By Nauriel Faye Carreos / Special to the BusinessMirror
SHE comfortably positioned herself on the soft cushion placed over the firm narra single-seater. Her eyes were solemn, yet filled with delight and wonder; the crinkles on the tips meant she must have smiled a lot. She was very mindful of her posture, straightening herself up from time to time, and then pulling the edges of her red shirt. Calm and composed, a smile painted across her face, followed by a giggle, as she recalled her recent trip to Brunei Darussalam and her encounter with a relative of the Sultan.
“I spent an afternoon with the lady and she asked me to make a proposal [on the school]. I forgot about it but she e-mailed me. Maybe one of these days, I’d e-mail her back and say, ‘Here’s the proposal,’ but only a year later,” she said, before erupting into a heartfelt laughter.
More than a woman stocked with stories of her own mischief, she is a treasure trove of experience, wit and charm that she unselfishly shares with the people around her.
National President of the Kapisanan ng mga Guro ng Pilipinas (Kaguro), an organization that aims to inspire and empower teachers all over the country, 71-year-old Ophelia Veniegas dedicated her life to uplifting the standards of teaching to the highest level of professional practice in the belief that every child deserves quality education as every teacher deserves quality life.
“There are many organizations that are into teachers’ benefits, but only a few are really focused on standards—the quality. We are trying to help teachers both in their professional and personal life,” she said.
After earning her PhD in Education from the University of the Philippines Diliman, Ophel owed most of her experience and knowledge as she set foot in the international arena, working as a research and training specialist for the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (Seameo) Regional Center for Educational Innovation and Technology (Innotech).
“The work was from A to Z. I was always asked to manage the international conferences, forums. I was asked to organize,” Ophel said.
The practical knowledge she gained with the nature of her work in Seameo Innotech and in pursuit of her vision of raising the standards of professional practice in the field of education not only inspired her to establish her own teacher- training facility, Brain Connections, but also to start her own school, Einstein School for Kids.
Ophel said different from traditional formal schools, Einstein is the offspring of different curricular programs all over the world and her own experience in education research and training.
“I made the curriculum myself. [It is] still based on the Department of Education basic set of competencies, but we enriched to include 21st- century learning skills,” Ophel said.
With her devotion to the field of education, it is unimaginable that Ophel did not initially intend to place herself in this area.
Hailing from a family of educators in Cagayan, for Ophel to follow suit and become a teacher, as well, only made sense—but not to her. She dreamt of a different path as a medical practitioner, yet life’s circumstances and her family’s wishes prevailed. “Actually, I didn’t want to be a teacher. But most of my [relatives], almost everybody in our clan, were teachers. So, actually I wanted to be a doctor—a medical doctor—pero hindi namin kaya,” she said.
Nevertheless, the field she was deeply reluctant to enter is now her greatest project yet—her “laboratory of learning.” With a vision to provide quality education to Filipino children in the country, Ophel plans to establish mission schools in poor communities.
“Even though we’re a private school and it’s supposed to be a trade secret, we are giving away our technology so that kids in depressed areas can have a taste of the Einstein methodology,” she happily said.
Giving back to the community is not new to Ophel; it may be even said that it is already in her very nature to help those who are in need.
As a member of the local chapter of Couples for Christ, she believes that she must serve her part as a servant leader and fulfill the mission of providing aid to people. If her hands are not tied to other commitments, she spends her time organizing weekly senacles or outreach programs as a member of Daughters of Immaculate Mary, a charity mandated by the parish.
“I guess it’s a habit of mine. I would be bored if I had nothing to do—I feel so powerless, useless,” Ophel lamented, as she imagined her life without all the commitments she has. The picture of a blackout on a rainy day, stuck at home without a thing to do is a nightmare for Ophel. As a very hands-on person, she defies all odds as she still manages to go to different places all over the country to deliver talks, host seminars and conduct trainings for school teachers, despite her age—and she has no plans of stopping anytime soon.
“I pray to God that He grants me as many years as I can,” Ophel said. “I feel fulfilled when I’m into many things. Every year, I have new things for the school and society. It’s nakakataba ng puso.”