TEACHER DOUBLES AS MOTOR DRIVER
As though those aren’t enough, he also does errands for neighbors, including carpentry
Inside the classroom, teacher Alvin Ardiza transports his pupils to understanding their lessons, but he is another person when the classes are over.
He ferries passengers to their destinations as a motorcycle-for-hire driver.
“Kon adunay mga okasyon nga ubay-ubay pud atong makita kay sakay man (There are times that I earn well, when commuters are aplenty),” he said.
Ardiza earns extra not only by driving a vehicle. He accepts manual labor.
“Kon adunay magpapanday, pataud og aircon, magpa- wiring ug bisan unsa nga labor work, di nako balibaran basta makaya lang (If there are carpentry errands, aircon installations, electrical and other works, I don’t say no if I can do them),” he said.
Some of Ardiza’s fellow teachers at Budlaan Integrated School in Cebu City would approach him if they have problems with their computers. He learned troubleshooting skills at the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority in 2008, right after high school.
His love for the visual arts led him to learn painting and drawing.
Ardiza said he feels ill if he is
Ang teaching usa na ka balaan nga buluhaton sama ra kini sa pagka-pari or madre nga adunay misyon. Balaan kini kay mao kini ang dugokan sa pag-uswag sa katilingban. ALVIN ARDIZA
not tinkering with something.
Before he got his Filipino degree at Cebu Normal University (CNU) in 2012, printing designs on t-shirts on commission was one of his ways to overcome financial struggles.
Ardiza was accepted as an illustrator of Ang Suga, CNU’s student publication, then he rose from the ranks and became the art editor. He said he is forever indebted to Dr. Romola Savellon, Ang Suga’s adviser then, for helping him when hard times seemed to push him near failure.
His parents support their family by taking on odd jobs.
“Manglabada ra si Mama ug manghimo og budbud o puto. Ako pud ang tigbaligya sa kadalanan, isuroy. Akong papa full-time manghakot og tubig sa silingan para makakwarta, then part-time helper sa panday (My mother took laundry jobs, sold budbod and puto. I sold them in the streets. My father delivers water to neighbors, then helps out in carpentry jobs),” said Ardiza, sec- ond in the brood of three.
His mother often told him that a hardworking person will be showered with blessings.
Ardiza said he will retire as a teacher, because he wants to be a good influence on his students.
“Ang teaching usa na ka balaan nga buluhaton sama ra kini sa pagka pari o madre nga adunay misyon. Balaan kini kay mao kini bay ang dugokan sa pag-uswag sa katilingban (Teaching is a noble task, just like that of a priests’s or a nun’s, they have a mission. This is sacred because society’s progress may come from them),” he said.
Most of Ardiza’s female students want to be teachers like him, while the boys visualize themselves as technicians.
“Grateful kaayo ko nga naa koy chance makalamdag og kaugmaon bay. Mao always nako ihatag tanan naku nga makaya para sa ako mga bata (I’m grateful for the chance to brighten one’se future. That’s why I always give what i can for the kids),” he said. /