Memorable Journey: Teaching, Learning, and Living in the Philippines

  Pedagogical Contents: Teaching ICT in a Cross-Cultural Classroom Teaching ICT (Information and Communication Technology) to Grade 9 students at Vicente Andaya Sr. National High School in Capiz, Philippines, was a valuable opportunity that deepened my pedagogical perspective. The lesson focused on one of the essential topics in the curriculum: Categories of Application Software and How to Install Them . This experience not only challenged me to adapt to a new educational system but also provided insight into how different pedagogical approaches shape learning environments. Learning Goals and Objectives The main objective of the lesson was to help students identify different categories of application software —such as freeware, shareware, custom software, open-source, and packaged software—and to demonstrate basic installation procedures . The learning outcomes were aligned with the official Philippine curriculum for ICT 9, specifically the competency code TLE_IACSS9-12ICCS-IIIa...

  Exploring the ICT Curriculum in the Philippines: Between Structure and Teacher-Centricity My teaching experience at Vicente Andaya Sr. National High School in Capiz, the Philippines, was one of the most valuable moments in my journey as an Educational Technology student. This opportunity not only provided space for cross-border teaching practice but also broadened my perspective on curriculum approaches, particularly in the ICT (Information and Communication Technology) subject for 9th-grade students. During the teaching process, I was guided by Ma'am Catherine E. Dumosdos as my Cooperating Teacher. She not only provided technical guidance but also introduced me directly to the structure and system of the curriculum used at this school. One of the documents I studied in depth was the ICT 9 Lesson Plan for the third quarter of the 2024–2025 academic year. From analyzing this lesson plan, I found that the curriculum implemented is highly teacher-centered. The teacher is the primary...

  An Unforgettable Teaching and Learning Experience One of the most memorable experiences during this program was when I had the opportunity to teach ICT (Information and Communication Technology) at Vicente Andaya Sr. National High School. This experience not only broadened my horizons as a prospective educator, but also enriched my perspective on the differences in education systems between countries. During the teaching process, I received direct guidance from my mentor teacher, Ma'am Catherine E. Dumosdos, who served as my Cooperating Teacher. She was a very friendly, patient, and open-minded individual who generously shared her knowledge and teaching experiences. During our initial meeting, Ma'am Catherine showed me examples of lesson plans used at Vicente Andaya Sr. National High School. This served as my starting point to understand the structure and flow of the learning process there. With great care, Ma'am Catherine guided me in analyzing the curriculum used. I fou...

  Opening Ceremony at Main Campus: An Unexpected  Warm Welcome On January 30, we had the opportunity to attend the opening ceremony held at the main campus of Capiz State University. From the start, we never expected to be welcomed so warmly and enthusiastically. The event began with a series of speeches from university officials expressing their joy at our arrival. Not only that, but we were also treated to various stunning performances by Capiz State University students that left a deep impression. One of the most surprising and touching moments was when they performed a traditional dance accompanied by an Indonesian song. The university choir also sang Indonesian songs beautifully. We felt proud and touched—a remarkable form of cross-cultural appreciation. After the event concluded, we were treated to a delicious seafood meal that tasted familiar to our palates. The warm and friendly atmosphere during lunch provided a sweet ending before the next agenda began. After lunch, ...

  I arrived in Roxas on January 25, 2025, and was warmly welcomed by the SEA Teacher team and the Capiz State University, Sigma Campus . Their hospitality made me feel truly accepted. At that moment, I also met my buddies for the first time, including Dr. Eimee Potato as the Satellite Director of Sigma , Dr. Fortunato Azarcon as the Director of BTVTED , Sir Edwin Jaimes Villafor as the EAL Coordinator , as well as Sir Bryan Deither Luza and Ma’am Violeta Monggan as the SIAP Coordinators , along with many others. After the welcoming ceremony, they invited us to try a traditional Filipino dessert called halo-halo . This sweet treat felt somewhat familiar to me, as it consists of shaved ice mixed with coconut milk and various other ingredients. Its unique and refreshing taste immediately made me love it.

  SEA Teacher is a teacher exchange program in Southeast Asian countries. This program provides opportunities for teachers from abroad to teach in schools across the Southeast Asian region. SEA Teacher stands for "South East Asian Teacher Program," which means the Southeast Asian Teacher Program. SEA Teacher is managed by SEAMEO (Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization) and aims to provide cross-cultural teaching experiences for teachers while improving the quality of education in SEAMEO member countries. Through this program, teachers have the opportunity to share teaching methods, learn about different educational systems, and enhance their professional skills. Additionally, the program encourages collaboration among Southeast Asian countries in the field of education. For those who want to learn more about the SEA Teacher program, detailed information can be accessed through the official SEA Teacher website. This program is one of the educational cooperat...