Second was to be able to collaborate with one of the best training schools in Malaysia to conduct
expert trainings not only for educators but other professionals who needs to be trained and what's most
rewarding was to conduct GLOCAL (Global quality done Locally) trainings which is affordable and even
more for free. Through negations and collaborations, I had the chance to train more than hundreds of
professionals with world-class speakers and trainers and conducted international research conferences
with a great number of researches and research papers.
Her other plans for the future as an expert professional teacher is quoted,” Though I have
achieved a handful, I still have plans for the future and one of which is to publish books as reference to
make student studying Math easier. I also plan to give free trainings on mathematics software to assist
students especially on this times that learning from home is a practice, with limited to no one to run to in
studying mathematics, the mathematics software that I am using can assist students with their difficulties
in Math.”
Dr. Apostol was promoted in her job quite many times and benefitted financially from it. Here is an
excerpt from her interview. “In my 16 years of teaching years in MinSCAT, I have been promoted several
times both in rank and designation. In rank, I have been promoted from Instructor I to Assistant Professor
IV then at present I am an Associate Professor IV. These promotions of rank were due to the National
Budget Circular (NBC) 461 wherein faculty were evaluated based on the points acquired through
professional development, length of service and scholarly achievements. Being promoted in faculty rank
corresponds to raise in salary which benefits me financially.
In designation, I have been appointed as Director for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation
(DPME) for 6 years and then a Director for Finance, Administrative and Support Services (DFASS) for 6
years with more than a year overlapping both designations. I was also designated as an OIC-Vice
President for Administration and Finance (VPAF) for a short period but I decided to be a plain faculty for
personal reasons since 2018. Being able to be designated in these various positions gave me an avenue
to contribute to my institution on its physical and institutional growth and progress and be able to establish
different operational and administrative policies and processes. The physical growth of my Campus from
2010-2018 were some of my accomplishments as a Director. Quite a number of new program offerings
and improvements of processes and operations were also part of my functions. The benefits I gained from
being designated to the aforementioned positions gave me an avenue to contribute administratively and
on the personal side, I got the chance to be equipped with administrative capacity and learned new skills.
I also had opportunities to explore other places nationwide through attendance and participation to
different trainings, conferences and seminars. The chance to collaborate with different line agencies and
government officials also broadened my awareness on different social and political issues and settings.
This also gave me the once in a lifetime opportunity to be part of the 40 chosen few among 400
applicants nationwide for the very first Philippine Higher Education Career System EXECUTIVE
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (EDP) sponsored by the Commission of Higher Education (CHED),
Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) and Philippine Association of State Universities and
Colleges (PASUC) which trains future Higher Education Presidents for free. As a reward to some fellows
who graduated from the Program, we were also given a chance to visit premier Universities in Taiwan and
create connections and collaboration.”
