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IAMRAFI: Wind Beneath
My Wings
The Story of Jovemar ‘Jovy’ Catubig Baroman,
Little Bamboo Foundation, Inc. Preschool Teacher
By Marco Paulo Trajano Deligero | September 18, 2018
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As we celebrate the 2018 National Teachers’ Month, RAFI gives honor to all the hardworking and selfless teachers that contribute to nation-building, one child at a time.
Jovemar, or Teacher Jovy to her students, is a preschool teacher at the Little Bamboo Foundation, Inc. since 2003. In her own little way, she is doing her share in nation-building.
Her Humble Beginning
Jovy, a native of Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Lanao del Norte, began teaching at the Little Bamboo Foundation, Inc. on July 14th of 2003.
She shared that during her childhood she faced challenges while getting her education — first, her parents couldn’t afford sending all of her siblings to school, and second, she had to traverse mountainous and rebel-infested areas in walking to school.
“I promised myself to just keep holding on to my dream. Paningkamot lang gyud, (just strive hard) until I finish my studies,” she added.
She also shared that since she was a child, she already wanted to become a teacher, which led her to take up Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education, and supported herself through college as a working student.
“I really wanted to help the children, especially the poor ones,” Jovy said.
The Little Bamboo Foundation, Inc. in Cebu is one of the partner organizations/beneficiaries of the Dolores Aboitiz Children’s Fund of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation (RAFI-DACF).
A Family-Centered Woman
Today, Jovy is happily married to Osias Baroman, and blessed with two children, Jan Rose and Jetro Baroman, 21 and 16 years of age, respectively.
Jan Rose is currently taking up a degree in Hospitality Management, while Jetro is still in high school.
Jovy had her first teaching experience at the Inayagan Elementary School in the City of Naga, Cebu. Because of financial difficulty, given that she already had children to raise, she took on multiple jobs other than teaching which included being a house cleaner and an admin/secretary of a law firm.
“Working multiple jobs was difficult but I had to double my efforts for my family. Going home and seeing my family waiting for me already removed the stress and exhaustion I experienced the whole day,” she shared.
The Beginning of Her 15 Years in Service
In 2003, Jovy joined the Little Bamboo Foundation, Inc. preschool, where aside from teaching underprivileged children, they also help in the filing of the children’s birth certificates. They focus on the hygiene of the preschool children by ensuring they are well groomed, including giving of haircuts, cutting long nails and even bathing them at times — a job she considers fulfilling.
“At Little Bamboo Foundation, Inc. we make sure that these children are well groomed, and ready to face the world, that they are ready in life,”
“We give these children what we can; a glass of milk will help them achieve the health that they deserve,”
“We also teach the parents to have a healthy lifestyle by encouraging them to cook healthy food for their children such as vegetable dishes and fruits, instead of junk foods,” she added.
Jovy as a Preschool Teacher
With more than 15 years of teaching experience, Jovy knows how to handle bugoy-bugoy (naughty) and hyperactive pupils.
“I am very strict,” she said.
“I make sure that the pupils will respect me as a teacher — you have to be firm and strong in handling students, because if the students will sense that you are weak, they will never listen,”
“But if you discipline them in the best and healthy way possible, they will respect you and even treat you as their second mother — someone they could entrust their lives with,” Jovy shared.
On Play-Based Learning
Jovy shared the importance of play-based learning, which means encouraging and allowing the schoolchildren to play within the school playground and experience everything on their own — happiness, socializing and even pain.
“Learning through play is really important; these children can learn on their own; experiencing everything on their own during play and fun — they learn how to socialize, build camaraderie, self-confidence, and many more,”
“It is also good for them to experience pain. For example, a simple fall during play is good, but not those severe of course, minor scratches and tripping are fine, it will help them experience everything firsthand, that is part of play-based learning,” she said.
Aside from play-based learning, Jovy also helps pupils read and write, and holds tutorial classes for pupils who need a little more of attention.
Jovy and Her Biggest Life Motivation
Jovy travels almost 21 kilometers everyday from Cebu City to Naga City just to attend to the needs of the Little Bamboo preschool pupils, and said that her family and the children she serves are her biggest motivation.
“I travel back and forth everyday, and yes it is difficult, but I can’t leave these children because they need my help, these are the children that need my help,”
“As long as I know that these children still need me, I will continue to help them, that’s all that matters to me,”
“I am also blessed that my family understands my work, they are very supportive,” she said.
What Is the Real Meaning of Being a Teacher?
For Jovy, a teacher is someone who is selfless, someone who gives his or her time for the learners unconditionally.
“Being a teacher for many years, I could say that a teacher is someone who gives his time and his whole being, even beyond what is asked of them,”
“A teacher does this for all the learners, even it means sacrificing time for the family,” she said.
People That Matters to Jovy
“I love working here at the Little Bamboo preschool,” Jovy said.
She also mentioned her gratitude for the support of her family, “thank you and I love you, Osias, and my two children, Jan Rose and Jetro,”
“I never thought that I would be able to fulfill my dream of becoming a teacher and help these children to fulfill their dreams,”
“I will never forget one conversation I had with our president, Anne de Vesian von Bredow, when she said that I should continue what I am doing, because teaching is a noble job, especially teaching those underprivileged and those who needs it the most,”
“Daghang salamat RAFI for giving me this opportunity to share my story, daghang salamat!” #IAMRAFI
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