Project News

Please find below their two fascinating stories:

1. Ms. Maria Leonora T. Guerrero

Ms. Maria Leonora Tolosa Guerrero was born in 1975. She obtained a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education from the Philippine Normal University. She played basketball and volleyball. She is fond of folk dancing. She joined San Pedro Relocation Center National High School (hereinafter "SPRCNHS") in August 1996. She has taught for almost 19 years in the three campuses of the SPRCNHS. She obtained a Master of Arts in Education (majoring in Administration and Supervision) in 2014.

Ms. Guerrero was assigned as a "Linkage Development Officer" in May 2014. As part of her tasks, she monitors and supervises the senior high school students and checks all the necessary documents needed by the school and for the records of DepED division, region and central Offices. She also visits companies and other partners. She also regularly carries out consultations for colleagues (SHS teachers) on students' issues and concern. She teaches "Personal Computing and Hardware Servicing" and "Internet and Computer Fundamentals" for 12 hours a week for G7 students. She also has the role of adviser for the mobile education program for G7 to G10.

Ms. Guerrero says, "I am very happy to work as the Linkage Development Officer because I can meet many new people".

Challenges Ms. Guerrero has faced as the Linkage Development Officer

It is hard to contact companies and to develop partnerships. She contacts many companies but not all of them reply to her. Even though she has met human resources managers, few companies have agreed to become partners with the school. However, there are some companies that are willing to extend their help for training not only the students but also the teachers. She sometimes has to visit companies on Saturday, travelling on her motorcycle. This is very difficult because motorcycles are not allowed to be used on most company premises. She has to find the place to park her motorcycles somewhere and she has to walk to the premises.

Linkage development officers' communication with the students and their guardians on students' careers is carried out through class adviser's letters to guardians, regular PTA meetings (held quarterly), and general semester assemblies. However, together with her colleagues she visits the students' homes on weekends to encourage them to continue studying and to talk with their guardians.

Challenges prior to 2016

Not only Ms. Guerrero, but also the concerned teachers of SPRCNHS believe that it is important to develop more partnerships prior to the other schools which start senior high school program next year. They hope to develop 20 new companies as their new partners. Their target location of companies includes, Alabang, Calamba and Batangas. Though the majority of teachers enjoy their summer holidays (April to May), partnership development work continues in summer.

Good memories of assuming the role of Linkage Development Officer

Ms Guerrero has neighbors with 16-year-old boys. They told her that they had been thinking of sending their children to a six-month vocational school. Ms. Guerrero suggested that the boys should study at SPRCNHS because they could also study academic subjects in addition to technical subjects. They would be able to obtain TESDA national certificates when graduating from high school. Also, the tuition would be free though they would have to pay tuition fees in the vocational school. They agreed to send their boys to SPRCNHS. Now they are studying automotive servicing and welding. They have been studying well so far.

Linkage Development Officer / Senior High School Program Coordinator
Master Teacher I (Personal Computer and Hardware Servicing, Internet and Computing Fundamentals)
SPRCNHS, San Pedro, Laguna
Maria Leonora T. Guerrero

2. Ms. Alenie B. Dualan

Ms Alenie Baja Dualan was born in 1977. She obtained a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Education from Cavite State University - Rosario Campus in 2012. She is currently taking an MA in Education Management. Prior to starting work at SPRCNHS, she worked for 16 years at Clarion Manufacturing Corporation of the Philippines (car audio and car navigation systems manufacturer) as a production operator, marshaling operator, materials controller, and production clerk.

She joined SPRCNHS in May 2012 as an industrial linkage coordinator. Although she had not yet taken a licensure examination for teachers, she was immediately hired after her graduation from college. Eventually, she took the said examination and passed it in September 2012.

Ms. Dualan says, "Teaching has been a dream since my childhood. I was happy to be back in school after working more than 10 years in industry".

How did she come to SPRCNHS?

Her professor at the university referred her to SPRCNHS. Thus, she just sent her resume to the school principal. Her degree, a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Education (BSIE) and her work experience in a manufacturing company impressed the school and she was hired.

Her working day (one Tuesday)

Ms. Dualan comes to work at around 7 o'clock in the morning. She teaches "Internet and Computing Fundamentals II" from 7:30 to 8:30 (She teaches six hours a week). After delivering the lesson, she goes to her office, starts up her laptop and replies to her e-mails. She makes telephone calls and receives telephone calls from her industrial partners and other stakeholders. Ms. Dualan now assumes the role of "Registrar of Senior High School". She prepares a "Transcript of Records" for students upon request. Her lunch break is from 11:50 to 12:30. She prepares various reports requested by the DepED division, region and central offices, and she also visits companies and other partners as required. Her work also involves consultations and provision of advice for her colleagues (SHS teachers) on students' issues. She leaves the school around 5 or 6 o'clock in the afternoon.

What Ms. Dualan always keeps in mind as an ILC

Ms. Dualan always tries to keep to deadlines. She wishes to promote more industrial immersion and employment opportunities for the students. In addition, she would like to develop opportunities for teachers' skill development with assistance from industry partners.

Challenges

Challenges include: limited access to the school's vehicle, and time management. She wishes that her teaching load could be reduced further.

Goals

Ms. Dualan believes that more partners are required in view of the fact that the number of SHS students will increase more than ten times in June 2016.

Good memory

In the first batch of students for the senior high school program, there was one who had family problems. He often came to the teachers and told them that he wanted to quit the OJT program. Together with her colleagues, Ms. Dualan encouraged him, and advised him that his future was with the program. He somehow finished his OJT program and was hired at the company where he conducted his OJT. In the 2014 graduation ceremony, he delivered a speech representing the SHS program students. This was a very impressive episode.

Industrial Linkage Coordinator/Teacher (Internet and Computing Fundamentals) SPRCNHS, San Pedro, Laguna
Alenie B. Dualan

What do you think about the "linkage development team" of SPRCNHS? Do you find the school's Senior High School program attractive?