Librada De Castro Acuzar is not one to take things for
granted.
A teacher at the Ambulong Elementary School (ES) in Batangas
City, Teacher “Ada”, as she is more popularly known, has worked hard for every
break that has come her way.
Life was not easy growing up for the second of 11 siblings. “My
father was a farmer, and my mother did not have a job,” she said. They ate off
the land and from the proceeds of whatever produce he was able to sell, she
added.
Thus, she thanks the Shell Tabangao Ladies Circle (STLC) for
the scholarship that allowed her to graduate from high school in 1983, and complete
a Diploma in Industrial Technology from the Pablo Borbon Memorial Institute of
Technology (now Batangas State University or BSU) in 1985.
Ada graduated valedictorian at the Ambulong ES in 1979 so
she automatically qualified for one of two slots allotted by STLC to her school.
She made sure she kept her grades high to maintain the high school scholarship
and took up a two-year vocational course to avail of the financial support
offered by STLC for deserving and qualified college applicants.
Although Ada’s dream was to be an engineer, she knew that
they did not have the means to pursue a four- or five-year course. “We didn’t
have the money,” she shrugged.
By this time, she and the older siblings were trying to help
the younger ones in the family. Ada did not wait for a dream job to come
along. She worked as household help to
expatriates employed by AG&P and studied at night. She completed an
Education course at the University of Batangas in three years.
“But I am still thankful for the financial support because I
don’t think I could have gotten an education without the help of STLC,” she
says.
She also credits STLC Education Committee Head Irene Geron
for her first big break in 1995. “Miss Geron was the Department of Education
(DepEd) district supervisor then and she granted me an item at the Ambulong
ES,” she said.
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As feeding program coordinator, Ada
is helping the Shell Ladies conduct
feeding sessions at the school.
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Ada taught Grade 1 for nine years and Grade 3 for three
years before her current post as special teacher. She teaches Filipino and Math
to Grades 5 and 6 students, and serves as the canteen head, feeding program
coordinator, school registrar and when needed, as substitute teacher.
Along with Ambulong ES Principal Rica Suarez, Ada was one of
those who warmly received STLC members when they visited the school last August
to discuss the conduct of a feeding program.
“I am one of your scholars,” she proudly informed the group.
“I’m glad that STLC continues to help underprivileged kids via scholarships and
feeding programs.”
Now in her late 40s, Ada is able to breathe a little
easier. All siblings have finished
school. The youngest teaches Grade 1 also in Ambulong ES, another in the nearby
barangay of Libjo, while the eldest teaches at St. Bridget College. Two of
their sisters (twins) became welders, while two of their brothers became
engineers.
Ada’s been married for 24 years and has three sons. The eldest, 22 years old, is reviewing for
the Mechanical Engineering (M.E.) Board Exams. The 20-year-old, she says, is in
fourth year college, taking up M.E. just like his kuya (older brother). Their youngest son is still in Grade 9 at
BSU.
She says that once the two older sons graduate and find jobs,
she might join her husband, who has been working as an electrical supervisor at
JGC Malaysia for 18 years, and who visits every four months.
“Bahala na (Come
what may),” she says when asked if they have more specific plans. “I’ve been
teaching for about 18 years. I spend so much time in school. Teaching is very
consuming,” she says.
Whatever comes next in their lives, Ada is sure about one
thing. “I didn’t get to where I am by being picky about jobs or opportunities. I
am not afraid.”
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