I grew up in a poor family from a remote village in the Philippines. Everyday we help our parents to make both ends meet, and school is the only place where we can be kids, enjoy life, learn, and dream beyond our struggles. My teachers inspired me with their care, wisdom, and ability to open new worlds to us we never thought existed. Being a teacher for me is something that makes the world a better place for everyone, just like what my teachers did to me.

In my 20 years of teaching, I have had so many memorable and cherished teaching experiences that have validated my passion and commitment for teaching. One that stands out was when I was chosen as Eau Claire High School, in SC as 2022 Teacher of the Year, and became one of the 5 District finalists. Being a foreign teacher in the US, most especially in my district, was not easy, to say the least. But this recognition proved that I have done my job well of touching lives and inspiring students.

With $25,000, I will continue the outreach programs I started a couple of years ago to support remote and underprivileged learners. These include feeding programs, gift-giving initiatives with school supplies and food items, and donating devices like smartboards, projectors, smart TVs, and laptops to enhance the teaching-learning process. I will also award five-$200 scholarship grants to the most deserving and less fortunate learners to support their uniform and school supplies needs.