“Not everyone gets destiny’s call to teach.” 

Once a year, the whole world comes together to commemorate mentors — our second parents. In the Ateneo Senior High community, we celebrate more than just our teachers; we show our appreciation for our guidance counselors, custodians, security guards, and everyone who keeps our school’s offices running smoothly. 

To dedicate oneself to being a role model for hundreds of students is a lifelong commitment— a commitment that Sir Fernando Nolasco, or as he is fondly called, Sir Dondi, has taken upon himself to bear. As a teacher of Earth and Life Science and Physical Science, Nolasco has been teaching for 35 years since May of 1989.

As a beloved member of the faculty, Sir Dondi has seen thousands of students come and go, and he is one to know that teaching is a call— one that only someone courageous and willing enough may answer. 

A Ballad to the Ones who Shaped the Past and Present

“One thing about teaching is that it runs in the blood. It’s really a noble profession.”

Coming from a family of teachers, Nolasco claims that the teaching career has always been more than familiar to him. With his mother, sister, and brother all being teachers at some point in their lives, Sir Dondi has always been surrounded by fellow educators.  

While he feels that teaching has always been the career that would give him the most satisfaction, he has reflected on other professions that may have given him more material gain. However, he steers away from this, detailing how no one in his family has ever been adept to walking the path of entrepreneurship, or any other career that may allow one to live a more lavish life. 

Nolasco and his family have always been content in the humble but brave profession of teaching; even if it won’t make you a millionaire in physical currency, it’ll bring you wealth in the non-tangible. “The rewards don’t come financially— think about it as planting a seed [that will grow] 10, 20, 30 years from now,” Sir Dondi states, detailing that the joy in teaching comes from the satisfaction of being able to contribute to the success of current doctors, lawyers, and even celebrities who were once his students, one way or another. 

Moreover, family seems to have been a continuous inspiration for Sir Dondi to wake up another day and choose to teach. He recalls the most memorable part of his Ateneo experience to be when his father, Dr. Edmundo F. Nolasco was nominated for Ateneo’s prestigious Lux in Domino Award. The award, exclusive to Ateneo alumni, is a capstone award that commemorates the life and work of individuals who exemplify Atenean values and ideals. Dr. Nolasco has been at the center of labor reform campaigns, and continued to be active even amidst the Martial Law era. For a lifetime’s worth of efforts and activism, Dr. Nolasco was given the recognition he rightfully deserved. 

Like his father’s dedication to his family, Sir Dondi continues to exert that same care in how he teaches his students. Never faltering after all these years of scribbling on a blackboard, or making quizzes and tests, Sir Dondi will forever be recognized for his years of service to the community of students he helped shape.

A Verse to the Formators of the Future

“You can be good at playing basketball or the guitar, but can you teach a kid how?”

Being a formator comes with its share of doubts. Just as most teachers feel, it’s discouraging for Nolasco to be met with a difficult student; this is only amplified by the feeling of helplessness when he feels like none of his solutions are steering these challenging students in the right direction. Then again, the teaching veteran still pushes himself further by constantly asking: “If I don’t teach them, who will?”

According to Sir Dondi, teaching is more than just carrying and imparting knowledge— it’s being patient, dedicated, and continuously passionate to keep oneself going when doubt starts to cloud one’s mind. Teaching in itself is a talent and skill that takes years to develop, and it is a career where there is constant growth and all the more bumps in the road.

“Not all of us are cut out to be teachers, so you have to think: is this really what I want to do?,” the Science teacher shares to any aspiring educators looking to make an impact on the generations to come. He gives a disclaimer that this profession is not one for anyone who is looking to live a life of luxury, and encourages anyone drawn to taking up a career in education to take the leap. 

We don’t give our teachers enough of the credit that is due for their continuous efforts to uplift us students to become the better versions of ourselves. When you remember a teacher who lightens up your day, it is worth putting yourself in their shoes and thinking about the sacrifices and efforts they have made to propel their students to newer heights. 

Teaching is not for the faint of heart, and teachers like Sir Dondi have proven just that. It takes a lot more love and care than one may think to get up each day and think: “I can do this. I can teach.” A career in education is more than writing on a chalkboard and presenting something new— it’s a chance to change a life or two. In its own little way, teaching is an art that most cannot even begin to comprehend— suppose that makes our teachers this generation’s new Van Goghs and Picassos. 

“Teaching is an art, a skill, and a passion— not everyone can teach.”