Lessons, Islands, and New Friendships: Month Three in Jagna

Month #3 in Jagna has been full of teaching, traveling, and meeting new people. The students kicked things off with the much-anticipated Buwan ng Wika celebration, where I watched CVIF students proudly showcase their culture and history. I don’t think I can fully express in words how touching it was to witness this event. It made me even more appreciative of the importance of preserving history and culture, and it reminded me of my grandmother and the few conversations we had about her upbringing. Of course, I couldn’t attend Buwan ng Wika without wearing a traditional Filipiniana top. One of the CVIF teachers, Abby Abucejo, graciously helped me find the perfect one. (Thank you, Abby!)”

Buwan Ng Wika celebration. Abby and I posing in our beautiful Filipiniana tops.

Along with witnessing the students’ performances during Buwan ng Wika, I’ve also continued to see their love of learning and their ability to tackle challenging subjects in the classroom. This month in the General Biology class, we focused on the cell membrane—its many roles, and the differences between carrier and channel proteins. During one discussion, I used the entire classroom layout, along with student volunteers, to demonstrate these concepts, which I hope made the lesson more fun and engaging. In the Practical Research class, the students were tasked with drafting their first Review of Related Literature (RRL) on a topic on either astronomy or marine biology. Now, I’m no expert in either field, but I was instantly impressed by their submissions! Their chosen topics were fascinating, and the way they wrote their RRLs reminded me of the process of writing and reviewing grant proposals in research.

Another exciting event at CVIF this month was the invitation to introduce myself to the visiting heads of DepEd schools from Davao. (Coincidentally, I wore the same color shirt as them, haha!) I spoke about the impact of learning about the DLP and creating LASs for my classes, especially since I had previously taught in settings where most learning took place online. I shared how I’ve implemented LASs in my Practical Research class, which focuses on the topic of artificial intelligence—a particularly relevant subject since AI is now a widely used tool in research.

Visiting heads of DepEd schools from Davao. Example LAS on AI. 

As for my travel adventures, would you believe me if I told you I visited four islands this month? Yes, you read that right! I went to Siquijor, Camiguin, Mantigue, and White Island. Each one was uniquely beautiful, so unfortunately, I can’t say which was my favorite.

Left to right: Siquijor (me at the Old Enchanted Balete Tree). Mantigue Island. Camiguin Island. Me on White Island at 6:00am!

However, I can tell you that I met new people on three of these islands. Let’s start with Siquijor, where I met my new friend from the Czech Republic, Natálie. I first met her at the Tagbilaran port, and we ended up spending an entire day together in Siquijor—exploring Kawasan Falls, hiking, and visiting different sites. We had such an amazing time! She now lives in Hong Kong, and I hope to visit her soon. I also met a group of cool new friends—Patrick, Fahed, and Oliver—while taking pictures at Pitogo Cliffs. They generously treated me to dinner at Runik, and I had such a great time talking with them, especially when we realized we were all the same age.

Left to right: Natálie and I at Kawasan Falls. Pitogo Cliffs. The guys and I at Runik restaurant. The food was lami!

Next, I met my new friends Rena (a.k.a. my twin) and Rëy in Camiguin. It all started when I asked them to take a photo of me at the Old Church Ruins and before we knew it, our bond led us to spending an entire day together. We explored so many places, including Tuasan and Katibawasan Falls. It was especially memorable because we got to celebrate Rena’s 30th birthday together!”

Left to right: Me at the Old Church Ruins; photographed by Rëy. Rena and I arriving at Tuasan Falls. Rëy, Rena, and I during our last night in Camiguin on Rena’s birthday.

Lastly, on Mantigue Island, I met a group of brothers while sharing a boat ride, and they welcomed me (with food, of course, haha) like I was their long-lost sister. One of the brothers, Bonen, was even kind enough to help me take photos of the beautiful island. Their bond definitely made me miss my siblings back home.

Left to right: The brothers and I on Mantigue Island. Black shirt = Bonen. Me at the Mantigue sign; photographed by Bonen. My peaceful photoshoot in the ocean; photographed by Bonen.

I am beyond grateful for these beautiful experiences and new friendships. I know that the next couple of months will bring even more adventures—especially with the fiesta just around the corner!

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