(Photos from Brian Tagudar’s Facebook page)

BRIAN TAGUDAR, 36 (Taft Campus: Security Agent)

Working in DLS-CSB for 7 years

“Napakalaking epekto [ng] (COVID-19 pandemic) sa akin lalo na sa pamilya ko. Unang una, natatakot kami na baka mahawaan ng virus kapag napasok ako sa trabaho. Pangalawa, 4 to 5 days lang ang duty namin sa Benilde kaya nahihirapan ako kung paano mag-budget ng kita ko sa trabaho dahil iniisip ko ang bayad sa house rental, bills, at gatas ng anak ko. A lot of changes happened—much affected is my duty schedule. It was cut by almost 80 percent because we need to divide it to all security (personnel) so that all can be accommodated. [Currently, I’m also an] online seller to provide our daily needs [e]specially to my son.”

(Photo from Oliver Liwanag’s Facebook page)

OLIVER PATRICK M. LIWANAG, 48 (SMIT: Resigned Faculty Member)

Worked in DLS-CSB for 17 years

“COVID-19 has affected me by the way I had to radically change the way I would teach from classroom-based teaching to 100% online teaching. It has forced me to learn new concepts, technologies, and teaching techniques in the realm of online education. What makes it more challenging is to implement these new ways of teaching immediately as possible for the sake of the learning needs of the students.  

One notable change I have experienced is buying new tech equipment and downloading software for video-based lectures.  Another more notable change is talking to a white dot in front of your laptop while taping your lecture. It felt funny and stupid at first, but then again I have realized I have gotten into the realm of “vlogging.”

I am adjusting very well and I am welcoming this change as the [Voluntary Retirement Program] VRP has now given me options outside Benilde. The VRP has given me the opportunity to go beyond my comfort zone and start a new chapter in life.  It's scary though because life outside Benilde is unknown; but I do realize that life is short to be scared.  All we have to do is plan, visualize, and implement our dreams and the VRP is a very significant tool to empower these dreams.”

(Photos courtesy of Rowel Roxas)

ROWEL ROXAS, 56 (SMS: Senior Faculty Member - Social Science)

Working in DLS-CSB for 29 years

“As an employee of CSB, COVID-19 affected me in emotional, physical, social, financial, and psychological aspects. This pandemic pushed us to the limits of restraint not just only weeks nor a month but as of this writing, for almost 5 going to 6 months not to mention that our online classes will be pushed through for the first term of S.Y. 2020-2021… This phenomenon is a “different normal.” Shifting from face-to-face classroom teaching to online modality became an abrupt road/journey to what I prefer to call as “disruptive teaching.” “Disruptive” in a sense that it brings the best among faculty members to think creative ways on how to be engaged with student’s learning through virtual mentoring.

It is not simply giving voluminous readings, online activities, quizzes, and the like to our students but—trying to reach out—about their situation, safety, and constant online communication. Online learning is another side of the coin and face-to-face teaching is on another different level of engagement.

A number of associates in our school were being offered to avail the VRP. Since my area belongs to General Education subjects, faculty members from the SMS had to cater the Benilde Online Learning Term or BOLT. We have a lot of subject offerings during BOLT and this first term, that is why, I personally think that our institution still needs my services. I am fervently praying for all our associates who have been profoundly affected by this pandemic not just only those subjected to VRP, but also for those who have been physically and psychologically ill due to COVID-19.”

(Photo courtesy of Catherine Samaniego)

CATHERINE DEE SAMANIEGO, 31 (SDG: AB-CDA Program’s Chairperson)

Working in DLS-CSB for 7 years

“COVID-19 has affected our community in many ways we did not imagine. Firstly, it expanded our offices into our living rooms and blurred the lines between office hours and life outside of work. To some respect, not having to step out of your house and go through the long and painful commute is more convenient. However, "Work From Home"' [and its] flexible nature may also intrude into what you would normally consider as your private time. Work and "not work" just tend to overlap and happen simultaneously. It's radically different from how we've been doing things over the past decades, but we try to manage. 

This new set up has also been pushing our team to reimagine and rethink how we do our tasks, especially in terms of delivering instruction to students, developing materials, planning activities, setting up meetings, etc... Our team's diversity means we are also in various parts of the learning curve. This makes the pursuit even more challenging, but also more rewarding. You only gain from expanding your skills. These are tough times. We have to work harder and be tougher until we flatten the curve for COVID-19 and until the economy bounces back... 

While I am personally not availing of this [VRP]  program, I can say that this step means a lot for associates who are looking for a fresh start amidst all of this uncertainty. It will take years before things normalize and we have to find ways to stay productive, provide for our families, and invest in the future. Hopefully, this initiative could be of some value, as our associates continue to carve out their own path.”

(Photo courtesy of Eric Dela Cruz)

ERIC VILLANUEVA DELA CRUZ (SDA Campus: Full Time Faculty - Theater Arts )

Working in DLS-CSB for 10 years

“I did everything that most people at home are doing to cope–urban gardening, cooking, etc., even Tiktok. I kept myself updated on the latest news and tried to help as much as I could. But, I tried not to be pressured by what other people are doing. I embraced my own pace. 

I’m grateful that Benilde provided all teaching staff the necessary training for online education. I learned a lot from it and found it really helpful, but I hope we have had more time for it. (...) [Meanwhile,] I miss rehearsing or planning for the next production with some students. Even going to the 12th floor cafeteria to enjoy the view of the city from the faculty lounge. 

I think face-to-face classes are by far still the more effective and conventional way of teaching, especially our courses in the theater program. I say “conventional” because that’s how it has been done or what we have been used to. Not that we have a choice at the moment, but I think this compulsory transition to the digital platform will somehow lead us to a new approach to teaching the performing arts. (...) I don’t mean to romanticize the situation the world is currently in, but I do think we are at the precipice of a remarkable transformation, especially for the performing arts. And we must do what we can to equip ourselves for the future. Do you really want to sit this one out?”