Teaching is a Mission: Tony San Juan

Filipino Canadian In Focus: Tony San Juan

The passion to share knowledge and contribute to learning is what inspires a teacher to wake up every morning, go to school and transform into a walking and talking encyclopedia, explaining every minuscule detail to curious young minds.

For Tony San Juan, teaching is more than just a profession, it is a mission.

“This engaging career provides me immeasurable satisfaction in teaching & learning and nurturing the young minds and brings challenges as a living contributor & witness to their academic and intellectual developments,” Tony said.

And more than just the day-to-day classroom experience, teaching brought him the chance to see the world in a different light.

“I am a teacher by training, passion and preparation and my life’s career experience include both teaching , research and school management work in the high school and college. My profession brought me to numerous teaching and administrative assignments in public and private education and the industry sector for over 50 years in the Philippines, Nigeria and Canada.”

“The financial reward may not be great, but the resulting learning transformation of one or several of my students allow me to focus further efforts to continue as long as my life and health stand by me.”

‘Humble’ beginnings
Tony was born in Daet, Camarines Norte almost a month after the attack in Pearl Harbor. He was raised in a big family and has 13 siblings who are all now living in Canada.

He studied in FEATI University in college where he met his wife Jocelyn Gumban Acuna.

“I was president of the university supreme student council in 1961 and she was the student government’s executive secretary.”

“Close friendship developed, love blossomed, and we dated and got married in 1963.”

After graduating with a degree in Industrial Education at FEATI Univeristy, Tony finished his Masteral studies in Manuel L. Quezon University and completed some  PhDcourses in Centro Escolar University. He also finished an Industrial Management Consultancy program in Japan in 1975 and took Additional Qualification courses ( academic specialization) at the University of Toronto- Faculty of Education.

From 1963 to 1978, he taught in various schools in the Philippines including Quezon City High School, Torres High School and Lakan Dula High School, where he also worked as a guidance counselor.

He served as the acting principal of the T.I.P High School; the assistant professor of education and Vice Dean of the Technological Institute of the Philippines; the Director of Instruction of the Samson Institute of Technology; and the Training Director and Program Manager of the Andres Soriano Corporation Foundation in Makati City.

Newly- posted Philippine Consul General-Toronto Rosalita Prospero (seated centre) strikes a pose with Talakayan Radyo Filipino AM 1430 co- producer May Cabrias (right), co-anchor Karen Tan (left), political commentator Tony A.San Juan ( standing left) and roving reporter Joe Damasco (right), during an interview break on July 18, 2015 at Fairchild Radio Studio in Thornhill, Ontario. ConGen R. Prospero discussed the Consulate’s drive for dual citizenship , 2016 winter escapades and enhancing consular & office services for Filipinos. Not shown are: producer Jess Cabrias, Nelson Galvez, Bobby Achacon and Karen Binaday. (Photo: Nelson Galvez)

Amid the military rule
Tony moved to Nigeria after being recruited to work as an Education Officer by the Federal Government of Nigeria. He was assigned to the Kaduna State Ministry Education at the Government Technical College for 4 years from 1978 to 1982.

He then worked as a Senior Lecturer and Curriculum Coordinator with the Kaduna State Polytechnic from 1982 to 1986.

His wife also joined him in Nigeria and worked as a Senior Audit Officer with the Kaduna State Department of Audit.

“During the period 1983-1986, the Philippines was in precarious “political and economic turmoils” due to Martial Law and the Marcos dictatorship reign.”

“Nigeria during the same period also was  in economic and social downturn as the country was under military rule and intermittent religious in-fighting between Muslims and Christians.”

“Our personal safety and economic life are becoming a difficult challenge. We have to decide: Shall we go back to the Philippines or stay put in Nigeria, i.e. renew our work contracts and meet some hard realities and possible consequences?”

“We decided ‘to go for good’ and opted to follow-up our Canadian immigration application. We know, we ‘ll be facing again some dislocation and new challenges in “uncharted waters”  , so to speak once given the travel papers.”

Tony was finishing his lectureship contract with Kaduna Polytechnic and his wife was also in her last contract year when both of them decided to start applying for immigration to Canada in 1984.

Sailing to their ‘new home’
After eight years in Nigeria, the family immigrated to Toronto, Ontario with his three boys and two girls who were all born in the Philippines.

For Tony, moving in was never an easy journey. The country “still had the scars of recession” and Tony’s family had to deal with settlement problems usually faced by “newcomers.”

“Though we have only a few dollar savings from Nigeria, we don’t have a ready job and other needed resources  to sustain the day-to-day expenses.”

“I can still vividly remember the sad experience of initially renting a one-bedroom small apartment, rented then under my big sister’s name as I will not qualify as legal renter, being unemployed and without asset and banking reference.

“With used mattresses loaned by a friend, and soft drinks empty case as our “dining table”, the three girls have to use the only room while the 3 boys including myself had to sleep in the kitchen and receiving rooms on the cold hard floors, covered only with bed sheets.”

Tony added that they had to step out of the unit in twos so as not to be seen as a big family by the landlord and avoid outright ejection.

“Very humiliating , but that is what we have to do in 3 agonizing months, until we have to move again to a 2-bedroom high-rise apartment, again under my older sister’s help, for one year.”

Parting from the teaching world
Hunting for a new job in Canada became a challenge for Tony who was already 45 years old.

“At that time, I was already a middle- aged guy looking for a job and at that age was a big “minus hiring” factor. Professional accreditation in my discipline plus the high licensing fees was a tough cookie to undertake, what with lots of Filipinos of similar situation and background experiencing difficulties and hearing the common refrain of “back-to-college assessment and advice” by employers and some regulatory -licensing bodies.”

