Friday, July 4, 2014

STRONG CHARACTER COUNTS TO SIR ENGEL

A MAN of  strong character and conviction returned to the  fold of the Lord. That is Sir Engelberto Serna Garma, a Retired Public School Teacher,  at the age of 70 (Born November 7, 1943) and a resident of Brgy. Quezon, Cabugao, Ilocos Sur.



Sir Engel, as everybody fondly called him, despite of his age (70)  he was very active in rendering  his services  to people for free when he was still alive. 

He was  elected as President of the Municipal  Association of Non-Government Association (MANGO) starting the term of Mayor Edgardo S. Cobangbang, Jr. on 2010.  Mayor Ediboy appointed Sir Engel  as member of the Project Monitoring Committee (PMC) of LGU-Cabugao. He became also the Manager and CEO  of the Cabugao District Teachers and Employees Credit Cooperative   where he applied  his sound fiscal policies to  the organization. He prioritized all the disposition of funds purposely to uplift the economic condition of the association in general and the member in particular.

During his retirement, he  devouted  his time  in silk screen printing (photographic)  where he earned also a modest income.

To date, most of the townspeople  tell that Sir Engel possesses a strong character and conviction and rendering services to mankind  that could  add energy to do other tasks.

Sir Engel wished  to share  the highlights of his teaching destiny to emulate as follows:

HIGHLIGHTS OF SIR ENGEL TEACHING YEARS

. March 1964 - Graduated, Philippine School of Arts and Trades with BS in Industrial Education.

. July to December 1964 – absorbed  as an Instructor in the high school department at Pablo Borbon Memorial School of Arts and Trades, Batangas City.

* Requested  for transfer and luckily granted on January 1965 to January 1970 - landed as a relieving teacher in-charge of Form 7 at Pasig 2 District, Rizal Division.

* Due to wedlock in December 21, 1967, requested again for transfer to be with his wife and granted again.

. February 1970 to January 1973 - landed in Isabela particularly Burgos, Isabela carrying his own item along with his designation.

•Due to insistent demand by his parents to serve his hometown, requested again for transfer and was granted.

•February 1973 to December 2007 - served until his retirement on January 1, 2008.

•Almost half of his service took place at Nagsincaoan Elementary School for 21 solid years. It is in this school where he got promoted as Head Teacher I June 1985 under Mr. Jose V. Peneyra, then, the Music Supervisor, OIC of the District.

•Transferred in July 1994 at Pug-os Elementary School until his retirement on June 1, 2008. 

He shared also his opinions to his co-mentors that helped build a strong town and nation, to wit:

“Thank you Jesus our Savior & Very Fatherly that my service in the Department of Education  ended in December 31, 2007 and I thank God and to all of you that my mission has ended with all your support. It is indeed a long and winding road from Barangas City through the Division of Rizal and Division of Isabela and finally to the Division of Ilocos Sur, particularly Cabugao District.

To become a teacher is very really  hard because it is dubbed as the noblest of all professions. It entails hardwork, honest labor, patience, faithfulness and most of all your commitment and devotion to your job. In the process, there are pitfalls, conflicts, problems, rise and falls and even controversies. But these are only jumping boards for improvements.  Of course, this can only be done with the cooperation of all concerned from the higher echelon of the hierarchy to the grassroots. With this performance and the cooperation of all concerned from higher personalities in the system, hopefully there will be a better result in the system itself. Like any individual, my life is not complete without trials, challenges, and success, because “nobody is perfect,”  as the saying goes. Not even twins are identical.  At this juncture, I would like to  ask forgiveness from  my shortcomings incurred while working together with you and also my misgivings. I am only human to commit mistakes. Anyway,  this is  not the end of everything. It is a beginning of a new segment of my life. Though, I am already out of the service, I will gladly serve whenever needs your humble servant. In behalf of my humble family, thank you for everything. GOD BLESS US ALL…"

Sir Engel was born on November  7, 1943, the eldest of the five (5) siblings of Father Alfredo Siruno Garma and Mother Felisa Serrano Serna (deceased). He married to Adelaida Sosa Saludares with sole daughter, LUFEL, a Pharmacist with three beautiful siblings:  Patricia Anne, Pamela Grace and Paulyn Mae.

He completed his primary level at the Cabugao North Central School in 1950-1954. He finished his Elementary Education at the Cabugao South Central School in 1954-1956. Finished High School Technical Course at the Northern Luzon School of Arts and Trades in 1952-1956. He finished Bachelor of Science in Industrial Education (BSIE)  at the Philippine  College of Arts and Trades in 1962  and completed units in MATPA at UNP in 1987-1988. Passsed the Civil Service Exams on 1965 and Career Service (Professional) in 1979. All  in  all,  he served the Department of Education for 43 solid years in several places  with good records and  untainted reputation.# (Interviewed by Jose Edwin S. Sajonia) 

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