Dreams

Faculty Room

I remembered how almost everyone in the academe worried about what will happen in 2016. The Human Resource Office held a series of seminars on Positive Thinking. They were preparing their people psychologically, spiritually and financially. It was possible to lose your jobs anytime and you have to be ready for it. The password was: "Retool, retrench, retire." I remembered a middle aged member of the faculty who under normal conditions before K-12 was ten years away from her retirement. When K-12 was introduced she decided she would retire early and start a business of her own. She'd been teaching entrepreneurship but she never had the chance to attend to any business of her own, let alone the selling of some tickets every now and then when their College needed to raise funds for some departmental projects. Oh yes, imparting knowledge had been her daily business since day one in the Academe.

Younger faculty members busied themselves preparing to take the teacher's board exam. It was a requirement for teaching in High School. As College Professors, they took Master's Degrees, underwent the Comprehensive Exam and wrote their Master Thesis to qualify for teaching in College. Some of them even went as far as Doctoral and defended a Dissertation. Do they have to take Teacher's Board Exam just to teach in High School for the few years of transition?

Two years of no Freshmen and less College enrollees. College Professors who used to teach General Education Courses in College now got ready to teach High School subjects. That is, if they have a Government Certificate to teach those courses. Those with more savings worried not. It was a chance for a sabbatical leave and a long vacation to travel the world. For many alas! It was a trigger for personal, professional and financial crisis. Good thing about crises? They can turm out to be golden opportunities for growth and discovery of many possibilities.

The faculty Room was filled with a concert of different voices from the deep base of Mr. Anthony Abad to the high pitched voice of Dr. Lucia Brillantes and a crescendo of many voices in between, all of them members of the Faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences.

"Next year, I'll be a Visiting Professor in UK," Dr. Brillantes announced.

"Good for you, Doc!" Mrs. Martyr responded. "If I will have no teaching loads next school year, I will just open a Sari-Sari Store at home. How's that?"

"Make sure you get a Business Permit, Leny," Dr. Brillantes reminded her.

"Of course, Doc. That will be much lower than the more than five thousand a month withholding tax I've been paying for years and years! To think that my take home pay is only five pesos, after all the deductions." Mrs. Martyr's voice was edgy.

"Leny, Leny, that's our contribution for nation building." Dr. Brillantes suggested.

"You mean, Doc, teaching and forming our students aren't enough contribution to build the nation? And where do our taxes go, may I ask?" Leny snarkily remarked.

"May be, I will go to Singapore and be a Nanny." Mrs. Entrata added.

"You will?" Leny Martyr asked with a surprised tone.

"Oh well, you will get a chance of seeing another place for free, enjoy the no tax policy for Overseas Filipino Contract Workers, plus you will be dubbed a modern hero." Leny quipped.

"Sorry, but I may not invite you to my Wedding this Sem Break. We'll just keep it simple and save the money for 2016." Miss Cecilia Sison sadly joined in.

"Don't worry, Ces. We understand. We will still buy you a gift and throw you a Shower Party!" Dr. Brillantes sympathetically reassured her.

Mr. Anthony Abad was talking to Mr. Carlitos Santiago in a far corner of the Faculty Room. Their deep voices blended well with the high pitched voices of the women.

"Beth, you lost your voice again. Try the Instant Salabat. I'll give it to you at P150 per box. You'll see how soothing it is to your throat." Mrs. Entrata suggested to Ms. Lilibeth de la Cruz who was the youngest in the group.

"You young teachers usually stress your vocal chords so much." Dr. Brillantes commented.

"What's your secret Doc?" asked Beth.

"Simple! Talk only when it's necessary." Dr. Brillantes answered sagaciously. "Teachers are facilitators of learning. Let your students discuss and argue and be there to arbitrate any disagreements. What was our goal in Outcomes Based Education? Outcomes, of course! How do we want our students to be, after their Baccalaureate Degrees? No amount of talking on our part and no amount of listening on their part would make them communicate. Conclusion, let's make them talk for them to become competent communicators."

"Wow! That was necessary! Lecture's over, Doc!" The two gentlemen Professors chorused in, getting ready to leave.

"Make sure, you go straight home, Gentlemen!" Dr. Brillantes jokingly retorted.

"Ladies, let's call it a day!" Mr. Abad commented.

"Thank God, it's Friday!" Mr. Santiago gladly announced.

"And weeeeee'rrrrre haviiiiiiiing funnnnnnnn!" Mr. Abad said with great emphasis.

The two gentlemen were laughing as they left the Faculty Room.

"Don't forget Sunday. We'll be sponsors for the Mass." Mrs. Entrata called.