“Applying for even an office, clerical, or a factory minimum-wage job was quite frustrating, as one is either ” has no Canadian experience” or “over-qualified” for the position.”

Tony was unemployed for three months and relied on his 3 boys who were at that time, over 18 years old. His three children helped the entire family “by working in menial, low-paying , temp jobs.”

He temporarily bid goodbye to the teaching profession and worked as a machinist and welder.

“I initially took a job of a production technician even at middle age, putting on hold temporarily my Canadian teaching job dream.( I worked my way thru College, having been employed as a journeyman machinist after finishing a Machine Shop Technician course in 1958, before completing a degree program from FEATI U.in 1963).”

“Some people were concerned as my poor eyesight and energy are a big question especially in doing a precision machine operation. But I persevered and did my best under the circumstances, besides the pay was double the minimum wage.”

Having worked professionally and garnered respectable positions in the Philippines and in Nigeria, Tony said his pride “was at stake, front and centre.”
“I have to face realities, set aside my “bruised ego” and have to “lead” and “show” to my big family that it’s not completely the end of everything, that is, our immigration decision was a mistake.

Popular Fil-Can lawyer Rafael Fabregas, guest of Talakayan Radyo Filipino AM1430, poses with Co-anchor Karen Tan (standing) and political commentator Tony A. San Juan (right) during an on-air interview short break at Fairchild Radio Network in Thornhill, Ontario on June 6, 2015. Fabregas answers questions pertaining to Canadian immigration and citizenship laws and regulations impacting the Filipino community. (Photo: Nelson Galvez)

Back to his first love
Tony was fortunately hired as a Research Assistant – Tutor assisting advanced engineering students complete their graduate research at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Engineering.

“This gave me a strong window of opportunity to start reconnecting and rebuilding my desire to be in the education industry sector again.”

From there, he started reengaging his way back to his first love, the teaching profession  to honour the commitment of “once a teacher, always a teacher.”

“After receiving my professional licence as an Ontario Certified Teacher ( OCT), first in 1994 from the provincial Ministry of Education and then from the Ontario College of Teachers (the government regulatory body since 1998), I accepted assignments as an occasional / substitute teacher.”

“Later, I was appointed as a permanent teacher in several Catholic and public school boards, teaching junior and senior secondary students in courses such as History, Geography, Design & Technology, ESL , Technical Studies, and Special Education. Additionally, I was greatly involved with the planning and implementation of the General Education Development – GED pilot project , the first in Ontario historically, as a project officer and test review coach.”

The Canadian Multicultural Council – Asians in Ontario honored him as the Local Asian Canadian Hero for Education in 2015 for his dedication and contribution to education as a teacher and a community leader in the Asian Community.

He became the president of the Philippine Teachers Association of Canada (PTAC) and led the development of programs and services that will benefit teachers including teacher certification, career search building & transition and professional development workshops for internationally-educated teachers as well community projects in academic tutoring & homework and ESL sessions.

As a committed community volunteer, Tony is serving either as a convenor or active member of Asian Canadian Educators Network, Council of Filipino Canadian Professionals-Ontario, TCDSB Filipino Advisory Committee, FEATI University Alumni Association and  4 other  advocacy organizations.

Although Tony has retired as a full-time teacher with Toronto District School District, Canada’s largest public school board, he still is doing part-time teaching assignments.

He is currently working on the founding of a Movement for the formation of a Council of Filipino Canadian Leaders with the goal of uniting the community to be an institutional player and contributor into the Canadian political process and social & economic life.

Always a Filipino

“Working and residing in Canada modestly gave us a way of life that is if you worked hard and accept challenges by engaging in tasks and activities related to your motivation, skills, experience and comfort levels… personal productivity, individual accomplishment and relative success are there to reach and achieve.”

Throughout his teaching and non-teaching career, Tony had with him the Filipino values he learned from his Bikolano parents. It became an essential part in his journey towards becoming an educator ‘across the globe’ and across a varying culture and tradition.

“The good social values and traditional practices of typical Filipinos, including those Western “nice things” about being a Canadian are the “tools” and “guiding principles” I usually respect and employ in all my engagements…be they on personal, professional or business level and/ or family matters, as well.”

“Love for family and respect for elders are always present in our family relationship. My students recognize these especially in gaining and developing mutual respect in classes and school practices. In my lessons, when they are topic- related, the examples and illustrations I gave are usually reflective, though a bit subjective, of my personal background and experiences as a Filipino.”

To Filipinos eyeing for a better opportunity in Canada, Tony’s secret in achieving success is “living life fully by believing in yourself of one having your own set of skills, abilities and potentials.”

“You should recognize your own capacities and limitations as a person and as a professional.

You must be reasonably prepared to accept responsibilities, be committed and gain mutual respect by being respectful of others.”

“As a newcomer-immigrant, one has to be prepared to understand life’s realities and to meet challenges in his new environment with a strong desire to adjust, integrate and succeed with a minimum of complaints and blaming. He or she must realize the importance of hard work & determination, patience & perseverance, and dreaming for the beauty of life and pursuing life-long learning, as well.”

“In an almost like-minded community of country persons such as ours, one has to participate and contribute, should time and reasons allow, in community-building, social causes, faith & fellowship and collective cooperation for the common good.

“At higit sa lahat, ang pagtulong sa ating mga kababayan at kapwa tao sa abot ng ating makakaya. And above all, helping our countrymen as much as we can. God is good!”

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