I never really saw myself as a teacher although the thought briefly crossed my mind after graduating from college. But my father made it clear that he wanted me in the family business (just to make it clear, this is the handicraft export business and not any other "family" bizinis). So ever the dutiful son, I acquiesced to my father's wishes. And any thought of teaching was banished from my mind. However, sometime during the 3rd and 4th Qtr of 2022, and in the following year, I had several opportunities to impart knowledge to students, fellow tourism stakeholders, and potential birders, and I must admit it was a pleasant experience.
The first was a Birding 101 training that I gave on September 26, 2022, as part of the Tourism Week Celebrations. This is not the first time I was going to give this talk but it was the first such training post pandemic and I enjoyed it a lot. For props, I had camera equipment and binoculars laid out and even a Patawaro photography hide set up in the venue.
Sharing some photos:
Posing with the "graduates"
The second was a chance to talk about photography to a class of PSU Tourism Students. This is memorable because it was my first time to give a lecture about Basic Photography which is a dream come true of sorts because I have always wanted to talk about this topic. Plus PSU is an institution that will forever be close to my heart. While preparing for the lecture, I tried my best to recall all the lessons I learned from previous mentors namely, Leo Castro of Photoworks (first mentor for digital photography), Pancho Escaler of Chroma (teacher in Basic Photography, an elective in college), and Mr John Balili, from the San Beda HS Camera Club. Thank you aslo to Ms Clarence Paguntalan for giving me the opportunity.
Sharing some photos of said event which was held at Darayonan on December 6, 2022:
Explaining how a camera works and talking about the Exposure Triangle
With the PSU Students Dec 2022
The third opportunity was to talk about birds and birding to a big group of students in Salvacion during the Tarahomonan Festival in December 2022. Through the invitation of Mayor Beth Cervantes who saw my first Exhibit at TAG Resort a month earlier, I did a bird photo exhibit at the Busuanga Municipal Hall Lobby, and was asked to talk about birds to the students on opening day, December 12, 2022. This was challenging because it was such a big group and most of them were Grades 5 & 6. What made this special was the presence of my daughter Ella, who was in Coron that time. Thank you Ptr Jonathan Dabuit for the exhibit and the lecture.
The following year, I had three more opportunities to give Birding talks and another Photography lecture. The first was one was to the Park Rangers of the Bogtong-Sagrada-Concepcion Marine Protected Area. I was invited by the MAO Office of Busuanga and C3 to give a talk on birds and birding. This was held at Bogtong on February 18, 2023. Thank you Ms Shalom Pareja for inviting me.
With the Park Rangers and C3 Staff
Receiving a Certificate and a Dugong Stuffed Toy from Busuanga MAO Ms Tess Rabe
The second opportunity was to Ginhawa, an NGO which also did an e-book about birds. The talk was conducted at the Ginhawa camp in Tanay. Here are some photos of the event last April 15, 2023. Thank you Ms Mini Gavino for inviting me to give a talk.
Then another Birding 101 training on November 10, as part of the Kilit Festival 2023. This was made more memorable by the presence of several WBPP members who were in town for the 1st WBPP Quarterly Sortie.
And finally, another Basic Photography lecture to PSU students last December 15, 2023 - the same subject but a different class under a different teacher. Thank you Ms Alexia Matta.
With PSU Students and Ms Alexia Matta, Dec 2023
If I am able to inspire even one person to be a responsible birder or one student to take up photography seriously, then all the effort would have been worth it. Matamang salamat! Till the next class/training.
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