A Woman of Many Hats: Lucy Lombos

Award-winning children’s book creator Tommy dePaola once said, “Reading is important because, if you can read, you can learn anything about everything and everything about anything.” These words of dePaola could not ring any truer for Filipino-Canadian Lucy Lombos who utilizes her career as an educator and author in inspiring everyone to “learn-to-read and read-to-learn.”

‘The Golden Bronze’

Before she was known as Lucy Lombos to readers and friends, and prior to publishing books in the US, Canada, and the Philippines, Lucy was Luz dela Torre Enriquez, a very fitting name for a woman who serves as a “jubilant light to her family and friends.”

Lucy, who calls herself ‘The Golden Bronze’ and the ‘Spring-Time-Come-Alive,’ was born and bred in the Philippine capital of Manila. She studied under the tutelage of religious orders such as the Religious of the Virgin Mary in high school and The Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco in college. If she had not been a writer today, she would probably be a nun, for after graduating high school, she entered the convent of Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians.

She finished her Education degree at Society of the Divine Word in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro and her Master’s Program in Language and Literacy at the University of the Philippines.

Her career in the education sector commenced at Puerto Galera Academy in Mindoro where she worked as a teacher, while her parents managed its canteen. From Manila, the Enriquezes moved to Puerto Galera upon the invitation of a German Missionary.

“Up to now, Puerto Galera has been beautifully etched in my heart and is warmly considered my hometown for more than three decades,” Lucy said.

The Educator

With a mission to “reinforce, enhance, and provide mastery of a child’s learning,” Lucy and husband Umberto “Jun” Lombos, an accountant, in 2000 founded Lombosco Academy (LA) in Katarungan Village, Muntinlupa City. She sits as LA’s Directress while Jun serves as its Founding President.

“The school’s vision is to be known as ‘The Threshold of Academic Excellence and Growth In God’s Love,’” said Lucy who manages the Academy online when in Canada.

Lucy admitted that directing and monitoring a school in the Philippines from Canada comes with a challenge due mainly to the difference in time. So whenever she’s in the Philippines, Lucy ensures that she gives her students and teachers the support she can provide.

“I wear different hats – giving training to her teachers and staff; organizing events; book launching and storytelling, reviewing the pupils, counselling, conferencing with the parents, and coordinating the repairs and maintenance of the school,” she said. “Teaching is tough and should never be taken for granted.”

From the Philippines to Canada

Seeking for a greener pasture, Jun in 2005 flew to Canada. However, his stay had to be cut short when he received the news that his mother had fallen seriously ill.

Determined to provide a good life and give their children a brighter future, he went back to Canada in 2012, and just a few days after his arrival, he filed sponsorship for Lucy and their three children to immigrate to Canada.

Two years later, in June 2014, the family finally reunited.

“When I arrived in Canada, it was summer. It was a perfect time of the year, coming from a tropical country,” Lucy recalled.

“I was amazed by the cleanliness of the place and the freshness of the air we all breathe. It only showed that there was no pollution. I noticed that fruits and vegetables are of wide variety yet affordable; there are lots of flowers around and nobody picks them,” she said

“I noted that the health care system is excellent. Canada Line is superb. Multi-culturalism is exciting,” she added.

But as the season changed, so did Lucy’s state of health.

“I felt the freezing temperature when autumn and winter seasons came which I considered as an obstacle to work. The long walks to visit places caused me a painful foot injury,” she said.

Lucy, however, did not let her injury keep her from being productive. In fact, she used this break to expand her scholastic achievements. While recuperating, she enrolled in online courses on First Aid and Food Safety and studied TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of other Languages) at ISS Language & Career College of BC. She also took writing courses at a local school district and at the Writing Academy in the US.

The Author

Although Lucy has established a new life in Canada, the Philippines still holds a dear place in her heart and mind.

“I miss the culture of celebration in the Philippines, especially on Christmas and New Year. I love to hear the “kampana” or the church bells at the Immaculate Conception Parish in Poblacion, Puerto Galera. I also miss my school, the children, and the teachers.” she shared.

The Philippines is also home to her “smart and humorous” mother, 82-year-old Elisea de la Torre-Enriquez. If there are people Lucy would thank for igniting her passion in writing, Mrs. Enriquez and Lucy’s grandmother, Regina de la Torre, would probably be on top of her list, for they opened to Lucy the door to literature  by painting “colourful pictures and fascinating words in her young, absorbent mind.”

Lucy, on her website, relates that she “plays with words and makes magic, using the figures of speech.”

“Her pen and paper attracted her to put her creative juices into writing for future compilation and ultimately share them to other people, particularly the youth,” Lucy, speaking in a third-person point of view, wrote.

“She would like to inspire the young ones so that more lives will be touched or changed somehow. Hence she gives a contribution and an impact on the world at large,” she added.

Perhaps, one of the biggest — if not the grandest — contributions of Lucy to the world is her children’s books that she “loves writing” while visualizing her school children at LA, who serve as her inspiration.

The first of her children’s book, ‘Ang Tinago Kong Piso (“The Peso Coin I Kept”),’ was published in the Philippines in 2014. The three others are ‘The Class Lady Bug,’ ‘The Star of the Sea: A Boat Ride,’ and ‘Ter and Ter’ (The Turtle and the Eagle),’ published in the US in 2016, in Canada in the spring of 2017, and in the Philippines in March 2018, respectively.

‘The Class Lady Bug’ touches upon child bullying and how a young girl dealt with her bullies, while ‘The Star of the Sea: A Boat Ride’ tells the story of Aleli who is set to take her first boat trip, with Puerto Galera as the setting.

Lucy also authored the biography of Philippines’s “Happiness Guru,” Jimmy Belleza, entitled ‘Happiness 365 and ¼ Days.’ It is filled with inspirational stories of how he rose from poverty to becoming an entrepreneur and motivational speaker.

‘The Star of the Sea: A Boat Ride,’ ‘‘Ter and Ter’ (The Turtle and the Eagle),’ and ‘Happiness 365 and ¼ Days’ earned Lucy an “Official Recognition” from the Municipality of Puerto Galera for promoting the town’s tourism to the international market.

Lucy considered the award a blessing from the Lord and dedicated it to her family, friends, readers, and LA.

Lucy is set to publish more books for the kids. Her upcoming books are ‘The Joys of Junior,’ ‘Swanie’s Bag,’ ‘Pinky Oinky,’ ‘Noshi, the House Fly,’ and ‘The Aspirant.’

Pieces of advice

As a successful educator and author, Lucy sure knows a thing or two about giving tips on how to reach the top.

When asked for an advice to aspiring writers, Lucy said, “For those who would like to become writers, I advise to hone one’s writing skills and read a lot. Visualize that writing is like preparing a hamburger (top bun, fillings and bottom bun) with a cup of coffee, a writing bonus.”

“Everyone has got the special power to succeed and be heard,” she added.

As for Filipino immigrants in Canada, Lucy tells, “I always share that new immigrants will definitely have a place here in Canada. Everyone will flourish and prosper in the new homeland. Just learn new skills, practice English well; respect other cultures and comply with the country’s rules.”

“Don’t ever give up. I believe that Filipinos are a resilient type of people and naturally know how to thrive,” she concludes.