Thankful for Being Part of
the PACCI Filipino Literacy
Teacher Elirie J. Cruspero
I am grateful to be part of the PACCI Filipino Literacy program. Literacy is crucial for managing daily life and building meaningful connections. It goes beyond the ability to read and write; it empowers individuals to access information, express themselves, and engage fully in society.
As the great educator and literacy advocate Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.” I feel blessed to be part of this program. Initially, I was motivated to teach foreigners and be exposed to different cultures. However, I never expected to find a new family among my students, whom I call the “Morning Filipino Family.”
Working with PACCI in this endeavor has been very satisfying. I was able to teach what I wanted and respond to the students’ needs. I looked forward to going to the PACCI office every day for 15 days. The staff—Josette, Joyce, and Richie—were incredibly supportive and friendly. They always provided me with all the materials I needed to teach. Miss Ma. Theresa J. Limpin was also accommodating and always ready to troubleshoot on the two days I needed to be absent due to work commitments. She even checked in on me and the class.
The presence of PACCI’s President/CEO, Mr. Rafea Salem El Hawi, added to the friendly atmosphere in the office. He observed from the back but would occasionally join the class activities. This inspired me to give my best as a Filipino language teacher.
The modules were also helpful in guiding the direction of the lessons and identifying the students’ needs. They gave me the flexibility to conduct and facilitate the lessons effectively. I suggest providing the modules to the students after each lesson to allow them to review what they have learned.
Initially, there were 13 students in the morning session—nine males and four females. They were all participative and eager to learn. Some were engineers and educators with master’s degrees, yet they engaged fully in all the activities I introduced as part of the learning process. They were also vocal in giving suggestions and expressing their needs, which helped me modify the lessons to better support their learning. Wael and Emmanuel consistently achieved the highest marks in the two long tests I administered. As a teacher, I rate my students from 1 to 5, where 5 is the highest.
I have observed that my students can excel in learning the Filipino language if they are regularly exposed to Filipino-speaking people. For example, Omar, Nazmi, and Mike, despite lacking higher education, possess strong “people skills” that help them learn the language more quickly than others. Conversely, I noticed that Riad, Ruba, and Aala might face challenges learning the language due to their fear of making mistakes.
However, I would suggest not conducting classes during Ramadan, as fasting could affect learning. Additionally, I recommend screening participants before enrolling them in the program to ensure they can dedicate 100% of their time to learning. Providing handouts after each lesson would also be beneficial.
I am honored to be a part of the PACCI Filipino Literacy Program. I extend my thanks to Miss Thess and Sir Raffy for allowing me to contribute to their program and their community. I also express my gratitude to my new friends and family. Mabuhay po kayong lahat!