New Faculty in the Block

By Abbie Rose J. Yeban

“This sudden change of career was more on achieving a heightened fulfilment in life.” 

The new school year always brought about unavoidable changes: freshmen, new subjects (if you’re lucky to pass your subjects), new teachers and sometimes, fresh courses (if you’re just lucky to shift). But for us here in the School of Technology, we were in for a rare change as we welcome a new faculty member this year with a very familiar last name.  Upon hearing Ms. Magpusao’s name, the upperclassmen couldn’t help wondering if she’s related to one of the students but that particular mystery remains to be unsolved.

Ms. Johannes M. Magpusao, who is a 2006 graduate of Food Technology of SoTech, returns not as a student but a teacher to her alma mater. With such rare experience, students were surely very curious about the new faculty in the block so Tibud sat down with her for an interview session.

Ms. Magpusao worked in an industry before she decided to shift to the academe. Specifically, she worked at Iloilo Commissary of Goldilocks Bakeshop as a Quality Assurance Manager. Also before Goldilocks, she was a QA of SVG Food Corp in Manila.

This sudden change of career was more on achieving a heightened fulfillment in life. “I’ve always felt a different kind of satisfaction when I did employee trainings for GMP, Food Supply, etc. at my previous work in the industry. I really enjoyed the experience of being an educator,” she explained. “Also, people around me affirmed that teaching is something that I can be good at. Aside from that, I wanted to learn more and widen my knowledge on Food Technology. Being a teacher will absolutely make that more possible.”

According to her, teaching is very interesting and mentally challenging. She emphasized that there were differences in terms of the sources of stress in the workplace. In industries, it is more on the physical, while in the academe, it is more on the mental aspect. Also, a subtle reward in teaching is to be able to gain more knowledge as she prepares for her classes.

Teaching side by side with her former professors is very enlightening and humbling at the same time on her part. “It was weird at first. But as you mingle with them, you will see different people but of the same faces because you discover who they really are outside the classroom,” she said.

Just like a typical college student, she recalled various memorable experiences, especially in Sotech. “I remember going to school with just 3 hours of sleep because of cramming and studying. Also, I had very helpful and inspiring teachers in college.”

Everybody experiences a dilemma on what to take up on college, so was Ms. Magpusao. She dreamt of taking up Molecular Biology and Biotechnology but going back to reality, Public Health and Biology seemed to be a better option for her. But she never dreamt of becoming a medical doctor. Food technology was alien to her until she reached senior high when a food technologist came for the annual career talk. “After a thorough self deliberation, I enrolled under the degree program of food technology because I believe it was really for me.”

“After graduation, I had a lot of expectations and plans of joining the food manufacturing industry. But having had a brief exposure to the reality of food industry during my internship, I know that my idealism may only serve to disappoint me in the field,” she recalls. “So I prepared myself for the worst yet hoped for the best. I resolved to start my new phase in life with an open mind. I was very eager to share and apply my knowledge and at the same time was willing to learn more and be corrected. And I really learned a lot from different people and experiences. But I did not expect to be part of the academe and of SoTech in the future.”

Expectations may sometimes be far from reality. As time continues to run, people change. There may be differences in the personalities of students from different time zones. But still, she expects her students to be enthusiastic about going to class every day, be participative in class discussions, inquisitive, resourceful and respectful. But she believes that the two most important characters a student must possess are passion and love for their responsibilities.

After one semester with Ma’am Magpusao as an instructor, I’m sure most of us know about her quick wit and even quicker smiles that added life to our classes. We are definitely looking forward to the next semester with her building up of more experiences. And of course, it may be late but welcome to the family! ■