The first native Doctor in Education graduate in San Jose, Tarlac

TARLAC PRIDE: The first native Doctor in Education graduate in San Jose, Tarlac, to be recognized.

  image source: facebook

Rodel Valdez, 32 years old, belongs to the Abiling Tribe living in Sitio San Pedro, San Jose, Tarlac. He graduated with a Bachelor of Elementary Education Specializing in Science and Health in 2008 at Tarlac State University.

He continued his Masters Degree in 2013 at the University of Saint La Salle and take Doctorate Degree in 2016 at the same university under Project Free by late Ambassador Danding Cojuangco. “Baluga, maitim, ita! Go down the mountain again ”are just some of the discrimination Sir Rodel received when he was still in elementary school. But this did not become an obstacle for him, but he still worked hard to finish school.

It is said that there were five of them who were natives studying, but only two survived and graduated including Sir Rodel because the three could not stand the ridicule of their classmates.

  image source: facebook

In Tangan-tangan, Maamot, San Jose Sir Rodel first taught, because of the eighteen rivers that are crossed daily, sir Rodel decided to live there. His teachings are purely indigenous, so as a teacher, Sir Rodel also teaches their cultures to continue living until the next generation. Non-IP’s teachers walk 6-8 hours to Tangan-tangan, Sir Rodel is only two hours away. After two settlements in Tangan-tangan, he spent seven years teaching in his own community in Sitio San Pedro.

"I do not think of discrimination, because that is where I achieved my dream" said Sir Rodel. Currently, Sir Rodel is a Teacher III or Principal at an elementary school in San Jose, Tarlac

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