Voices from The Field

By Reena Orquina


Master Trainer




Caraga Regional Science High School,
Surigao City Division

It’s a rewarding feeling when an empowered Master Trainer like me could gain trust and respect because of the collaboration of the school and division.

I didn’t realize the impact of Intel Teach until my school received the Merit Award in last year’s 2nd National Intel Teach Conference. After receiving the award, I gained full support from my school on the conduct and implementation of Intel Teach.

Becoming a Master Trainer entails hard work and utmost dedication. Your focus is not only your students but also your fellow teachers. There remain a lot of challenges in teacher training such as the lack of moral and financial support, conflicting schedule of trainings, and the difference in attitudes among your peers. These are the stumbling blocks that I encountered but I remained positive and goal-oriented.

How did I overcome all these?


The Program assured all Master Trainers that the support providers are always there to guide them in any way. I have been blessed to have the unfailing support of Ms. Mona Sasing. “God rewards every good deed done. Just continue to sow good seeds for your students not expecting something in return.” This was just one of her inspiring text messages. In the beginning, I thought that nobody recognized my efforts. But I realized that the Intel Teach team especially Ma’am Mona, together with our school principal Matilde Manliguis, Division ICT Coordinator Luviminda Corminal, Division Administrative Officer Gemma Sinday, Division Secondary English Coordinator Ricky Pedralba, School ICT Coordinator Aileen Manliguis, and of course the City Schools Division Superintendent Leticia Naig all joined and assisted me in my endeavor. I am also extremely grateful to all my colleagues and all teachers in the division who actively participated in the PT training.

Just how did things start?


My being a master trainer is a twist of fate. I didn’t see nor volunteer to be one. I am no expert at computers. As school paper adviser, knowledge on basic computer was needed but all I knew was the basics. I was a mere classroom teacher. When I came back from the Intel Teach training, I started to work on gaining support from our school and division coordinators. I conferred to my principal regarding the training I attended and expressed my willingness to implement what I learned from the Program. I drafted a division memo, made the training design, and then sought assistance from the Division ICT Coordinator and the Schools Division Superintendent. I also corresponded regularly with the Intel Teach team.

It is important to recognize not only our strengths but also our weaknesses. My lack of expertise especially on the technical aspect of the Program was never a hindrance. Our support provider advised me to collaborate with other Master Trainers. Ms. Gemma Orozco and I worked judiciously on implementing the Program and through collaboration with her, my knowledge on the use of computers increased.

I encountered challenges yet I was able to achieve success. I did a lot of self-motivation and I drew energy from Ma’am Mona who never made me feel alone. I believe that the sincerity of my intentions was proven during the training. I was always on time. I tried my best to motivate the teachers and had no qualms in expressing my thoughts. I gave them the attention that they deserved, furnished them a copy of the approved service credits, and provided incentives to buoy their spirits.

There are still battles waiting to be won. There are still trainings and implementation programs that have just started. But one thing is certain, I am more confident now than before. I end this article with another inspiring text message from Ma’am Mona:
“I pray that you would be able to sustain what you’ve started. Praying for God’s blessing in all our plans and endeavors in the year 2008.”