©Bisnar and Tapia
In line with Insights-Salik’s quest to humanize the people of Colegio San Agustin - Makati, Angelo Castañer and Raissa Lopez arranged a Zoom interview with the school’s Student Activity Coordinator, Mr. Ephrem Nicol Caunca, to ask him some questions, share some of his life-changing experiences, and heartwarming words as he unravels his years of teaching in CSA.
Angelo: How many years have you been an Augustinian?
“This is my 9th year in CSA, and I am still looking forward to serving more time together with the other Augustinians!” Caunca joyfully shares.
Angelo: What inspired you to join the Augustinian community? To become a servant leader?
“I was still in college at that time,” Caunca said, “Mr. Abejuela, who was my classmate during our 4th year in Philippine Normal University, shared some things about CSA, and from then on my target was to get in to CSA'.”
He also mentioned that he first started teaching in Saint Jude Catholic School before he applied to CSA - Makati. Eventually, he got accepted into the school after an awe-inspiring teaching demonstration of using a tabo as a prop to teach the first chapter of El Filibusterismo. Caunca then shared that his experiences in CSA with his colleagues’ work ethic and selfless love towards the students, sparked that light of leadership in him to serve the student body to the best of his ability.
Raissa: How are you coping with CSA-Makati’s modernized curriculum?
“Simple lang, I need to study, read articles, and to conduct research.”
Caunca expressed that learning does not stop after graduating or gaining your master's degree—rather, it is a constant process that he himself learned, especially in the new atmosphere that we are in right now, that would allow us to adapt to the change we experience.
Raissa: Apart from longing to be in a face-to-face setup, what are the aspects of our current system that you value the most? What are the things that have benefited you?
“Siguro yung concern at turing ng mga kasama mo sa trabaho gayundin ang mga bata,” Caunca states “na kahit virtual, ramdam na ramdam pa rin ang presence. Yes we are alone, but I think we are not lonely because virtually, we’re here.”
(Probably the concern and treatment of your colleagues and the kids, even though it’s virtual, you still feel the presence. Yes we are alone, but I think we are not lonely because virtually, we’re here.)
Caunca went on to share that he misses and will miss his face-to-face interactions with Batch 2022 because when they graduate, they will have been the last batch that he really got to know before the pandemic struck. He felt that connecting with his students is the thing that has benefited him the most because now more than ever, he has learned the value of connecting with his students so as to foster visible change within his students.
“I think that that connection, the one that will never waver whether there may be a brownout or typhoon, that connection of love, I think, is the core essence of Augustinian education,” Caunca remarked.
Raissa: Share a favorite memory, story, or experience about your time in CSA-Makati. Is there any significant moment that stood out to you?
“Nako umpisa ko pang taon sa CSA maraming na akong unforgettable memories,” Caunca said. “Pero yung hindi ko talaga malilimutan ‘no, is yung time na mage-end na ang academic year. Magse-send off na ang aking advisory class, eh di ko alam na may special surprise pala sila na balikbayan box na punong-puno ng mga regalo nila.”
(My first year in CSA, I already had a lot of unforgettable memories. But the one thing I wouldn’t forget is the time that the academic year would end. My advisory class was having a send off, but I didn’t know that they had a special surprise which was a balikbayan box that was full of their gifts [for me].)
Caunca mentioned that each of his students gave him an item that looked like it may have come from their bedrooms but he nonetheless felt like they were leaving a part of themselves with him because of the chance that they may never see each other again.
“‘Yun mong malalaman na totoo talaga na Augustinian education is all about love.”
(That’s when you find out it's true that Augustinian education is all about love.)
It is safe to say that through Caunca’s sharing of his wisdom and experiences, he has shown that CSA has played a huge role in his life whether it be through his growth as a teacher, a leader, or as a child of God. His immense contribution to the lives of his former students and beyond has cemented him as one of the prime examples of living out the Augustinian values and practicing Christian faith in CSA; and we hope that through this interview, we were able to impart to you something that will hopefully let you exemplify what Caunca has been doing excellently his past nine years in CSA and most especially, in these tough times.
WRITERS' PROFILE
SIEGFRED ANGELO E. CASTAÑER
Features Staffer
Grade 12 STEM
Other Organizations: Student Council
EDGAR MATTHEW S. BISNAR
Graphic Arts Associate Editor
Grade 11 ABM
Other Organizations:
JOSE MARI PAOLO Y. TAPIA
Photojournalism Associate Editor
Grade 11 HUMSS
Other Organizations: Student Council, CineBathala
CARLO MIGUEL DIESTA
Copyreading Staffer
Grade 12 STEM
Other Organizations:
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