By Mizpah Grace G. Castro
PGIN-CMO
Mark
Anthony R. Rivera of Brgy. Francisco in
Dingras, Ilocos Norte, is a teacher at St. Anne Academy Piddig, Inc. (SAA)
carrying a story of tragedy, hardship, and renewed hopes and joys from his
journey of finishing his education degree to becoming a licensed teacher.
The son of a mango farmer, Mr.
Rivera entered the Mariano Marcos State University−College of
Teacher Education (MMSU-CTE) in 2011 after graduating from Dingras National
High School (also known as the Lt. Edgar Foz Memorial National High School).
While not wealthy, the family lived a comfortable life until tragedy struck
during his second year of college.
Two hours before competing in
the Malikhaing
Pagkukuwento category
of a university-wide contest conducted by MMSU's Kapisanan
ng mga Mag-aaral sa Filipino at Literatura (KAMFIL), Mr. Rivera
received the sad news: his father had passed away from a heart attack. Having a
close relationship with his father, he was distraught yet chose to continue on
with the competition.
He performed the piece
"Tata Selo" by Rogelio Sikat, a story about a father's fight for his
own rights, and bagged second place at the Punyagi Cup. He related telling
himself as he stood before the judges, "I can do this. My father is
watching," explaining that "in every competition, he would wish me
luck, and in that moment, I wasn't able to hear his voice anymore."
After his father's death, Mr.
Rivera's family suffered financially, and he had to take on small jobs--makeup, decoration, and choreography stints━to supplement his small weekly allowance and ensure that
he would have enough for project expenses, college contributions, boarding
fees, and transportation to and from Dingras every weekend.
Despite these, he is thankful
today for his rollercoaster experiences in college which taught him to stand on
his own feet. After being wholly dependent on his parents during his elementary
and high school years, he says that it was those difficult times that molded
him into a responsible person who does not take for granted the resources and
opportunities available to him.
Mr. Rivera said that he kept
himself inspired knowing that to be a teacher was his father's dream for him.
He also shared, "I'm a happy person, and I do believe in God always."
As an active member of their Parish Youth Council during his college days, he
said, "Ganoon kasi ang orientation namin sa organization: para sa Diyos naman 'yan━kung isasakripisyo mo 'to, mas marami ang darating."
Eager to support himself and
his family, he started teaching at SAA in July 2015, three months after
graduating, while simultaneously reviewing for the September 2015 Licensure
Examination for Teachers (LET).
During the exam, he was
pleasantly surprised to find that teaching had served as a review, because much
of the lessons he had already taught his students at SAA showed up in the exam.
This compensated greatly for the weekday review sessions he had missed due to
his job.
In November that same year,
he was overjoyed to see his name on the list of board-passers. However, lacking
enough time to prepare his requirements, he was not able to avail of the PRC
(Professional Regulation Commission) mobile outreach in Laoag City, organized
in partnership with the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN).
Finances again became a
looming problem for him, as he assumed he would have to go to Baguio City for
his PRC dealings; thus, he was relieved to hear of the PRC mobile outreach
scheduled last February 6, which catered to 2,202 people in Laoag.
“Very thankful ako kay governor
because ‘yung PGIN na naki-coordinate sa PRC na pumunta dito sa Ilocos
Norte, talagang malaking tulong sa amin."
he also shared, "Mula sa problema ng
bata, problema ng matanda, pinoproblema nila… Not only the PRC━marami na talaga
silang natutulungan, of
course with the leadership of our respected and ever-blooming governor. Talagang pinapakinggan niya ang mga hinaing
ng mga tao."
He also pointed out the
establishment of the LET testing center in Laoag as a possible factor in the
high LET passing rates of the province, saying that if they had had to travel
to Baguio, "Of course, nagmula kami sa mainit, tapos mag-a-adjust ka sa malamig. Hindi ka makaka-focus, so
I am thankful na nandito yung mga testing
area through the PRC mobile outreach."
He commended PGIN, saying
that "the progress of our province is not only shown in the services… maganda ang trato ng lider, kaya maganda ang
nangyayari dito sa Ilocos Norte. You can see unity, na talagang nagtutulungan ang mga tao,
at prayerful ang mga tao."
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