Desiree Matulac-Terre: Surviving life

By Wein P. Gadian

Problems. Whenever possible, man would avoid them, without luck though.

What differentiates man from beasts is the capacity to decide.

It is in man's hands to deform or form himself for he has the basic material to work with – his own self. And then it is his to create a beauty or shame out of it. This is because God wants him to have the excitement of creation, the creation of his own personality.

When beset with problems, man will find solutions which would give him peace.

When crisis comes, man would either fight against the odds or avoid reality. And fighting needs strength and courage.

One should be equipped with the necessary tools before the fight.

Winning is but a goal; what matters is how the warrior fought for survival.

And one woman tells her story on survival. A woman of great character, Dr. Ma. Helena Desiree Matulac-Terre, is the first lay principal of Colegio del Sagrado Corazon de Jesus' Basic Education Department.

Proud mom with her six kids smiles her heart out.

A Sagradista herself and having imbibed the culture of excellence, she was a salutatorian during her elementary and a valedictorian in high school.

She taught in the school she grew in and learned to love after earning her degree in Bachelor in Science in Chemistry and some units in education at the University of Iloilo, and after finishing her Masteral studies. After 24 years of teaching, she became the Basic Education principal.

Years in the profession has never robbed her of the zest and passion for teaching.

She never stops incorporating new ideas to make her class more and more interesting for her students. Her naturalness in her job has inspired both colleagues and students.

“I would make three lesson plans in such a way that, the fast learner, the average learner and the slow learner could cope with the lessons. I make three sets of exams for each of the three categories,” she points out.

Her endeavours in education won for her a Gintong Ilawan Teodora Alonzo Educators' Award for Most Outstanding Secondary Female Principal last year.

Paradigm Shifts

To make a difference, or to initiate change in an institution or organization is not easy.

Her Gintong Ilawan Teodora Alonzo Education awards

From the simple academics of learning math, science and english in an aptitude test that equates intelligence (IQ test), she initiated a much more diverse learning style-multiple intelligences (MI).

Her own belief in MI was an “eye opener” not only to the teachers and students but also to parents as well. Proponents of MI believe that every person is unique and has mastery of an intelligence different from others and that everyone is a genius in his own capacity of learning.

Her adaptation of MI in education empowered more students, teachers and parents in realizing the differences of their children as well as awareness of their own intelligences. “I believe that every child is a genius, that each one of us is a genius in more ways than one,” she says. And she didn't stop at incorporating MI.

She promoted Mandarin as second language. Mandarin became part of the curriculum

because it is one of the most widely used language.

“We're the only non-chinese school accepted by the Chinese community when it comes to teaching Mandarin language.”

Motherhood

Motherhood is a tough 24-hour job. There's no pay, no day-off, and would most often go unappreciated. Yet resignation is impossible.

Desiree's charisma for education made her distinct to others. But more so as a mother of six.

She was tested to the limits. For her, the death of her husband, having six mouths to feed, and a school to lead were not as simple as buying a cell phone.

Assuming full responsibility to six children was not a “no sweat” task.

“Life is not very easy.” she said. “My grieving for my husband was shortened to two weeks because of my family. I have to be strong for them.”

Since she's an only daughter and was separated from her parents at an early age to be with her grandmother for her schooling, she learned how to be independent.

Life is not a bed of roses. So the saying goes. Miracles happens in ordinary ways and that one just have to thank what comes.

But for this woman, courage and gratitude for all the help made her weather the obstacles. “I didn't plan what had happened in my life. Not even the kind of discipline that I taught my kids.”

Her passion for work never came in conflict with her being a mother. She would still find the time for her children.

Going to mass together and having each older kid in-charge of a younger kid is but natural in their home.

“I would make it a point to cook for them on weekends, and we would enjoy watching TV and movies together.”

Having a family and raising kids is not always perfect.

There were instances when her two older kids rebelled. But in the end, prayers and trust in God always work wonders.

After work, she would tug along her two younger kids in looking for their two older brothers, and she never gave up.

Pinning awards to kids is never a task.

“All pains, problems are passing. You will get over it...you are loved,” she would always tell her children, “have fun, but remember that life is a responsibility.Even then trust in God.”

According to Ralph Waldo Emerson , “It is one of the most beautiful compensations of this life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.”

Man has to survive to help another.

One woman who tells all how she survived parenting: “Each child is different. Parenting is never the same to every child. We are their only parents that ever come, so we are what they need.”