EDUCATOR’S NIGHT 2009

Tonight I am very much privileged to be given an opportunity to

once again greet our tireless educators in this occasion solely
dedicated to honor you and your profession. I feel grateful too for the
feeling of being one of you in this profession not only because I have
spent these past few years teaching medical courses in the Colegio
de San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila of Catarman but also of being a son
of teachers. My father, a DepEd Regional Director, Dir. Celedonio L.
Layon, Jr. and my mother, Juanita L. Figueroa, an Assistant Schools
Division Superintendent, did not only raise us on the sweats of their
brows as teachers but more importantly imbued on us the values for
which teachers live—commitment and dedication to ones profession,
integrity and social sensitivity to be always attuned with the pulse of
the community, and sharing ones fortunes and extending helping
hands to all. The profession of teaching has taught me that it is not
enough to do the expected but to do more than the limits of one’s
capability. These are the good values I learned from my parents and
to the teachers who have left indelible marks in my life.
These could have been the reasons why I digress in the
practice of a profession where I spent several years of my young life
to finish and to master. I started to love teaching and found joy and
fulfillment of the things I have done. It is a rare happiness that I
always feel whenever a student start to find his ways in the maze of
the difficult medical disciplines. It is always a profound relief that the
once rough and seemingly happy-go-lucky students have been
transformed to enviable gems due to the efforts I have expended as a
teacher. I am sure you must have moments of euphoria, just like I
did, whenever you see an understanding glint in the eyes of a learner
where formerly all you could see where clouds of doubt, ignorance,
and fear. I know the deep pleasure you feel for the littlest success
and learning acquired by your pupils because of the little push you
have given them. As teachers, you built strong foundations premised
on right values, proper work ethics, community and social sensitivities
that they could use for a much better tomorrow.

Page 1 of 3
 The experience, the pleasure, the values and the opportunities
for greater service opened my eyes to venture into other fields. I tried
to dabble in politics to make myself relevant to my belief to be of
greater service and to give full meaning to the lessons I learned from
my parents and to be able to reach out to a much greater
constituents. Teaching has taught me the realities outside the
classroom. Teaching has opened my eyes of the social malaise that
has debilitated our communities and made the playing field not even
especially among the marginalized and underprivileged. It made me
look into myself—the purpose of my life and the thing I am capable to
do to change the situation. I felt I could do something, insignificant it
may be, to dissipate the condition by dedicating myself to the pursuit
of the education ideals we teachers hold dear.
From the time you have given me the privilege to serve you and
other constituents as Provincial Board Member was the time I started
to fully understand the need of our communities, our schools and our
teachers. A day never passes without a teacher, a barangay official
or a parent knocking at the door of our poor home bringing some
concerns about their school and the schooling of their children. In
addition to school problems a lot of our underprivileged constituents
brought even personal and family problems like illness in the family,
food for their table, problems in their work, seeking jobs and the like.
I am just fortunate that I have siblings that feel the way I feel about
these constituents—this is a strong influence of my teacher-parents.
My two sisters, Dr. Christine Layon-Estanislao, an OB-Gyne, and Dr.
Catherine Layon-Miral, an Internist and Diabetologist and my elder
brother, Dr. Gilbert Layon, a surgeon, together with their spouses, Dr.
Joseph Estanislao, the present head of the Northern Samar
Provincial Hospital, Dr. Reuben Miral, a radiologist and Dr. Ann
Marnie Tancio-Layon, a dentist give their time and special attention
and service to those who come for medical service to assist me in
this venture.
My stint in the Provincial Board gives me great pleasure for the
opportunity to serve our schoolchildren, our schools and our
teachers. I hope our partnership of service to the young

Page 2 of 3
Catarmananon continues so that not one among our young boys and
girls will mature without the benefit of education and the pleasure of
your caring hands in bringing the best from each of them.
Thank you for taking the lead in the full development of
Catarman through these children. Thank you for having experienced
what it is to be a teacher. It is indeed a rare honor to be one of you.
Thank you in behalf of our good governor, Gov. Raul Daza, who
could not make it tonight. Thank you and good evening.

(BM Jojo Layon’s speech delivered during the Educator’s Night 2009-Catarman Fiesta
Celebration, August 22, 2009)

Page 3 of 3